Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Soup Can Theatre is proud to present the premiere of Heretic; a theatrical retelling of the story of Joan of Arc from critically acclaimed actor/director Sarah Thorpe. Well known for her work as the director of such hit Soup Can Theatre shows as Love is a Poverty You Can Sell, Marat/Sade, No Exit, and Love is a Poverty You Can Sell 2: Kisses for a Pfennig, Thorpe takes to the stage to bring life to the story of one of history’s most compelling characters.
While only a young teenager, Joan of Arc (the anglicized version of her proper name, Jeanne D’Arc), the illiterate daughter of modest peasants, began to hear voices and see visions of religious saints and angels who instructed her to enter the bloody fray of the Hundred Year’s War and to lead the French forces against the English. With many of her countrymen convinced of her claims of being a force sent by God, she was quickly embraced by the nobility and the military elite and became both a leader on the front lines of battle - donning the same masculine clothes and armour as her male counterparts (a daring choice in fifteenth century Europe) - and an inspirational figurehead across France. After making pivotal gains against the English, she was ultimately captured and charged with heresy for her declarations of divine communication. Despite putting up an impassioned and theologically profound defence, she was found guilty by the English-led court and burned at the stake, forever cementing her status as a martyr.
Was Joan of Arc a holy vessel or the victim of vivid hallucinations? A headstrong warrior or a delusional young woman elevated by the hope of a nation? Heretic explores these complex facets, illuminating the iconic character in a way that has never been seen before.
Bringing this production to life is an impressive creative team composed of director Matt Bernard (Confessions of a Red Headed Coffee Shop Girl), scenographer Claire Hill (Donors, Cockfight, Retreat), lighting designer Randy Lee (No Exit, Love is a Poverty You Can Sell 2), sound designer Jakob Ehman (Sex and This – part of Circle Jerk), and dramaturge Rebecca Perry (Confessions of a Red Headed Coffee Shop Girl).
Performance Details:
HERETIC
Where: lemonTree {studio} Theatre – 58 Stewart St. (just south of King and Bathurst)
When: April 8th to 12th (April 8th, 9th, and 10th at 8pm. April 11th and 12th at 2pm and 8pm.)
Tickets: Tickets range from $15 to $22 and are available at www.soupcantheatre.com, or in person at the venue starting one hour before show time.
Creative and Production Team:
Creator / Performer – Sarah Thorpe
Director – Matt Bernard
Scenography – Claire Hill
Lighting Designer – Randy Lee
Sound Designer – Jakob Ehman
Dramaturge / Assistant Director – Rebecca Perry
Creative Consultant – Karen Knox
Stage Manager – Kathleen Hemsworth
Producers – Justin Haigh and Scott Dermody
About Soup Can Theatre: Soup Can Theatre is a Toronto-based company that strives to explore and comment on contemporary issues and societal challenges, and to offer audiences a theatrical experience that is both entertaining and enriching. Previous productions include Love is a Poverty You Can Sell (1 & 2), Marat/Sade, Antigone, an opera/theatre double bill presentation of A Hand of Bridge & No Exit, and most recently, Circle Jerk, a collaborative multi-work and multi-disciplinary production inspired by lines of original dialogue submitted by the public.
Photo: Patrick Carfizzi as Dr. Bartolo and Nathan Gunn as Figaro. ©2011 Felix Sanchez.
2015-03-17
Toronto: Soup Can Theatre presents "Heretic" – a retelling of the story of Joan of Arc