Harbourfront Centre presents a futuristic and immersive dance experience in Toronto
As I got off the streetcar at Harbourfront Centre to see Lot X, a co-production with DanceWorks, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Lot X is choreographed by Heidi Strauss of adelheid and is part of the Torque contemporary dance series, so I thought it would be a dance performance. But I’d been warned to dress for the weather, be prepared to move, and to download an augmented reality app which would add another layer to my experience. We were ready for anything. Fortunately, the seemingly unrelenting rain and drizzle that has been May in Toronto held off for the evening. And Lot X did in fact deliver a little bit of everything. Some parts really did not work for me, but others were innovative and hauntingly beautiful.
VideoCabaret debuts a new play by Cliff Cardinal in their new venue in Toronto
Too Good To Be True is a new play written and directed by Cliff Cardinal and produced by VideoCabaret. The play is a darkly comic exploration of family relationships, the power of storytelling, and what it means to have a home. Fittingly, it is performed in VideoCabaret’s new home at 10 Busy Street. It’s a short wild ride of just over an hour with some very funny moments and some very strong performances. Continue reading Review: Too Good To Be True (VideoCabaret)→
Choreographer Peggy Baker joins forces with members of Arcade Fire for a multidisciplinary dance show
The world premiere of Peggy Baker Dance Projects’ who we are in the dark is currently being presented by Canadian Stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre. Peggy Baker is one of the luminaries of Canadian contemporary dance. She has had a long career as a performer and as a choreographer, both in Canada and internationally. who we are in the dark is her biggest production to date. The piece is a multi-disciplinary evening featuring innovative movement, music, lighting, and visual art which combine into a feast for the senses. Continue reading Review: who we are in the dark (Peggy Baker Dance Projects/Canadian Stage)→
Blood Tides, performed by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and presented by DanceWorks, explores and reclaims the experiences of Indigenous women across generations and cultures. Choreographer Santee Smith brought together a team of Indigenous artists from Canada, the US, Mexico, New Zealand, and Fiji in a collaboration that used dance, video, music, and even pottery to create something that felt like a sacred ritual.
This site-specific one-hander, on stage in Toronto, is smart and funny but didn’t all add up
Katherine is Not a Communist is a new play written by Katherine Doering and Curtis te Brinke and produced by Epigraph Theatre. The one-woman show, featuring Doering as the title character, packs a lot into 90 minutes. There’s American history, classic Hollywood movies, and witchcraft. It’s a wild ride, but for me, the show didn’t hang together. I thought the different bits were interesting, but as a whole, the show left me confused. Continue reading Review: Katherine Is Not A Communist (Epigraph Theatre)→
Fall for Dance North (FFDN) is a unique festival bringing new audiences in Toronto to dance
Fall For Dance North (FFDN) is a unique festival which aims to bring new audiences to dance. The festival features both established and emerging dance artists from Canada and around the world in several mixed programs. And the tickets are only $15! Although FFDN has been around since 2015, this was my first time attending. I’m kicking myself thinking about all the great dance I’ve missed. The festival truly has something for everyone. Even if you are not already a dance fan, it’s a low-risk way to try out a new art form Continue reading Review: Fall For Dance North→
A play by Toronto’s Daisy Productions puts Shakespeare’s female characters centre stage
Gender and women in Shakespeare are hot topics. In recent years, the Toronto area theatre scene has featured a number of Shakespeare productions with women playing men’s roles. Women have played Lear, Prospero, and Romeo to name a few. Daisy Productions’ new play, Ladies Sigh No More, on stage now at The Red Sandcastle Theatre, is a different take on the role of women in Shakespeare. Instead of playing with casting, Ladies Sigh No More imagines what would happen if seven of Shakespeare’s female characters were put together in one room. It’s a hilariously funny look at the Bard, the afterlife, and female empowerment. Continue reading Review: Ladies Sigh No More (Daisy Productions)→
Harbourfront Centre presents a futuristic and immersive dance experience in Toronto
VideoCabaret debuts a new play by Cliff Cardinal in their new venue in Toronto
Choreographer Peggy Baker joins forces with members of Arcade Fire for a multidisciplinary dance show
A new play set during the aftermath of the Fort McMurray fire is no on stage in Toronto
This site-specific one-hander, on stage in Toronto, is smart and funny but didn’t all add up
Fall for Dance North (FFDN) is a unique festival bringing new audiences in Toronto to dance
Gender and women in Shakespeare are hot topics. In recent years, the Toronto area theatre scene has featured a number of Shakespeare productions with women playing men’s roles. Women have played Lear, Prospero, and Romeo to name a few.