Run de lait

A co-production of VA ARTS VIVANTS and THÉÂTRE LE TRIDENT In collaboration with Théâtre de La Manufacture, Théâtre Gilles Vigneault, Valspec, Ville d'Alma Spectacles, Espace Le Vrai Monde and Théâtre de la Ville.

Text and original idea by JUSTIN LARAMÉE
Co-directed by OLIVIER NORMAND and JUSTIN LARAMÉE

Over the past 20 years, Quebec has lost half its dairy farms. Among the dairy farmers who are still active, many are experiencing great psychological distress. Justin Laramée, artist, father and citizen, set out to find out why. Like a milk run, he traveled the length and breadth of Quebec to question the inner workings of a faltering industry, realizing in the process that Quebec's identity is intimately linked to its dairy production. But what do we really know about our most important agricultural production?

For this theatrical documentary on the dairy industry, Justin Laramée spoke to a number of experts, including dairy producers and processors, in addition to offering us a brief 8,000-year history of milk! Between jubilant humor and rigorous investigation, the author also tackles farm industrialization, consumer responsibilities, animal welfare and the environment. A complex and fascinating universe, delivered in an accessible and deeply human text.

Run de lait premiered at Le Trident in Quebec City in March 2022. Its author, Justin Laramée, has participated in over forty theatrical works as playwright, actor and director, three hats he also wears for this play - orchestrated alongside Olivier Normand. On stage, the author is accompanied by his accomplice and musician Benoît Côté.