Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Did you know Nassim means ‘breeze’ in Farsi? Written by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour, NASSIM is an audacious theatrical experiment that explores the power of language to unite us in unknown and uncertain times.
No rehearsals. No preparation. Just a sealed envelope and an actor reading a script for the first time. Plus some tomatoes. Why Not Theatre and Luminato bring ten different performers onstage for ten unique performances of NASSIM at the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs from June 7-16 2018.
Why Not Theatre Artistic Director Ravi Jain: “For the past seven years, Why Not Theatre has been presenting shows from abroad that highlight different cultures and ways of making theatre. We couldn’t continue to do that without partners like Luminato and the British Council. This kind of collaboration is what makes Luminato a vital part of our city - supporting local artists to be part of an international conversation.”
Guest performers are award-winning actor Allegra Fulton, playwright and CBC Arts and Music host Amanda Parris; Anand Rajaram, award-winning actor and the first South Asian performer to grace Second City’s mainstage; comedian Gavin Crawford of CBC Radio’s Because News; Hannah Levinson, star of Mirvish’s Matilda and Fun Home; Karen Robinson, regular on CBC’s Schitt’s Creek; prolific Indigenous poet and storyteller Lee Maracle; 2017 Giller Prize-winning author Michael Redhill; activist and Artistic Director of The AMY ProjectNikki Shaffeeullah; and Ross Manson, Artistic Director of Volcano, who first produced Soleimanpour’s hit show White Rabbit, Red Rabbit in 2011.
The presentation of NASSIM is generously supported by the British Council. Mariya Afzal, Director of the Canada office, states: “We are pleased to support the presentation of NASSIM at Luminato, a piece that demonstrates the strength of innovative and creative theatre productions.”
NASSIM – June 7-16, 2018
Presented by Luminato in association with Why Not Theatre
Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs
Playwright Nassim Soleimanpour
Director Omar Elerian
Performance Schedule (no performance June 12)
June 7, 7 PM - Nikki Shaffeeullah
June 8, 7 PM - Lee Maracle
June 9, 2 PM - Anand Rajaram
June 10, 2 PM + post show talk - Amanda Parris
June 11, 7 PM - Hannah Levinson
June 13, 7 PM - Gavin Crawford
June 14, 7 PM + post show talk - Ross Manson
June 15, 7 PM - Michael Redhill
June 16, 1 PM - Allegra Fulton
June 16, 4 PM - Karen Robinson
Tickets available at https://luminatofestival.com/2018/Events/Nassim
NASSIM was originally commissioned and produced by the Bush Theatre and received its world premiere at the Bush Theatre, London, on 25 July 2017.
Photo: Nassim Soleimanpour in Nassim. ©David Monteith Hodge.
2018-04-25
Toronto: Why Not Theatre and Luminato announce line-up for the play "NASSIM"