After stumbling upon the listing for Beerology‘s Hopera Quartus — an event that pairs live operatic performances and craft beer — I was immediately intrigued!
Thankfully, creator and Master Cicerone Mirella Amato agreed to let me ask her a few questions about this unique event! Check them out below the cut.
Inventive staging and strong performances feature in THIS, now on stage in TorontoAlumnae Theatre’s THIS offers a complex, contemporary drama bolstered by clever staging, a well-structured script, and excellent performances by its five cast members. I was impressed by the quality of stagecraft on every level — if you enjoy relationship-based dramas with a contemporary feel, this isn’t one to miss.
Nightwood Theatre will kick off their 37th season next week with the opening of the 31st annual Groundswell Festival: A Festival of Contemporary Women’s Theatre. Held at the Ernest Balmer Studio in The Historic Distillery District, Groundswell will feature a week of readings by emerging playwrights from Nightwood‘s 2015-16 Write from the Hip script development program with participation from their Young Innovators. To celebrate the opening of Groundswell 2016, we had the opportunity to ask program facilitator, dramaturge and director Andrea Donaldson some questions about this year’s festival. Continue reading Preview: Groundswell: A Festival of Contemporary Women’s Theatre (Nightwood Theatre)
A century ago, the 1916 Easter Rising threatened to tear Ireland apart. Six violent days became the culmination of years of rage and mistrust of the seemingly indifferent British government – and the growing desire for a free and independent Ireland that perhaps began to ignite with the Great Famine. After a 26-year absence from Canada, the national theatre of Ireland, Abbey Theatre, brings The Plough and The Stars, Sean O’Casey’s famous historical drama about the Rising, to Canadian Stage for five performances.
Though the theatre was also the 1926 play’s first home, there’s nothing that feels historical or preserved about this production. The aggressively contemporary staging is a near-complete success, crackling with electricity and a current, vital relevance.
Continue reading Review: The Plough and the Stars (Abbey Theatre/Canadian Stage)
This week, the shows couldn’t be more different: from female actresses playing Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to erotic variety shows to festivals dedicated to theatre itself, we’ve chosen five shows with budget-friendly ticket prices that illustrate the richness and diversity of Toronto’s theatre scene. Check ’em out under the cut! Continue reading Cheap Theatre in Toronto the Week of September 13th