Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Canada’s celebrated Shaw Festival has proudly announced they will be co-producing a new production of 1979 by Michael Healey with Ottawa’s Great Canadian Theatre Company, bringing Artistic Director Eric Coates to direct on Shaw’s stage for the very first time.
The co-production with Shaw Festival marks the third artistic partnership in GCTC’s 42nd season. Other co-productions include The Last Wife by Kate Hennig, with Belfry Theatre (Victoria BC) and in the spring of 2017, a new French-language commission entitled Les Passants by Luc Moquin –created in celebration of Canada’s 150th and co-produced with Théâtre la Catapulte.
Talks of GCTC and Shaw collaborating have been in place since early this year, both enthusiastic about presenting the play and interested in its workshop and production. “The most exciting aspect of this partnership is our shared belief in a politically engaged audience,” says Artistic Director Eric Coates. “Rather than shying away from challenging work, we are sharing resources to produce and promote it across the board.”
Michael Healey’s 1979 takes us into the backrooms of a defining moment in Canadian political history. Written by “one of Canada’s most distinguished and political playwrights” (Toronto Star) this play takes us back to the eve of Prime Minister Joe Clark’s minority government’s defeat in a non-confidence motion. It’s a fast-paced satire incorporating political heavyweights and influencers of the era. The production will rehearse at Shaw Festival, premiere in Ottawa at GCTC and tour back to Shaw as part of their 2017 season. The Ottawa component will run from April 11 to 30, 2017.
Tickets for Ottawa’s production of 1979 are now on sale. For information call the Box Office (613) 236-5196 or visit www.gctc.ca.
Photo Joe Clark. ©1979.
2016-08-19
Ottawa: GCTC to co-produce Michael Healey's "1979" with the Shaw Festival