Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Eric Coates, Artistic Director of Ottawa’s Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC) took to the main stage today to reveal a provocative new season of Canadian stories.
In keeping with GCTC’s mandate to promote excellent theatre that provokes examination of Canadian life, the 2016-17 season meets the audience head on. The programming features six Canadian plays by our country’s most exciting emerging and established playwrights. It speaks to diversity, equality and loyalty. The plays range from an examination of the complexity of human relationships, to bold adults-only programming, to an intimate look at Canada’s most fascinating political leaders, appealing to political pundits whether they bleed red or blue.
“This playbill is the result of great collaboration both within GCTC and with our partners across the country,” said the Artistic Director. “We started to see a wave of younger people coming to GCTC this season and we are eager to build on that success with our programming.”
Meet a daughter conflicted by her mother’s secret in The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble by Beth Graham; experience a modern-day twist on the House of Tudor in The Last Wife by Kate Hennig; delight in an adults-only marionette show with Ronnie Burkett’s The Daisy Theatre; meet the young student who captivated a Prime Minister in Trudeau Stories by Brooke Johnson; embrace a unique French Theatre experience with the world premiere of Les Passants by Luc Moquin – a new commission created in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday and co-produced with Théâtre la Catapulte; and spend the night with the last Red Tory on the eve of his minority government’s defeat in Michael Healey’s political satire 1979.
Coates adds “Our partnership with Théâtre La Catapulte is particularly exciting as we will be reaching another new audience.”
A full description of the new season, subscription and ticket information were posted on GCTC‘s website at the same time along with a video of Eric Coates, Managing Director Hugh Neilson, staff and some special guest artists introducing the new season. www.gctc.ca.
During the launch Coates highlighted the company’s increasing commitment to partnerships with local, regional and national artistic organizations and institutions, as well as businesses in the community.
Propeller Dance, under the leadership of Co-Artistic Directors Renata Soutter and Shara Weaver, return for a third season as Company-in-Residence; the longstanding relationship with local TYA company Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre will once again engage young audiences in the GCTC space throughout the season; and GCTC will continue its successful partnership with the Ottawa School of Art, presenting curated exhibits of the work of the school’s 3rd year visual art students in The Lorraine ‘Fritzi’ Yale Gallery.
In concert with the new GCTC strategic plan, the theatre company has enhanced its commitment to community outreach significantly. Plans for the In the Lobby Series to return are underway, offering an informal night of interviews and musical guests with business leaders and art supporters in the Wellington West/Hintonburg neighbourhood. Coates also spoke to additional outreach partnerships on the culinary front, collaborating with local businesses to offer pop-up lobby restaurant events based on the success of their recent collaboration, Off Cuts, with Dominion City Brewery & town restaurant.
GCTC’s 2016-2017 Season:
THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL OF BERNICE TRIMBLE by Beth Graham
PREVIEWS SEPTEMBER 20 & 21
SEPT 22 TO OCT 9, 2016
Bernice calls a family meeting to tell her three children she has early onset Alzheimer’s. But she only tells Iris, her middle child, the real secret. Now Iris is in charge of putting a life-altering plan into motion in this touching story about life, memories and the perfect casserole.
“...impossible to make it to the end with a dry eye.”
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
“...powerful work by playwright Beth Graham.”
POST CITY TORONTO
THE LAST WIFE by Kate Hennig
PREVIEWS NOVEMBER 1 & 2
NOV 3 TO 20, 2016
Co-production with Belfry Theatre, Victoria BC
Set in contemporary North America, this retelling of the gripping relationship between Katherine Parr and Henry VIII is a funny, powerful examination of patriarchy, sexual politics and women’s rights.
“THE LAST WIFE is a superb play”
THE STAR
“...racy, in the sense of both pungency and speed”
NATIONAL POST
THE DAISY THEATRE by Ronnie Burkett
PREVIEWS NOVEMBER 29 & 30
DEC 1 TO 18, 2016
Witty, biting and clever, The Daisy Theatre features Burkett's famous marionettes in an improvised cabaret inspired by bold characters and current events. The only certainty: this one-of-a-kind theatrical experience is for adults only.
“Some of the funniest, most brilliant theatre you’ll ever be lucky enough to see.”
THE PROVINCE, VANCOUVER
“Mr. Burkett is a benevolent god: indelicate, a little poignant and kind of fantastic.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
TRUDEAU STORIES by Brooke Johnson
PREVIEWS JANUARY 10 & 11
JAN 12 TO 29, 2017
Charming, poignant and very funny, Trudeau Stories takes us back to 1985 to learn about an unlikely friendship that developed between a young Canadian theatre student and the most powerful man in the country.
“A lush and intricate script – a remarkable theatre experience.”
THE GUARDIAN
“An unexpectedly engaging memoire...like turning the pages of a live snapshot album...it’s delightful.” NATIONAL POST
LES PASSANTS by Luc Moquin
Surtitle translation by Lisa L’Heureux
PREVIEWS FEBRUARY 21 & 22
FEB 23 TO MAR 12, 2017
Co-production with Théâtre la Catapulte, Ottawa, ON
Through a series of vignettes, everyday situations develop into curious scenarios that explore trust, risk, and our ability to navigate human relationships. Performed in French with English surtitles, this world premiere is part of a three-city, national, bilingual theatre project.
1979 by Michael Healey
PREVIEWS APRIL 11 & 12
APR 13 TO 30, 2017
On the eve of his minority government’s defeat in a non-confidence motion, Prime Minister Joe Clark seeks a moment of peace in the privacy of his office ... or at least he tries. Enter every political powerhouse of the era to set plans off-course in a fast-paced satire about a fascinating time in Canadian politics.
"Healey is a masterful wordsmith"
CBC MANITOBA
“One of Canada’s most distinguished and prolific playwrights.”
THE STAR
For subscription and ticket information call the Box Office (613) 236-5196 or visit www.gctc.ca
About the Great Canadian Theatre Company:
GCTC celebrates its 42nd season in 2016-17. GCTC was created by a group of people who joined together at Carleton University with little more than an idea. It is now a mainstay in Canada’s professional theatre scene.
GCTC is committed to the production of new Canadian work and artist development. We continue to commission and workshop new plays by emerging and established playwrights. We mentor emerging companies and artists through internships and sharing resources.
2016-03-23
Ottawa: The Great Canadian Theatre Company announces its 2016/17 season