The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality- All's Fair in Love and War

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

—Romeo and Juliet

Duel Reality merges acrobatics and theatre, dance and multimedia, music and storytelling to bring Shakespeare's seminal play to modern audiences. The 7 Fingers—a collective of writers, directors, choreographers, and performers based in Montreal, Canada—boils this epic love story down to the core of its conflict and drops the stage into a sporting arena. The audience is witness to two groups in opposition by default, each driven by the desire to rise above the other. Through the provocation and conflict, we catch a glimpse of our star-crossed lovers. They are fierce players but still do not seem to care who wins or loses if playing the game can bring them closer together.

Competition can be playful at times. It can also be dangerously serious.

About the Director

Shana Carroll is co-founding artistic director of the Montreal-based contemporary circus company Les 7 doigts de la main (The 7 Fingers). Since its founding in 2002, Shana first performed and created (alongside the collective) their shows Loft and La Vie, then went on to direct, write and choreograph (often in partnership with fellow “Fingers”) their shows Traces, Psy, Sequence 8, Feriamuse, Le Murmure du Coquelicot, Cuisine & Confessions, Passengers, Duel Reality (for Virgin Voyages), Dear San Francisco, and Mon Ile Mon Cœur. 

Outside of The 7 Fingers, Shana directed Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever ice show, Crystal, in addition to their performance at the Academy Awards in 2012. Also for Cirque du Soleil, Shana was acrobatic designer and choreographer for their shows Iris (Los Angeles) and Paramour (Broadway). Other collaborations include: Queen of the Night (World Wide Variety); Soul of the Ocean (Moment Factory); Temporel (Lemieux-Pilon), Cité Mémoire (Lemieux-Pilon); and the Sochi Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies. In 2023, Shana worked as co-choreographer and circus designer for Water For Elephants the Musical with Pigpen Theatre Co.

Originally produced and created with Virgin Voyages
Commissionning Partner: ArtsEmerson (Boston)