Stage Door News
Stage Door News
In February 2016, two artists got on a cargo ship, and retraced one of the routes of the Transatlantic Slave Triangle – from Bristol, UK to Ghana in western Africa to Jamaica, and back returning home with the stories, reflections and experiences to make a show based on their memories of the journey.
Civic Theatres Toronto presents salt., written and performed by Selina Thompson, at the Studio Theatre, Toronto Centre for the Arts February 7-10, 2019. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at sonycentre.ca, by phone, or in person at select Civic Theatres Toronto box offices.
Describing her two- month journey – 42 days at sea in total -- as “like being inside a migraine,” Thompson approached the research journey like an explorer, noting down every detail in a logbook.
She would write pages and pages every day, marking every little interaction and conversation, the words washing in and out like a tide. Selina travelled with filmmaker Hayley Reid who documented the journey.
salt. is a solo show about the existence of colonial history in the everyday, the politics of grief and what happens inside Selina Thompson's head every time someone asks “where are you from?” and won't take Birmingham or her mum's uterus as an answer.
Read about Selina’s journey, here
Selina Thompson is a Neurodiverse artist performer based in Leeds, UK whose formal diagnosis includes general anxiety disorder and Bipolar II disorder, both of which can lead to depression and the experience of panic attacks and hallucinations. Her practice is playful, participatory and intimate; focusing on the politics of identity and how this defines our bodies, lives and environments. With an emphasis on public engagement and a desire to connect to those who are often marginalized, she has made work for pubs, cafes, hairdressers, toilets, and sometimes even galleries and theatres.
Following salt.’s Canadian premiere at Vancouver’s PuSh festival, salt. travels to downtown Toronto for performances as part of Toronto’s Progress festival at the Theatre Centre before travelling uptown for performances at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. salt. then returns to the UK to play London’s prestigious Royal Court.
The Canadian tour of salt. is supported by the British Council.
“British Council is proud to support this provoking and inspirational production, we are excited for the profound journey it will take its audience on.” – Mariya Afzal, Country Director of British Council Canada
salt.
Created by and starring Selina Thompson
Directed by Dawn Walton
Studio Theatre, Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St.
Thursday, February 7 – Saturday, February 9 at 8PM, Sunday February 10, 2PM
Single tickets are $45
(Price include per ticket fees. Order/delivery fees may apply)
Tickets are available online at ticketmaster.ca, by calling 1-855-872-7669, or in person at the following Civic Theatres Toronto box offices:
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Box Office 27 Front St. E., Monday-Friday, 12pm – 6pm
Toronto Centre for the Arts Box Office, 5040 Yonge St., Tuesday-Saturday 1pm-6pm
Ticketmaster phone lines operate 9:30am – 8pm Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 8pm Sundays and holidays. On-line sales operate 24 hours per day.
Photo: Selina Thompson. ©2018 Richard Davenport.
2018-12-19
Toronto: "salt." by Selina Thompson plays the Toronto Centre for the Arts February 7-10, 2019