Scuse

Oscillating between informal discussion and acrobatic performance, Scuse is a documentary circus show where the artist Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard revisits various fragments of their childhood and adolescence that shaped their perception of femininity and sexuality. In somatic symbiosis with their aerial hoop, they explore how the binary education of youth fosters the power dynamics of the adult world. “Alone with her aerial hoop, Frédérique Cournoyer Lessard addresses the spectators from the outset. The spectacular is not at the centre of this circus documentary, which is rather an imbrication of sound, image, scenography and objects. The resulting composition is a faithful, expressive, and sustained rendering of the acrobatic gesture.” [Françoise Boudreault, March 20, 2025] The show won the award for best circus production from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and En piste in 2025, in recognition of the artist’s innovative approach. The project will then continue on to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Graz in Austria, and Rouyn-Noranda in Canada.