Clown

4 to 12 years old

Physical Theater

Acrobatics

Cartoon - 50-minute clown solo for ages 4–12 and family audiences -

Cartoon, pronounced the French way, refers both to cardboard, the humble recycled material at the heart of the show, and to the vibrant language of animated cartoons, with their fast pace, playful imagination, and constant sense of surprise.

Combining physical comedy, acrobatics, and clown theatre, Cartoon approaches the topic of recycling through a world filled with imagination, love, and resilience.

A celebration of laughter born from the poetry of fleeting moments—the very heartbeat of the Cartoon universe.

Synopsis

TOHU_2024_Cartoon_VincentMorreale (19) c

Frak works in waste management for a large company, faithfully carrying out the orders of his boss, whom he calls Chief. Proud of his job, he approaches every task with dedication, professionalism—and, above all, a sense of play. He simply cannot resist transforming the cardboard Chief tells him to throw away.

As he becomes aware of environmental challenges, Frak realizes that neither the dumpster nor the planet can absorb endless amounts of waste. Armed with imagination, he turns discarded cardboard into epic landscapes, fantastic worlds, and delightfully absurd comic creations.

A chance discovery of a love letter sparks a dream. Full of hope, Frak prepares himself for what he believes will be the encounter of a lifetime.

Through resilience, optimism, and boundless creativity, Frak invites audiences to see waste differently and leaves everyone eager to help the planet—one piece of cardboard at a time.

François Isabelle

Created, Written and Performed by:

Director and Co-Writer : Yves Dagenais

Lighting Designer : Rodolphe St-Arneault

Set and Props Designer : Lysandra Denis-Breault

Costume Designer : Carole-Anne Turcotte

Over 60 performances across Québec and Ontario :

Salle Les Frères Lemaire

Théâtre Petit Champlain

Théâtre Outremont

Théâtre du Marais

L’Anglicane

TOHU

...

Vincent Morreale photographie

Crédit photos :

For an acrobatic and comic overview accompanied by the laughter of children.

4 minutes

“Energetic, funny and friendly, Frak knew how to light sparks in the eyes of his audience. »

—Florence from L'Anglicane

"A great show, all the children had a good laugh, even the 2-year-old told me about the clown at home! Very original, with the boxes and the paper, a very simple but brilliant idea!

As in the old days with Sol and Goblet.

A big big BRAVO!!!

MUST SEE! Absolutely!”

—Louise de Santis/ spectator

"Cartoon is a show all in simplicity that will for sure make young and old laugh each time!"

Frederike Brunette
Leisure manager - City of Blainville

Scenic Design Approach

Consistent with the theme of the show, Cartoon reduces its ecological footprint as much as possible and stands out for the voluntary simplicity of its scenographic approach, by promoting the reuse of recyclable materials for the decor and accessories. Cartoon is available in different formats to adapt to all types of installations and reach the widest possible audience.

Producer
Writer
Performer

François Isabelle

Multidisciplinary artist François Isabelle brings more than 30 years of experience in the performing arts, including 22 years as an acrobat, dancer, and physical theatre performer in theatre, opera, and contemporary circus. His current work focuses on clown theatre and performances for young audiences, where he serves as a performer, writer, director, and acrobatic choreographer. He collaborates regularly with circus artists and creative collectives, while also leading workshops and customized training programs that support artists at every stage of their creative journey.

Lighting Designer

Costume Designer

Director
Writer

Yves Dagenais

Artistic Director of the Centre de recherche en art clownesque, Yves Dagenais has dedicated his career to the art of clowning since 1975. For over two decades, he toured internationally with his solo clown performances featuring the character Omer Veilleux. He has taught at the National Circus School and the National Theatre School of Canada, and continues to teach at the École nationale de l'humour. In addition to offering private workshops and coaching, he has directed and staged numerous productions in theatre, circus, comedy, clowning, and variety arts throughout Québec and around the world.

Set and Props Designer

Rodolphe St-Arneault

A graduate of the Saint-Hyacinthe Theatre School, Rodolphe St-Arneault is a lighting designer, stage manager, and photographer whose work bridges theatre, circus, and visual arts. Since graduating, he has collaborated with Julie Vincent, Yves Dagenais, Johanne Madore, Jamie Adkins, and the National Circus School. He has designed numerous large-scale events across Québec and abroad. As a photographer with a distinctive artistic vision, he also exhibits his work in a variety of settings.

Carole-Anne Turcotte

Carole-Anne Turcotte graduated from the Design Program at the Saint-Hyacinthe CEGEP Theatre School in 2012. Since then, she has collaborated with numerous scenic and costume designers, including Marie Sophie Gauthier on the equestrian circus production Ekasringa and Noémie Demers for La Compagnie. A multidisciplinary designer and maker, she contributes to every stage of the creative process, from scenic, costume, and prop design to fabrication. Her broad range of technical and artistic skills has brought her to work with La Bordée, Théâtre du Rideau Vert, Moment Factory and Théâtre de la Ville.

Lysandra Denis-Breault

Lysandra Denis-Breault holds a diploma in Set and Costume Design from the Saint-Hyacinthe CEGEP Theatre School as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Art History. Passionate about creating costumes, sets, and props for live performance, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work. After spending time in Bussang, France, where she worked as a scenic painter and stage manager at the Théâtre du Peuple, she returned to Montréal and now works primarily as a costume and prop designer for theatre and circus productions.