Bashir Lazhar

About Bashir Lazhar

Bashir Lazhar, an Algerian immigrant living in Montreal, is a substitute teacher for a traumatized grade six class. In the classroom, Bashir finds an escape from his colleagues’ intolerance and his government’s indifference, but his unorthodox classroom methods draw him into explosive, unpredictable territory. He imparts his love of learning to his students who in turn give him the gift of their courage and resilience. ‘Bashir Lazhar’ humanizes the greatest ideological issues of our day – interculturality, justice and identity - exploring the pain of loss and the power of imagination. Timely. Deeply moving. An innovative staging of raw impulse and muted desire. “A lovely, heartbreaking portrait. Eloquent.” (Edmonton Journal).

Credits

Director Piet Defraeye
Playwright Evelyne de la Chenelière
Translated by Morwyn Brebner
Dramaturg Kim McLeod

Cast

Michael Peng
Kim McLeod

Tech & Design 

Cory Sincennes
Jennifer Goodman