Although convicted murderer Bertrand Cantat will not appear in the production of Des Femmes at the National Arts Centre and at Théâtre du Nouveau Monde in Montreal, Lebanese-born Wajdi Mouawad, the play’s writer/director, says Cantat’s music will still be featured in the production and the play will be revised to “radically draw attention to [his] absence.” Canadian politicians have vowed to keep Cantat out of Canada, because according to Canadian laws, immigration officials can bar people convicted of serious crimes from entering the country. However, Cantat will still appear in productions of Des Femmes planned for outside Canada. A news release from the National Arts Centre stated, “The absence of this artist will be made felt throughout the production that will be unveiled on Canadian stages … something that will attest to a unified show of support by the actors, creators and technicians involved in this artistic adventure towards one of their own.” Cantat was convicted of the 2003 beating death of his girlfriend, French film star Marie Trintignant (above), in Lithuania and was sentenced to seven years. He was freed in 2007, after serving half his sentence.