Stage Door News
Stage Door News
April 20, 2016, TORONTO – The Lemon Bucket Orkestra’s raucous, Revolution-documenting, guerilla-folk opera, Counting Sheep, returns to the Toronto theatre scene at Broadview Place (296 Broadview Ave) from May 26 to June 5, 2016. This vibrant piece inspired by Mark and Marichka Marczyk’s experiences during the 2013 Ukrainian Revolution was a smash hit at the 2015 SummerWorks Performance Festival and returns bigger than ever.
Counting Sheep is a deeply personal retelling of the Maidan revolution in Ukraine, an immersive Ukrainian folk-opera set to the sounds of beloved guerilla-folk party-punk band The Lemon Bucket Orkestra. In January 2014, Mark Marczyk touches down in Kyiv and is quickly thrust into a nation on the eve of revolution, a volatile whirlwind of tragedy mixed with hope and solidarity, torn apart by brutal violence. Counting Sheep is a striking, visceral exploration into the politics of revolution, beating with the heart of a people yearning for a better tomorrow. A call-to-action and affirmation of the human condition, Counting Sheep invites audiences to be part of the Revolution.
The 20 person cast envelops audience members in this historic time period as they perform moments of revolution amongst three large screens projecting real life news coverage of the revolution that began in 2013. Counting Sheep is performed using gorgeous Ukrainian polyphony choral music and though not in English, the exuberant musical performances and vibrant visuals offer a clear view into the lived experience of those involved in the Maidan, and to an extent any modern day political revolution. Anticipation, excitement, fear, loss, anger and the will to keep fighting – audience members are by the Revolutionaries’ side, riding the wave of each emotion.
The Maidan or Euromaidan refers to a series of demonstrations and civil unrest that began in November 2013 with protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square). By January 2014, these demonstrations became synonymous with concerns over government corruption, abuse of power and human rights violations in Ukraine. This revolution included several violent clashes with authority, resulting in over 780 deaths, though the Ukrainian Ministry of Healthcare reports only 105, the average age of the deceased being about 24 years old.
Counting Sheep is created by Lemon Bucket Orkestra leader, Mark Marczyk and his wife, Marichka Marczyk, and is inspired by their experiences in the Maidan. What began as a grassroots, community driven piece has evolved and grown in size as a direct result of audience feedback and a resounding ability for audiences to identify with it.
Lemon Bucket Orkestra is a 16 piece, Juno nominated band based in Toronto. The troupe puts on their rambunctious, guerilla-style concerts in a variety of traditional and nontraditional music spaces, offering audiences music infused with the spirit of revolution.
Counting Sheep was first presented at the St. Vladimir Institute in February 2015 followed by a development period and wildly successful run produced at the SummerWorks Performance Festival in August 2015. As Lemon Bucket Orkestra continues its journey with Counting Sheep, the piece is seeing significant growth, doubling its audience capacity and increasing the scale of the performance and set in this newest presentation. Following this presentation, LBO takes Counting Sheep to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
To view the trailer for Counting Sheep click here
To view production stills please click here
To learn more about the Maidan please click here
Counting Sheep
www.countingsheeprevolution.com | 1-800-838-3006
May 26 – June 5 || Broadview Place, 296 Broadview Avenue
Tuesday – Sunday, 8-pm | Saturday Matinee, 2pm | Sunday Matinee, 3pm
Tickets starting at $25, includes food.
Limited $20.00 rush at the door only.
Run time: 90 minutes
Created by Mark and Marichka Marczyk with the Lemon Bucket Orkestra
Directed by Mark and Marichka Marczyk
Set Design by Matthew Cherkas
Lighting and Production Management by Kaitlin Hickey
Video Design by Pedro Bonatto de Castro
Stage Managed by Kelly Read
Produced and Associate Directed by Michael Rubenfeld
Cast: Mark Marcyk, Marichka Marczyk, Tamar Ilana, Chris Weatherstone, Stephania Woloshyn, Nathan Dell-Vandenberg, Michael Louis Johnson, Oskar Lambarri, Jaash Singh, Ian Tulloch, Michael Keane, Volodymr Bedzvin, Dima Nechepurenko
Chorus: Anne-Marie Krytiuk, Amanda Verner, Hayden Finkelshtain, Aaron Janke, Ewelina Telentso, Carlos Garate
About The Lemon Bucket Orkestra
The Lemon Bucket Orkestra is Canada's only balkan-klezmer-gypsy-party-punk-super-band. Born on the streets of Toronto as a busking band in 2010, the original quartet of guerrilla-folk troubadours quickly amassed a battalion of troops armed with brass and bows and started touring the world. LBO has been nominated for several awards, heralded as ground-breaking by international media, and has performed at international festivals across the globe, but their greatest achievement is their ability to embody the dynamic space between "home" and "exotic" and to welcome audiences into the celebration of that space.
Photo: Scene from Counting Sheep. © 2015 Dahlia Katz.
2016-04-20
Toronto: Lemon Bucket Orkestra's "Counting Sheep" returns to Toronto May 26-June 5