Nicole Malbeuf
2020-2021 Artist in Residence
with Public Energy Performing Arts
A Hen Called Freedom is a new work that will examine how humans relate to, feel about, and understand the lives of animals and the natural cycle of living things. Nicole Malbeuf will create an immersive theatrical installation using hand-made costuming, innovative prop/apparatus design and the circus discipline of hair suspension. A Hen Called Freedom follows a winged character through a journey of compulsion, fear, distress, reward and repetition – a mini story that Nicole intends to be part of a larger story and show. Further to using this residency to explore movement, narrative and set and costume design, Nicole will investigate modes of presentation that adapt to these COVID 19 times.
Photo of Nicole Malbeuf by KayLens Photography
“I’m most excited about combining all my passions into this work. My heart is really in it. I also like the idea of having one place to examine and unite a multitude of things, like sitting down to a plentiful plate of all different food groups, or being allowed to sift through a tidy pile of unique fabrics.” – Nicole
Nicole Malbeuf is a performer, mover, maker and instructor based in Peterborough, Ontario. With a diverse background in fine art, fashion and farming, Nicole brings a unique perspective to her work. She is considerate of colour and composition and fascinated with texture and medium. Her work often presents stories or concepts to demonstrate dualities found in the human experience and nature. When she is not developing her artistic work, Nicole works at growing her entertainment business, Trellis Arts & Entertainment. Trellis aims to inspire interest and engagement in the performing arts indiscriminately across demographics of Ontario, Canada.
Outside of her creative practice, she passionately instructs adult and teen circus classes at the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts, and always thrilled to work with A2D2 Aerial Cirque Dance Co (Mississauga) as a company member aerialist. And when there’s time at the end of the day, she loves to putter in the garden, take dance lessons and hang out with her cat, chickens, family, friends and loving partner.
