I Am William

Margaret Shakespeare, age 13, must write her remarkable plays in secret: it is 1577, and a girl who can read and write is in danger from the witch-hunters. After all, as her father keeps reminding her, a woman's place is in the home...next to a big pile of laundry. Once the sweet but dim William discovers his sister's astonishing talent, a chain of events is set in motion that will change both their lives forever. What happens to women of genius in a world that wants only their silence? Can a sister's determination — and a brother's unfailing love — really conquer all? Seamlessly translated from the original French by Leanna Brodie, this strikingly original play with music tackles the big feminist questions with wit, heart, and infectious energy. Winner of Quebec's prestigious Prix de la critique and Prix Louise-Lahaye, Rébecca Déraspe's I Am William has toured France, Spain, and the province of Quebec to great acclaim. This English version, commissioned by Theatre Le Clou, was also a hit at the Stratford Festival.

Rébecca Déraspe graduated from the playwriting program of the National Theatre School of Canada in May 2010. She is the author of several plays which have been translated and produced internationally, including Deux ans de votre vie (English title: You Are Happy); Gamètes (English title: Gametes); Je suis William (English title: I Am William); Faire la leçon (English title: The Lessons); Plus que toi; Peau d'ours; Nino; Le merveilleux voyage de Réal de Montréal; Partout ailleurs; Nos petits doigts; Ceux qui se sont évaporés; and Fanny. She is currently Playwright-in-Residence at Montreal's Théâtre la Licorne. Her work has been awarded the 2010 Prix BMO (for You Are Happy); the 2017 Montreal theatre critics' prize for Best New Play (Gametes); the 2018 Montreal theatre critics' prize for Best New Play for Young Audiences as well as the Prix Louise-Lahaye (I Am William); and most recently, the Prix Michel-Tremblay, for her new play Ceux qui se sont évaporés. She is also the writer and host of the web series Le lexique de la polâmique, produced and distributed by Savoir Media.

Leanna Brodie is a noted translator of Quebecois playwrights whose recent premieres have included: David Paquet's The Shoe (The Cherry Artspace, Ithaca NY) and Wildfire (Upstream Theater, St. Louis MO); Annie Brocoli's Stella and the Time Machine Journey (Lune Rouge, Arlington TX); Joe Jack et John's Violette (Espace Libre, Montreal PQ); Mohsen El Gharbi's Omi Mouna (Impact Festival, Kitchener-Waterloo ON/Infinitheatre, Montreal QC); Catherine Léger's I Lost My Husband! (Gateway Theatre, Vancouver BC) and Rébecca Déraspe's I Am William (Stratford Festival, ON). Her own plays and libretti have been performed across Canada and internationally. Brodie is currently co-writing Salesman in China with Jovanni Sy (Stratford Festival/Banff Centre co-commission) while completing her MFA at the University of Calgary. www.leannabrodie.com