Blackout
The Concordia Computer Riots
Description
In February 1969, hundreds of students occupied a computer centre at what is now Montréal’s Concordia University to protest the mismanagement of a racism complaint lodged by Caribbean students against their biology professor. When an agreement to end the occupation fell through, riot police were called in, resulting in widespread damage, a mysterious fire, and nearly a hundred arrests. Created and devised by some of Montréal’s most prolific artists, Blackout re-examines the events that led to the occupation and protests, asking how race relations have changed in Québec and Canada.
Reviews
“Blackout is a work that isn’t afraid to be political, or to take sides, or to make difficult calls.”
- Tara McGowan-Ross, BroadwayWorld
“It is an education, an ambitious portrait of fury and a really fun, triumphant work of art.”
- Sarah Deshaies, Cult MTL