Cheap Theatre for the Week of January 21, 2014

Take a tour around the world in this week’s selection of budget-friendly theatre. Through dance, traditional theatre and even puppetry, traditional cultures are explored in detail. Why not make it a culturally themed evening by starting with dinner from the same region as the performance you’re about to see? What we can assure you, dear theatre enthusiast, is that you won’t be disappointed.

The Colours of Kathak The Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre presents a performance demonstration about the classical dance from India by Infusion Dance artistic director Parul Gupta. Jan 21 at noon. Free. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen W. coc.ca.

Lament of the Exile Performing Taiwan and Dance Theatre XX present a dance adaptation of Qu Yuan’s epic poem, choreographed by Zhang Xiao-Xiong. Jan 24-25 at 8 pm. Free. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. performingtaiwan.com.

The Little Child (Short One Player Theatre/Performing Taiwan). A boy takes care of his ailing father and dreams of better days in this puppet theatre play. Jan 24-25 at 8 pm. Free. Enwave Theatre, 231 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, performingtaiwan.com.

Mosaic Storytelling Festival (The Open Door East End Arts Collective). Itah Sadu shares folktales and traditional stories from Africa, the Caribbean and North America. Jan 26 at 3 pm (runs every second Sun to Mar 23). Pwyc/$5 sugg. St David’s Anglican Church, 49 Donlands. 416-466-3142, mosaicstorytelling.ca.

The Princess and the Pea by Dave B Harris and Sue Plyte (Nags Players). A prince must decided between love and royal duty in this traditional English pantomime. Opens Jan 23 and runs to Feb 1, Thu-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sat 1:30 pm. $12-$20. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. nagsplayers.com.