Based on the writings of literary star Nelly Arcan, staged by the internationally renowned director Marie Brassard and seven spectacular female performers – The Fury of My Thoughts is a theatrical collage adapted from several texts the Québécoise writer left behind before her passing. Merging contemporary theatre language with distinctly feminist perspectives, transcending borders and race, the performance is a collective portrait of today’s women.

Perturbed by the public’s obsession with her past as a call girl as well as her cosmetic surgeries, Arcan’s labels affected the perception of her literary work. There is too much darkness in her writings, particularly in the autobiographical novels where her words are deeply permeated with pain and struggle. Reading Arcan’s books may not be a pleasant experience, yet her honesty and passion resonate with and prompt us to reflect on the lives of women.

Marie Brassard’s piece blends poetry, literature, music, lighting and performance, flowing on stage at an unhurried pace. It is simultaneously a tribute to Nelly Arcan and an ode to women.

By Annie Feng
Annie received her master’s degree in Dramatic Literature at the Central Academy of Drama. She is also a theatre producer, critic, and the editor-in-chief of the vertical media/new media platform WowTheater.

This article is summarised and translated from Chinese.