Stage Door News
Stage Door News
March 11, 2016 . . . Stratford’s indie theatre and arts festival is celebrating its sixth season with a line-up of more than 40 artists and companies. Running from May 12 to 22, SpringWorks 2016 features an eclectic mix of theatre, music, dance, poetry and visual art. Following a successful launch last year, the SpringWorks Puppet Festival will return on Victoria Day weekend.
“We’re delighted to be able to showcase a range of talent at SpringWorks,” says Eileen Smith, Artistic Producer. “After the success of our inaugural Puppet Festival, we knew we wanted to continue to build this stream of programming. I think this will be a very exciting season for our family audiences.”
SpringWorks announced their line-up at Gallery Stratford, which has timed its opening to coincide with the indie festival. Programming at the gallery will include a new Poetry Slam event. Award-winning playwright and emcee Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, a.k.a. Belladonna the Blest, will join the roster of young artists in an evening of hip-hop and beat poetry.
Programming is coming from Sook, BC; Calgary; Winnipeg; Montreal; Dartmouth, NS; Salem, Oregon; and cities across Ontario. With clown, sword fighting, mask, modern dance, a memory museum and aerial-circus-meets-Shakespeare, SpringWorks has something for everyone.
SpringWorks 2016 also includes the following:
Opening night with Sharron Matthews. Ms Matthews serves up her signature irreverent wit with solid gold mash-ups by artists such as Lady Gaga, Guns ’N Roses, Radiohead, Beyonce, Queen and more in a comedic tour-de-force concert.
Dark Love,* by Governor General’s Award nominee Donna-Michelle St. Bernard. Developed at the National Arts Centre, this poetic interdisciplinary work is part of the 54ology, in which Ms St. Bernard writes a play for every country in Africa.
The Immigrant, by Giuseppi Condello. Within the silence of mime, in relationship to spoken stories, The Immigrant is based on the themes of manual labour and man’s quest for freedom.
Bone Rhythm, by Nicola Pantin, Robin Calvert, Neesa Kenemy and Jeanine Henderson’s Infinity Dance. Movement, instinct and rhythm collide in this mixed dance program with acclaimed choreographers and Stratford school Infinity Dance.
Across Canada by Story, by Douglas Gibson. Author Douglas Gibson shares a coast-to-coast literary adventure.
Wake Up Sleeping Beauty, by Live Action Theatre Project. In a classic fairy tale with a twist, young audiences are invited into a choose-your-own-adventure tale where viewers decide what “happily ever after” looks like.
*Part of SpringWorks’ series of works in progress.
Puppet Festival offers a weekend of family fun
Kids and adults will have the opportunity to explore a beloved art form at the SpringWorks Puppet Festival Family Weekend, running May 21 to 22. Day and weekend passes will provide access to puppet shows and related activities.
The 2016 Puppet Festival will include the following:
That’s Laughter-tainment, by Matthew Romain. With his trusty ukulele, Matthew and his puppet friends present a lively, hilarious musical variety show.
Animal Adventure, by Rock the Arts. The Creature Crew shows kids how to help the environment during an unforgettable field trip to the zoo.
Caisse 606, by Caroline Bélanger and Marie-Hélène Bélanger-Dumas (English and French versions). Two cashiers, encased to the waist by their registers, dream of a world of carrot ballets, soy sauce heartbreak, limbo lessons, and brilliant sunshine with a pineapple aftertaste.
Puppet Play Zone, with Kim Howe. Fun for all! Enjoy a puppet tea party or share a kiss at the puppet kissing booth.
Mainstage and Puppet passes now available
“Each season, we’re delighted to welcome more and more visitors to SpringWorks,” says Ms Smith. “We’ve grown tremendously over the past six years, and I’m really looking forward to seeing new and returning audiences at our 2016 productions.”
A full program overview is available on the SpringWorks website. For details and for passes to the mainstage and puppet festivals, visit www.springworksfestival.ca.
Dates: May 12 to 22, 2016
General admission: Adults: FREE to $20; Children: FREE to $10.
Package rates: Adult tickets: 3+ for $15 each; Family of 4 (max. 2 adults): $45.
Flex passes (3 tickets): Adults: $45; Children: $25.
Puppet Festival Day Pass: Adults: $20; Children: $10.
Puppet Festival Weekend Pass: Adults: $30; Children: $15.
All purchases add HST and service fees.
Website: www.springworksfestival.ca
Contact: email@springworksfestival.ca
Support for SpringWorks 2016 is generously provided by Canadian Heritage.
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Photo: Jon Lachlan Stewart in Big Shot.
2016-03-11
Stratford: Mainstage and puppet passes now available to SpringWorks 2016