Robert Lepage commits to changes as controversial SLV musical returns to stage

Months after the Montreal International Jazz Festival cancelled acontroversial production about slavery, the musical is returning to the stage and its directorsays there will be significant changes.

In a lengthystatement from his production company Ex Machina, Robert Lepage said that after meeting with an activist group that protested SLV, structural changes were made to better represent people of colour within the company.

The festival cancelled SLV, a musical performance based on American slave songs, following a brief run after it was criticized for its lack of sensitivity andmainly white cast. The controversyled to public debates about freedom of expression and cultural appropriation.

"No matter what side you took in the debate about SLV, you have to admit it at least prompted some long-needed reflection in the province of Quebec," Lepage wrote in the statement.

The content of SLV has been reworked and rewritten since last June,Lepageadded.

The musical has not been performed since its cancellationlast summer, but has upcoming dates booked in the Quebec cities of Sherbrooke, Saint-Jrme, Drummondville and Saguenay.

Moving forward, Lepage said he would invite a member of the SLV Resistance Collective to attend the show's rehearsals and offer them "time to exchange with the public and artists following certain performances."

He also said internal changes would be made within Ex Machina to better represent people of African descentas he moves forward with a multimillion-dollar complex in Quebec City, Le Diamant, which will house his production company and serve as a venue and incubator for theatre arts.

"Of course, these commitments won't make everyone happy, but they seem to be several steps in the right direction of coming together to dialogue calmly across all the noise," Lepage wrote.

Turning point for Quebec society, activist says

A four-hour meeting between Lepage and the SLVResistance Collective took place at the beginning of November, according toprotest organizer and Montreal-based artistLucas Charlie Rose.

He said meeting with Lepage was a fruitful and positive experience but that he isn't sure if SLVreturningto the stage so soon is a good idea.

"I feel like this is the type of project that should just go back to the drawing board, and really be rethought from the beginning," Rose said.

He said he remainsa bit skepticalfor now, as he doesn't know what the changes will be made to the controversial play.

Lepage chose to opt out of the conversation for some time last summer, said Rose, which led to escalating tensions and some threats against the activists who criticized SLV, including Rose.

ButRose saidthe protests were worth it; he believesthis is a turning point for Quebec society.

"I think great things are going to come from the fact that this conversation is happening," Rose said.