Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Theatre InspiraTO, creator of Canada’s largest ten-minute play festival, kicks off its 10th season May 28 at the Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley St.) with its boldest and most ambitious undertaking to date, including an exciting collaboration with the Ontario College of Arts and Design (OCAD) University – a first in Toronto for the short play forum.
The InspiraTO Festival pushes the boundaries of what an indie theatre festival can be: catapulting from 20 to 90 shows in just one year! Each year the festival highlights a theme that playwrights and supporting arts organizations address, with this year’s theme being the Urban Jungle.
InspiraTO is ready to set fire to the indie-theatre scene by bringing together more than 100 artists who will offer up their unique takes on the concrete jungle motif. What emerges is a dynamic tapestry of work spun out over 10 days, with overarching themes and edgy relevant stories reflecting the cornucopia of life in the big city. As part of the visual narrative, OCAD’s graduates will also partake in an exploration of the urban landscape where curators expose the city’s art and artists.
For the 24 playwrights in this year’s festival that will showcase both emerging Canadian and established talent, their interpretations run deep as they roam wide. The plays, which range from absurd comedies to mysterious dramas, speak of personal journeys into the heart of the urban jungle – the inner and external landscapes – where hot-button issues such as racism, terrorism, sexual assault, mental illness and homophobia, get exposed and explored.
“This season marks a true milestone in our history,” says Dominik Loncar, Theatre InspiraTO’s founder who also runs its Playwright Academy. "We are introducing and cross pollinating different art forms that expand the 10-minute play experience."
InspiraTO Theatre Festival 10th Season Lineup
redShow: 7 ten-minute plays in one show performed on the Mainstage
blueShow: 7 ten-minute plays in one show performed on the Mainstage
quickies: 10 stand alone, ten-minute plays, are performed at the Trinity studio every half hour
urbanART X: OCAD University Curatorium - curator Victoria Mohr-Blakeney
presents three contemporary artists and their work on stage
urbanART Y: OCAD University Curatorium - curator Matthew Kyba
presents three contemporary artists and their work on stage
theatreSafari: audiences are led to four off-site-specific shows and
watch a ten-minute play at each venue
theatreCarrousel: audiences attend four site specific “rotating” shows within
the Alumnae building and watch a ten-minute play at each venue
readings: a reading of select plays from InspiraTO's 10 year history (180 ten-minute plays produced to date)
talkBacks: post performance Q&A session with the Artistic Director, Associate Artistic Director and graduates of Theatre InspiraTO's Playwriting Academy
For more information on the plays and shows including synopses, visit InspiraTO’s website and Facebook page:
Website: www.theatreinspirato.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/InspiraTO-Festival/177388385647416
Twitter: @inspirato_fest
Hashtag: #inspirato10
Venue: Alumnae Theatre
70 Berkeley Street, ON, Toronto (One Block West of Parliament on Adelaide)
Dates: May 28th- June 6th, 2015
Tickets: $5 to $20 available online at www.theatreinspirato.ca or in-person at the Alumnae Theatre Box Office - open one hour before each show. Passes available.
2015-04-21
Toronto: InspiraTO 10-minute play festival runs May 28-June 6