Stage Door News
Stage Door News
November 4, 2013, Toronto, ON… UnSpun Theatre is set to premiere THE TIN DRUM, an original adaptation of the novel by Günter Grass at the Aki Studio Theatre for a limited run this December. The company was awarded the exclusive Canadian production rights to the novel from Mr. Grass himself, and this is the first English theatrical adaptation of the novel in North America.
“This piece asks us to consider how witnessing cruelty affects us. How do we react? If we don’t react, what’s the reason? We are interested in investigating if the act of witnessing a society’s darkest acts seeps into us in ways we may not even recognize,” said director & co-adaptor Chris Hanratty.
"The novel is full of so much magic and such powerful imagery that we felt compelled to theatricalize it,” added Shira Leuchter, performer and co-adaptor. ”What a thrilling challenge to stage a scream that shatters glass and a horse's head full of wriggling eels!"
Oskar Matzerath decides at the age of three that he wants to stop growing and remain a child. As a child he can remain the perfect witness, observing everything but responsible for nothing. From his bed in a mental hospital, Oskar recounts the story of his family in wartime Poland.
“It was then that I declared, resolved and determined that I would stop right there, remain as I was - and so I did. I remained the precocious three-year-old, towered over by grown-ups but superior to all grown-ups, who was complete both inside and outside.”
THE TIN DRUM will take the audience to a world where no one assumes responsibility for their actions - least of all our narrator - who literally refuses to grow up.
The Tin Drum, an original adaptation of the novel by Günter Grass
Adapted by Chris Hanratty and Shira Leuchter
Directed by Chris Hanratty
Featuring Jesse Aaron Dwyre, Gordon Bolan, Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster, Scott Clarkson, Margaret Evans, Cyrus Lane and Shira Leuchter
Set, Costumes and Prop Design Anna Treusch
Sound Design by Christopher Stanton
Lighting Design and Production Management by Dave DeGrow
Choreography by Monica Dottor
Stage Managed by Laura Cournoyea
AKI Studio Theatre 585 Dundas St. East
Preview: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 8pm
Opening Thursday December 5 until Saturday, December 14, 2013
Monday to Friday at 8pm - Saturday at 2pm & 8pm*
Ticket prices: Evening $25 – Matinees & Preview $15
To purchase call (416)- 531-1402 or visit the Aki Studio box office
2013-11-04
Toronto: UnSpun Theatre presents the North American premiere of "The Tin Drum" December 4-14