Stage Door News
Stage Door News
TORONTO: May 6, 2015. Artistic Director Brendan Healy announced an exciting line up for Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s 2015-16 Season today, featuring a slate of provocative work born from the company’s Artist Residency Program and partnerships with local companies, as well as a national tour. The season is marked by investigations in personal and collective histories, helmed by some of Canada’s foremost theatre artists.
In announcing the season, Healy remarks: “I am thrilled to be offering, as my final season, a selection of political theatre that tackles queer history, feminism, social alienation, and queer love. During my time at Buddies, I have done my best to continue the company's tradition of using theatre to create a better and more compassionate world. It is my hope that these works will challenge, educate, entertain, and, most importantly, inspire our audience to become more engaged, caring, and hopeful citizens.”
Buddies’ Mainstage Season opens with the highly anticipated English language world premiere of The 20th of November by Swedish playwright Lars Noren, in a new translation by Gord Rand. Inspired by the video diaries and blog of a German school shooter, Noren’s script insists that we bear witness to the torment of an alienated young man and listen to a voice not often heard. In the vein of such distinct, groundbreaking work as Blasted and PIG, director Brendan Healy brings this internationally celebrated work to Canadian audiences for the first time. With The 20th of November Buddies also introduces an exciting new theatrical voice, Sina Gilani, to the Toronto theatre scene in this powerful solo performance.
In January, Buddies launches a national tour of the 2013 Dora-nominated smash-hit The Gay Heritage Project. Created in the Buddies Artist Residency Program, The Gay Heritage Project asks “is there such a thing as a gay heritage?” Original creators and performers Damien Atkins, Paul Dunn, and Andrew Kushnir reunite to bring this much anticipated, highly physical, comedic, and fast-paced performance back to the Buddies stage. Buddies is thrilled to share this beloved show with Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, The Vancouver East Cultural Centre (The Cultch), and Victoria’s Belfry Theatre as it tours across the country.
The company’s Artist Residency Program continues to generate new and exciting work, with two resident companies offering new pieces in this year’s season. In March, Buddies premieres Gertrude and Alice, a work by Independent Aunties Productions about the lives of queer icons Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. Seasoned performers Evalyn Parry and Anna Chatterton embody Gertrude and Alice, and explore the couple’s legacy as it stands today, over one hundred years after their first meeting. The Independent Aunties have created five highly acclaimed, original plays together – Buddies audiences will remember them from their 2006 production of Clean Irene and Dirty Maxine and 2010’s Dora-nominated production of Breakfast. In May, Buddies premieres Body Politic, a work by lemonTree creations about the story of the birth, life, and eventual demise of Canada’s first gay newspaper, The Body Politic. Body Politic reimagines the legal, political, and personal struggles surrounding this integral leader of the Canadian civil rights movement. The play is written by up-and-coming Toronto playwright Nick Green and directed by seasoned theatre artist Alisa Palmer.
The 2015-16 season also features a special performance in the Cabaret space by international artist Sunny Drake. Fresh off a tour with sold out shows in Europe, the USA, Canada, and Australia, Drake’s No Strings (Attached) is a funny and tender look finding love in the 21st century. This internationally celebrated work is a collaboration between Pink Pluto and Eventual Ashes, written and performed by Drake and directed by Gein Wong.
Canada’s longest running new works festival The Rhubarb Festival will be back for its 37th year, with Festival Director Mel Hague at its helm.
Buddies also welcomes guest company productions from Human Cargo and Crow’s Theatre (The Road to Paradise by Jonathan Garfinkel and Christopher Morris) and the Cabaret Company (The Terrible Parents by Buddies’ founding Artistic Director Sky Gilbert).
15/16 SHOW LISTINGS:
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
THE 20TH OF NOVEMBER
by LARS NOREN
translation by GORD RAND
directed by BRENDAN HEALY
starring SINA GILANI
September 12 – October 4
A young man stands before you. Soon, he will go to his school to kill as many people as he can, including himself. But before he commits this act, he is going to tell you why. One of Europe’s most prolific and provocative playwrights, Lars Noren, dares us listen to the very things we try to ignore.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre proudly welcomes a Human Cargo and Crow’s Theatre co-production
THE ROAD TO PARADISE
by JONATHAN GARFINKEL & CHRISTOPHER MORRIS
directed by CHRISTOPHER MORRIS
starring SAMIYA MUMTAZ
November 14-28
A child suicide bomber in Pakistan, a Canadian soldier in Kandahar, an Afghan immigrant in Toronto. Three worlds collide in this play about love and loss in the time of war.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
THE GAY HERITAGE PROJECT
created and performed by DAMIEN ATKINS, PAUL DUNN & ANDREW KUSHNIR
directed by ASHLIE CORCORAN
January 5-31
Is there such a thing as a gay heritage? Three of our country’s most gifted creator/performers seek out history not often shared. This highly anticipated remount celebrates the voices of the people who came before us and the events that continue to shape our lives.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
THE 37TH RHUBARB FESTIVAL
festival director MEL HAGUE
February 2016
Canada’s longest-running new works festival returns for a 37th year. For two weeks, Buddies is transformed into a hotbed of experimentation, with artists exploring new possibilities in theatre, dance, music, and performance art. Rhubarb is the place to see the most adventurous ideas in performance and to catch your favourite artists venture into uncharted territory.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and Independent Aunties Productions present
GERTRUDE AND ALICE
conceived + created by THE INDEPENDENT AUNTIES
directed + dramaturged by KARIN RANDOJA
written by ANNA CHATTERTON and EVALYN PARRY
with additional text by GERTRUDE STEIN and ALICE B TOLKAS
performed by EVALYN PARRY, ANNA CHATTERTON, and RANDI HELMERS
March 5 – 27
A new work from acclaimed feminist theatre collective Independent Aunties about the lives, love, and legacy of queer icons Gertrude Stein and Alice B Toklas.
Pink Pluto and Eventual Ashes in association with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre present
NO STRINGS (ATTACHED)
written & performed by SUNNY DRAKE
directed by GEIN WONG
March 16 – 26
A hilarious and touching confessional exploring the romantic lives of queer and trans* folks. One hopeless romantic shares his experience navigating the fast-paced worlds of on-line dating, jealousy, and sexual politics in his search for love.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre proudly welcomes a Cabaret Company production
THE TERRIBLE PARENTS
written & directed by SKY GILBERT
starring GAVIN CRAWFORD & ED ROY with ROBIN SHARP & KATIE SLY
April 6 – 17
Perennial provocateur Sky Gilbert is back with a hilarious, gender-bending take on family life and the power of our parents to screw us up.
Buddies in Bad Times and lemonTree creations present
BODY POLITIC
by NICK GREEN
directed by ALISA PALMER
starring COLE ALVIS, JONATHAN SEINEN, and more.
May 21 – June 12
The monumental story of our country’s first gay newspaper and an exploration of the people, politics, and events that shaped the gay rights movement in Toronto.
2015-05-06
Toronto: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre announces its 2015/16 season