Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Modern Times’ Artistic Director Soheil Parsa, renowned for his unique interpretations of the classics (Blood Wedding, Waiting for Godot, The Chairs, Macbeth), will direct and choreograph an adaptation of the Iranian play, The Death of the King. His seven- person ensemble includes Bahareh Yaraghi, Ron Kennell, and Jani Lauzon. The design team includes Trevor Schwellnus (Scenographer), Thomas Ryder Payne (Sound Design and Composition), and Teresa Przybylski (Costumes).
Critically-acclaimed Iranian playwright, Bahram Beyzaie wrote The Death of the King shortly after the Iranian Revolution. Beyzaie's play tells the story of a family charged with treason, and accused of killing their nation's ruler. The execution gallows are being prepared while a miller, his wife, and their daughter embark on a desperate bid to reveal the truth about their despotic, yet desperate, leader. This highly-inventive and physical production explores the vulnerability of ordinary citizens struggling under the extraordinary circumstances of their political fate.
The Death of the King was originally produced by Modern Times in 1994. Says Parsa: “The current world situation—wars, occupations, and particularly the rise of religious fundamentalism—have motivated me to revisit The Death of The King. The piece is both deeply political and philosophical. It challenges our perceptions of history and historical truths, as well as our notions of fiction and reality. This timeless and mythic play is even more relevant today than it was two decades ago.”
Modern Times and The Theatre Centre are proud to continue a long and rich history of collaboration with this production. "Soheil served on our board of directors in the 90s and played an artistic advisory role after that,” says General and Artistic Director of The Theatre Centre, Franco Boni. “We have played host to the work of Modern Times for over two decades: The Balcony, Macbeth, bloom, and Forgiveness...all found a home with us at The Theatre Centre, and helped to renew our faith in the power of bold storytelling. We are thrilled, now that we are in our new home, to be able to partner with Soheil and his company again as he revisits this important work."
Immediately following the Toronto premiere, The Death of the King will tour to ODC Theatre, San Francisco, running from April 13-17, 2016.
The Death of the King follows Modern Times’ critically acclaimed co-production (with Aluna Theatre) of Federico Garcia Lorca’s Blood Wedding | Bodas de Sangre, for which Parsa was awarded the 2015 Dora Award for Outstanding Direction, and Scenographer Trevor Schwellnus was awarded Doras for both Set and Lighting.
Modern Times Stage Company and The Theatre Centre present
The Death of the King
By Bahram Beyzaie
Translated by Soheil Parsa and Peter Farbridge
Directed by Soheil Parsa
Featuring: Sean Baek, Steven Bush, Colin Doyle, Carlos González-Vio, Ron Kennell, Jani Lauzon, Bahareh Yaraghi
Scenographer: Trevor Schwellnus
Composer/Sound Designer: Thomas Ryder Payne
Costume Designer: Teresa Przybylski Stage Manager: Michael Hart Production Manager: Charissa Wilcox Production Dramaturg: Ric Knowles Assistant Director: Carla Melo Producer: Sue Balint
Performance times:
Previews: Saturday March 26 & Sunday March 27, 2016 Opening Night: Tuesday March 29, 2016
Runs through April 10, 2016
Tuesdays – Saturdays at 8:00pm
Sundays and Wednesday April 6 at 2:00pm
The Theatre Centre
1115 Queen St. West
Tickets $15 - $25
Box Office: 416-538- 0988 | theatrecentre.org
About Modern Times Stage Company
Modern Times was founded in the belief that individual voices, experiences and backgrounds can unite in a common vision and create theatre that expresses the essence of a shared human spirit. Modern Times has explored stories from across the globe, producing adapted, translated and original works for audiences in Canada and internationally. moderntimesstage.com | @moderntimestage
Photo: Jani Lauzon. ©2015 Jeremy Mimnagh.
2016-02-04
Toronto: Modern Times Stage Company presents "The Death of the King" March 26-April 10