Stage Door News
Stage Door News
MARCH 31, 2016, TORONTO: The RISER Project, a new collaborative producing model developed by Why Not Theatre, will present four new theatre works by Canadian artists running from April 16th to May 14th at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen Street West, Toronto).
The RISER Project is a holistic approach to challenges that emerging artists face with producing new theatre. High costs of production, difficulty building an audience, and inefficient use of existing resources and infrastructure make it difficult for artists to create the work that they are passionate about. By building a structure of mentorship and sharing resources, The RISER Project enables emerging companies to develop and present fully realized productions. In addition, The RISER Project facilitates long-term relationships between producing companies and Senior Partners. This year, Senior Partners Necessary Angel, Nightwood Theatre, Theatrefront, Modern Times, fu-GEN and The Theatre Centre are contributing resources and support to The Project, and offering mentorship to the presenting companies.
The RISER Project was first imagined in 2014 by Ravi Jain and Owais Lightwala of Why Not Theatre. With the receipt of a major $100,000 grant from the Toronto Arts Council to further develop the model, it has since presented 7 world premieres which have garnered 10 award nominations, employed 42 emerging artists, and welcomed over 3500 audience members. One of last year’s premieres, Mouthpiece, went on to play to sold-out houses, collect 2 Dora awards and 6 nominations, and book a nationwide tour. Now in its third year, The RISER Project is proud to present its 2016 line-up:
DEAD ROADS
Produced by The Dead Roads Collective
April 16th to 24th, 2016
Approx. running time: 75 minutes
Something strange is happening in small town Alberta. A Haul truck driver finds herself trapped in a dream. A butcher receives an unimaginable shipment of meat. And a bartender, who never left home, is growing wings. A magical-realist story about life on the edge of capitalism.
Created by Clare Preuss, Neema Bickersteth, Darwin Lyons and Zoë Sweet
Performed by Neema Bickersteth, Darwin Lyons and Zoë Sweet
Directed by Clare Preuss
Set and Costume Design by Laura Gardner, Sound Design and Composition by Maddie Bautista, Sound Engineering by Constanza D’Avila
THE ARCHIVIST
Produced by Shaista Latif
April 17th to 22nd, 2016
Approx. running time: 60 minutes
My name is Shaista (Shy-east-a). I am attempting to write a history but I can’t remember the order of things. You see, my memories are not entirely my own. And if I can’t tell the story of how I came to be, WE will repeat a cycle of … reaching back in time from Afghanistan to Canada. Will you help me remember so we don’t forget?
Written and Performed by Shaista Latif
ORALTORIO: A THEATRICAL MIXTAPE
Produced by MotionLive Collective, Newface Entertainment and IFT Theatre
April 29th to May 12th, 2016
Approx. running time: 90 minutes
ORALTORIO: A THEATRICAL MIXTAPE is a coming of age story that traces the personal and collective journey of Northside-born girls as they grapple with identity, migrate through their histories, and manifest their lineages through ancient, contemporary, and Afro-futuristic soundscapes; finding the multi-layered voices of the B Girl and the DJ, as the traditional storyteller and drummer are reborn in their beats and rhymes.
Written and Performed by MotionDirected by Mumbi Tindyebwa
Composition and Performance by DJ L’Oqenz, Choreographed by Roger Jeffrey, CostumeDesign by Mariuxi Zambrano, Set Design by Jackie Chau, Projection Design by Ramon Charles
THE OTHER
Produced by Company Blonde and Pyretic Productions
Running May 3rd to May 14, 2016
Approx. running time: 75 minutes
Sharon has never felt like she belonged anywhere. This feeling of alienation has been compounded by the fact that Sharon has never been in a ‘normal’ relationship. THE OTHER is a sexy dark comedy from the companies that have brought Toronto SIA, Sudden Death and Malaria Lullaby.
Directed and Choreographed by Monica Dottor Written by Matthew MacKenzie
Performed by Lara Ebata, Natalie Fullerton, Holly Treddenick, Alida Nyquist-Schultz
Set and Costume Design by Jenna McCutchen, Sound Design by Dean Musani
All tickets available through The Theatre Centre box office at www.theatrecentre.org or 416.538.0988
About Why Not Theatre
Founded in 2007, Why Not Theatre is a Toronto-based theatre company with an international scope. Under Artistic Director Ravi Jain, Why Not has established a reputation as a company synonymous with inventive, experimental, cross-cultural collaborations resulting in shows featuring new Canadian writing, company-devised and site specific shows alongside revitalized interpretations of classics. Over the last 9 years we have developed over 15 productions, touring to 20 different cities on 4 continents. In recent years, the company has also become known for its presentation of international productions and workshops from diverse cultures and artistic practices, along with support for the development of local emerging artists and companies.
About The RISER Project
Inspired to create more accessibility and opportunity for emerging artists, Why Not Theatre created this new collaborative model for theatre production in 2014. In RISER, Why Not Theatre brings together senior partners who are established theatre companies to help smaller companies find a financially viable way to create new work. They do this by providing shared space, mentorship and technical tools for selected companies. The model is built on sharing resources, risk and energy to reduce the production burden placed on independent artists and small theatre companies. The collaborative producing model is made possible with the generous support of the Toronto Arts Council’s Open Door program and the Government of Canada.
Twitter: @theatrewhy not #riser16 facebook.com/theatrewhynot theatrewhynot.org
2016-03-31
Toronto: The RISER Project 2016 presents four new works April 16-May 14