In what he’s said will be the first in a series of follow-ups to our recent interview with him (and some of the comments that followed), University of North Carolina theatre professor Scott Walters has elaborated on the “centralization of theatre” issue. In this post, he argues that the centralization of American theatre is sapping […]
10 questions: Scott Walters
1) What the fuck is going on?We’re witnessing the Schiavo-ization of theatre as an art form – it’s dead, but we keep pretending it isn’t. People keep pointing at record ticket sales on Broadway and at regional theatres as proof that there’s life in the old girl yet, but Terry Schiavo probably had more visits […]
Now playing: Twilight Cafe
Twilight Cafeby Tony Hall “Trinidadian playwright Tony Hall’s Twilight Café serves up heaping portions of domestic violence, and director Rhoma Spencer’s theatrically vivid production presents the material with honesty and depth.” – NOW Magazine Who:Directed by: Rhoma SpencerFeaturing: David Collins & Raven DaudaSet, Costumes and Props: Julia TribeSound Design: Nicholas MurrayLighting Design: Michelle RamsayMovement Consultant: […]
10 questions: Martin Julien
L-R: Dusan Dukic, Martin Julien and Dragana Varagic. Photo by Cylla Tiedemann. 1) What the fuck is going on?I’m acting in a recent play by iconoclastic British theatre god and establishment refusenik Edward Bond. It’s called Have I None, and is a dystopia set in the near future. Needless to say, it doesn’t paint a […]
Who wrote it? Who knows – but we like it
It’s time again for us to check in with UnSpun Theatre’s WikiPlay Project – “an ongoing work that anyone can read, write, edit or overhaul whenever they like.” Let’s see what’s happening over at Story thread two and Story thread three: Story thread two is the absurdist’s playgroundA meta-narrative about an audience that’s waiting for […]
Now playing: Have I None
Have I None by Edward Bond April Productions has gathered a group of award-winning collaborators for a journey into the future where the comic and tragic blend into a hallucinatory vision of the new world. Who:Director: Lary ZappiaStarring: Dusan Dukic, Martin Julien i Dragana VaragicSet Design: Jelena DjuricCostume Design: Andjelija DjuricStage Manager: Sandra Henderson When:May […]
10 questions: Melissa-Jane Shaw
L-R: Melissa-Jane Shaw, Rosa Laborde, Mika Collins in Whale Music. 1) What the fuck is going on?Gawd knows! But if someone figures it out, please fill me in. 2) Do you think our culture perpetuates a false dichotomy between art and entertainment?First, yes it is a false dichotomy. And secondly, I think every kind of […]
Theatre link love
Holy fuck some people are smart. We are totally addicted to these awesome theatre blogs: i) Parabasis – “Lively!” – David Cote, Time Out New York. “Isaac Butler is a blogger and theatre director living in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.” ii) Daniel MacIvor – Awesome website and ongoing notebook feature. “Daniel MacIvor . . . is […]
We’re looking for guest bloggers
It’s true When we started this theatre blog in October of 2006, we set out to plot our own little map of Toronto’s independent theatre scene. Through this collection of interviews, surveys, roundups, announcements, questions, answers, comments, listings, Steel Diaries and theatre quotes, we feel we’re a little closer to understanding the terrain. But here’s […]
10 questions: Simon Michellepis
1) What the fuck is going on?Self-knowledge is elusive. 2) How do you feel about your time at the University of Toronto’s Drama Program?I came to theatre late at age 26. Having gone through U of T for pure math it was fairly easy for me to return and get a spot in the UC […]
Now playing: The Tempest
Ariel & Prospero Alchemy Theatre, Toronto’s urban Shakespeare company, presents The Tempest – its 10th production of Shakespeare’s works over the past four years. The Tempest is directed by founding Artistic Director Simon Michellepis. This production remains faithful to Shakespeare’s text while at the same time integrating exciting multimedia stagecraft to evoke the aura and […]
Tonight!
Three one-act plays: Bloody Chinaby Kris Elgstrand Sheila, Herbert, Claire Danes and The Man On My Roofby Florencia Lozano Bed Logicby Gavin Drummond When:Wednesday, May 2nd @ 7:30 pm(doors open @ 7 pm) Where:Chino Bar1378 Queen St. W(Queen and O’Hara)Click here for a map.Toronto, Canada416.915.8883 The players:Leah Wahl, Jo Chim, Laura Nordin,James Murray, Greta Papageorgiu, […]
10 questions: Claire Hopkinson
1) What the fuck is going on? A tremendous amount, that’s for sure. There is a mind boggling amount of wonderful work happening in Toronto – all the time. The biggest change for me personally – since leaving my theatre/opera producing career a year and a half ago – is to make sense of the […]
The Daisey cutters
Not sure how much news of this has made it north of the border to Canada. In case you missed it: A recent performance of U.S.-based monologist Mike Daisey’s Invincible Summer was disrupted when 87 members of a “Christian group” walked out of the show en masse, destroying the show’s original outline as they left. […]
How to write a sentence
“For me, a play is a form of writing which isn’t complete until it is interpreted by actors. But it’s still a form of writing. And so most of my time is spent thinking about how to write a sentence.” – Wallace Shawn