DI SHVEGERINS, Yiddish Translation of LES BELLES-SŒURS, Will Come to the Segal Centre

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts will present Di Shvegerins, a vibrant Yiddish translation of Michel Tremblay's masterpiece, Les Belles-sœurs. This iconic work, acclaimed since its Yiddish premiere in 1992, will return to the stage for a new generation nearly 60 years after the original play. The show will run from June 14 until June 28, 2026.

One million stamps, a bit of mazel, and a whole lot of tsuris: Di Shvegerins plunges us back into the colourful, raw world of Germaine Lauzon and her neighbours, gathered for a frenzied stamp-gluing session. In this kitchen-party gone awry, the daily lives of working-class Montreal women in the 1960s come to life with humour, tenderness, and authenticity.

Joual and Yiddish meet here in a linguistic and cultural fusion as unexpected as it is moving. Created in close collaboration with Tremblay himself — who said that, of all the languages Les Belles-soeurs was translated into, this one came closest to capturing the original's flavour — this production sees the Yiddish language lend new resonance to his text, while preserving all the verve, emotion, and irony that made Les Belles-sœurs a foundational work of modern Quebec theatre. Performed with English and French supertitles, this singular meeting of language and culture is open to audiences of all backgrounds.

Di Shvegerins has been praised for its gritty tone, and the lived experience behind every line. The play carries into Yiddish what Tremblay first put into words by listening to the women he grew up around and the conversations he caught sitting under kitchen tables as a little boy, putting a spotlight on a Montreal that had previously been kept offstage. Considered a cornerstone of Quebec theatre, Les Belles-sœurs revolutionized the stage in 1968 by giving a voice to working-class women — in their own language, with their raw truths, their stifled hopes, and their imperfect solidarity.

As relevant today as ever, this iconic play continues to resonate with contemporary issues around women's voices, social tensions, and cultural belonging. Its reimagining in Yiddish offers a fresh perspective on this foundational work, while celebrating the richness of the multiple identities that make up Montreal.

Di Shvegerins also marks a milestone beyond the stage: it closes a season unlike any other for the Segal Centre. In addition to a bold season of programming, this year saw the launch of the Stage Forward Fund, a bold commitment to the future of theatre in Montreal — investing in the artists, stories, and communities that will shape what comes next.

"Les Belles-sœurs in Yiddish is a magnificent celebration of two rich languages and cultures. The parallel between joual and Yiddish is particularly moving, adding a unique depth to this iconic story. It is a true demonstration of the power of languages to preserve and honour the complexity of our cultural identities." said Lisa Rubin, Artistic and Executive Director.

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