Stage Door News

Toronto: Theatre Passe Muraille to present three digital shows this winter

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Theatre Passe Muraille (TPM) presents plans for Winter Digital Programming, which will include the first two productions of #NavigatingTheNow, TPM’s 20.21 season, as well as a new ‘digital’ tour.

“When we started programming in the summer, we knew that continuing to create and support theatre would be incredibly challenging at this time. #NavigatingTheNow is the theme of TPM’s 20.21 season, which represents the organization’s vision to be flexible, adaptive and responsive to the rapid changes of the world. This has provided our partnering productions and artists the integrity to make necessary artistic decisions at the necessary time. We hope you can join us this winter!” 

~ Artistic Director Marjorie Chan & Managing Director Régine Cadet

As we look to 2021, we’re delighted to provide details of our shows previously announced: 11:11 by Samson Bonkeabantu Brown and SPECULATION by Leslie Ting. Both shows will have a four-performance digital run, coming to you LIVE from Theatre Passe Muraille, to be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. As well, we announce the return of a beloved production, JOHN & WALEED by John Millard & Waleed Abdulhamid, being presented across Ontario through a digital ‘tour’. 

Connectivity and our commitment to the community and to artists continue to be at the heart of our plans. The BUZZ program will continue to house the development of new works this winter including support for ERASED by Coleen MacPherson and FEAR OF MEN by Merlin Simard. Following the success of our first BOOK CLUB meetings, we will continue to meet online to discuss our list of riveting titles and will offer members the opportunity to connect over the themes of our season virtually. 

As well, we will continue with our AMPLIFY project, highlighting board and staff-selected grassroots organizations doing great work in our communities. In March we will celebrate two years of experimenting and exploring alternative avenues of accessibility. Funded by the Toronto Arts Council Open Door project, our ACCESSIBILITY LABS were documented by videographer Kourtney Jackson, and we will release 7 Mini-documentaries about our projects. 

Details on the rest of the season program will be announced at a later date. 

 

Season Productions

11:11 BY SAMSON BONKEABANTU BROWN  

February 9-13 at 7:30pm | A Theatre Passe Muraille Digital Production

Highly anticipated show, 11:11 by Samson Bonkeabantu Brown explores the other side of fear through the eyes of a young, Black transman struggling to understand the ancestral messages saturating his dreams. One of the city’s most promising artists, playwright Samson Bonkeabantu Brown said about the show, 

“The creative team for 11:11 is 3 Black South African men, 2 of which are also transmen. In what world does that happen? Who else could make that happen? Nobody else but my ancestors. 11:11 is not just a play. It is not just my story or my monodrama. As much as it is mine, it is also my ancestors, because I am my ancestors, and my ancestors are me. It is truly 2 stories in 1”. 

11:11 will have four digital performances - one of which will be a return of TPM’s Black Out night, where TPM reserves a performance exclusively for Black audiences to enjoy. 

All performance in the run will be Relaxed Performances and Closed Captioning will be provided on February 13th. Relaxed Performances are designed to welcome audience members and their families who could benefit from a more relaxed environment, including those on the autism spectrum. This will be Theatre Passe Muraille’s first Digital Relaxed Run and along with an introduction at the beginning of the show, digital supports will be provided for the audience. Closed Captioning will be available at the bottom of the screen for audience members who are Deaf or hard of hearing providing the audio in text form on the February 13th performance. 

 

SPECULATION

March 3-6, 7:30pm | A Theatre Passe Muraille Digital Presentation of a Leslie Ting Production

This interdisciplinary project presents the true story of professional violinist and former optometrist Leslie Ting. With monologue and the music of Beethoven and John Cage, Speculation brings audiences through her mother’s gradual loss of vision and eventual passing.  This unique treatise on loss, is co-created by acclaimed blind multidisciplinary artist Alex Bulmer and artist Tristan Whiston.  

“For me, Leslie’s former life as an optometrist reinforces her uniqueness as an artist. Having taken a non-traditional path to her art invariably means that her perspective and processes are wholly original interpretations. In a time of much grief, Leslie’s work touches us and asks us to share in this experience together.” 

~ Marjorie Chan 

Speculation will have four digital performances, and all shows will be Relaxed Performances. ASL Interpretation will be available on March 5 & 6th by Deaf Interpreter Thurga Kanagasekarampillai. 


ON “TOUR”: JOHN & WALEED

January 31, February 1, 7:30pm | A Theatre Passe Muraille Digital Production

Following its success since 2017, John & Waleed continues to prove its relevance as it goes on digital tour to five cities across Ontario. Originally directed by Artistic Director Marjorie Chan in association with Cahoots Theatre, the show brings John Millard,a Toronto based composer, singer and songwriter from Kitchener, Ontario,and Waleed Adulhamid, a multi-instrumentalist and composer from Khartoum in the Sudan, together with open conversations and friendship. The two musicians weave traditional Canadian and Sudanese folk songs and their own compositions through a performance that explores their lives, traditions and journeys. John & Waleed offers a unique and personal experience on storytelling and cultural intersection. It is, from Sudan to Southern Ontario, a journey told through music. 

The production will be presented digitally by The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts (Oakville), First Ontario Performing Arts (St. Catharines) and The Grand (Kingston), as well as The Rose (Brampton). More presenters will be announced.

“John & Waleed is more than just a show with music and storytelling about two friends. It can inspire and represent a way forward in tumultuous times. We not only identify with their camaraderie, and their friendship but we also desire to similarly act with respect for others that share our space. It makes us want to affirm: This is my Canada

~ Marjorie Chan

Ticket Information

Tickets will be available starting on December 15. This season we will not be offering subscriptions. Instead, Theatre Passe Muraille will be embracing the Pay-What-You-Can-Afford (PWYCA) model and offering single tickets at different price points.

The ticket prices this season are: $5, $25, and $50.

In order to remove barriers in our pricing, we are offering three price points so that a wide range of audiences are able to attend our 20.21 Season. We encourage audiences to make their own choices about what they can afford in order to experience theatre. Those purchasing at the $50 price point will do so with the understanding that their ticket price is helping to subsidize the $5 ticket price, and in doing so, making theatre more accessible for others.

Covid-19 Protocols

We are operating with the utmost caution and with the best health and safety knowledge we currently have in order to bring theatre to our audiences.  We have a set of safety protocols based on Public Health guidelines, which are informing our capacity and ability to have artists safely in our space to bring you digital work in your homes. Safety measures and health protocols, including masks, social distancing, and sanitation measures, are fully in effect and updated as precautions for COVID-19 evolve and change. Please see our website or contact us for details.

About TPM’s Community Initiatives

Community engagement is at the heart of how TPM sees its impact beyond the walls. Currently, there are two community initiatives: Book Club and TPM AMPLIFY.Book Club sessions are held monthly and moderated by TPM staff. Registration is free and members will be reading and discussing five exciting titles inspired by the themes of our upcoming shows. As a theatre with a history of producing work by voices that might not otherwise be heard, TPM AMPLIFY is a new community initiative that seeks to amplify the work of IBPOC-centred organizations through social media and marketing channels.