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The University of Winnipeg

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THE WEIGHT OF ANTS by David Paquet, translated by Leanna Brodie

February 10 - 14, 2026 in the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film

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The University of Winnipeg’s Theatre & Film Department is proud to present The Weight of Ants, a play by David Paquet, translated by Leanna Brodie.

The Weight of Ants is an absurd, poetic and surreal comedy that explores how young people deal with the reality of a dying planet. It is a scream of rage that transforms into hope through cooperative action.

The Weight of Ants is directed by THFM faculty member Hope McIntyre and features performances by the third-year Honours Acting class; all technical work is done by both junior and senior production students, supervised by UWinnipeg staff and faculty.  Scenic Design is by student Amanda Jones; Costume Design is by faculty member Sean McMullen; and Lighting Design is by recent graduate Lovissa Wiens.  

Performances are Tuesday, February 10 - Friday, February 13 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, February 14 at 4 pm.  

We are pleased to include the following at specific performances (open to all):

February 12, 2026 – Relaxed/Sensory-Friendly 

February 13, 2026 – ASL

February 14, 2026 – Audio Description

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Ticket Information

THE WEIGHT OF ANTS

by David Paquet, translated by Leanna Brodie

TO RESERVE TICKETS CLICK HERE

Performances:

  • Tuesday, February 10, 2026 – 7:30 pm
  • Wednesday, February 11, 2026 – 7:30 pm
  • Thursday, February 12, 2026 – 7:30 pm - Relaxed / Sensory Friendly performance
  • Friday, February 13, 2026 – 7:30 pm - ASL performance
  • Saturday, February 14, 2026 – 4 pm - Audio Described performance

Performance length: Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.  This information may be updated closer to performance start date.

Admission: Free and open to UWinnipeg staff, faculty, and students, as well as the general public.

Reservations are recommended.

 TO RESERVE TICKETS CLICK HERE

You can also call our 24-Hour Reservation Phone line at 204-786-9152.  

Please note:  Unclaimed reserved tickets will be released 5 minutes before performance start.

About the Play

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The Weight of Ants was created in Montreal on November 19, 2019, by Theatre Bluff at the Fred-Barry room of the Denise-Pelletier Theatre, directed by Philippe Cyr.

The translation went on to win the 2022 Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama and the Playwrights Guild of Canada Tom Hendry Award.

Set at an unnamed high school where no one seems to care about anything, two characters make a powerful connection. Joan is hell-bent on tearing everything down and reacts to her anxiety about the dying world with rage. Meanwhile, Olivier is determined not to lose his optimism and tries to escape from his own anxious nightmares. Together they find a way forward.

Responsible theatre practices used

This production is also supported by the University of Winnipeg Experiential Learning fund, allowing for the integration of responsible theatre practices, with a focus on accessibility and environmental sustainability. The show will offer a sensory-friendly performance, in addition to ASL interpretation and an audio described performance. In order to remain true to the content of the play, environmentally sustainable practices are being used in the rehearsal and production of the performance.

The Weight of Ants is an extremely relevant script for the cast of 11 students. It allows them to explore how to navigate the changing world around them, while also presenting a rare opportunity as young artists to tackle a work written specifically about youth. Director Hope McIntyre shares: “It is incredible to see the cast support each other in exploring their own climate anxiety, while also finding a pathway for positive change.”

This UWinnipeg production of The Weight of Ants features costume design by faculty member Sean McMullen, scenic design by student Amanda Jones, and lighting design by recent graduate Lovissa Wiens. All technical work is done by both junior and senior production students.

Land Acknowledgement

We are performing this play on Treaty One Territory and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis, in Wiiniibak, ManidoAbi. We acknowledge these are the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anisininew,Ininiwak/Nehethowuk, Oceti Sakowin/Dakota Oyate, and Michif (Métis) Peoples. This territory is also a place of significance for the Denesuline and the Inuit, some of whom have been living here for generations. Serving as stewards since time immemorial, Elders and First Nations have highlighted that these ancestral lands remain unceded and that the Treaties are agreements to share, not surrender, the land.

In order to not just speak empty words, we decided to take action by partnering with Morgan’s Warriors. Morgan’s Warriors is Winnipeg's Indigenous, women-led outreach team. The climate crisis – wildfires, power outages, and flooding - have led to the displacement of many communities. As a result, women and youth evacuated to the city become vulnerable. Morgan’s Warriors assists with essential items, outreach support, and addressing the unmet needs of those who end up living on the streets. We have made a contribution and encourage you to do the same. For those who cannot make a monetary contribution, giving of your time in order to support community initiatives such as this is equally valuable. 

See their website at:  Manitoba Missing Person Alerts | Morgan's Warriors

 

Cast and Crew of THE WEIGHT OF ANTS
  • Director: Hope McIntyre
  • Scenic Design: Amanda Jones
  • Costume Design: Sean McMullen
  • Lighting Design: Lovissa Wiens
  • Stage Manager: Keira Jordan
  • Assistant Director: Dakota Barker
  • Assistant Stage Manager: Denby Perez
  • Intimacy Director: Heidi Malazdrewich
  • Text Coach/Instructor: Tom Soares
  • Movement Instructor: Aria Evans

Performed by the 3rd Year Honours Acting Class: Sol Choi, Mike De Jong, Olivia Di Girolamo, C Dion, Denise Estacio, Veronica Ford, Cyan Gargol, Geoffrey Heal, Colin Hildebrand, Colin Parsons, Lauren Pickering

Technical & Design Support: Senior & Junior Production & Design students

Please check back regularly for more details, as well as a digital program (closer to the performance dates).

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Content Information for THE WEIGHT OF ANTS
  • Mature content and themes.
  • Climate and political anxiety.
  • Alcoholism.
  • Suggestions of violent action and self-immolation.
  • Exploration of mental wellness.
  • Depictions of grief and end of life.
  • Flashing lights and loud sounds (which will be altered for the sensory-friendly performance).
  • Theatrical, water-based haze.

Please check back regularly for any updates to the content warnings.

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Information about the ACTF (Getting Here & Accessibility)

To learn more about attending one of our performances at the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film, including Accessibility information, visit the Getting to the ACTF page.

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Parking

There are a variety of parking options available on and around UWinnipeg's downtown campus, including a number of casual, short-term parking lots. Parking availability and rates are subject to change.

For more information, visit the UWinnipeg Parking Map.

Past Performances