Review: Queens Calling (Dance Immersion)

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Eight award-winning choreographers’ work takes the stage for Toronto’s Black History Month celebrations

Image of Brandon Burton and Jessica G Thomas in The Third Side

Queens Calling, presented by Dance Immersion at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, features the work of eight female choreographers from across Canada, the US and the UK and is part of the TD Then and Now series for Black History Month.

When I read that it was dedicated to the 219 girls abducted from a boarding school in Chibok, Nigeria I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was bracing myself for something very bleak. I won’t lie, I was pretty thankful that it wasn’t two hours of doom and gloom.

Each choreographer presented a 10 minute piece, which was great because it meant that if there was a piece you didn’t like, you knew you’d be onto a new one soon enough.

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2015 Progress Festival Review: D-SISYPHE (décisif) دون-سسيسيفوس (Volcano Theatre)

D-Sisyphe-fr-partenariat

One of the things I love about the new Progress Festival is that it brings international works to the Toronto stage that audiences here might not otherwise have a chance to be exposed to. While not every show will hit the mark; if you take the chance, you may discover a performance that surprises you and affects you in an unexpected way. D-Sisyphe (décisif) created and performed by Tunisian actor, dancer and playwright Meher Awachri is such a show for me. I went in with a bit of a detached, academic curiosity and emerged surprisingly moved by the performance.

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2015 Progress Review: Messiah Complex 5.0 (Michael Dudeck and Videofag)

Messiah Complex

Presented as a lecture from the fictional Museum of Artificial Histories, Michael Dudeck’s The Messiah Complex 5.0, curated by Videofag for the Progress Festival, sets out to deconstruct the religious themes and narratives that permeate “Grand Narratives.”

Using movement, song, projections, and popular culture, Dudeck’s solo performance is compelling. He uses projections carefully, letting his audience make connections between his ‘messiah’ character and what the images depict. In fact, Dudeck, the centre of the work, is charming. Confident in his material, he lets his audience get swept away in his make-believe information.

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Cheap Theatre – Feature Posting – Progress

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It can be expensive to travel to other countries. I just booked a few flights, and my wallet is crying. But wouldn’t you rather save the emotions for yourself, and still get to experience the ideas, motivations and messages of other cultures, right here in Toronto?

Enter Progress. You can check out a more extensive discussion about exactly what it is by clicking here – but all you need to know is that a number of extremely innovative international shows are coming to Toronto this week, and you can see all of them for very, very cheap – some shows are even free! All it takes is a short trip to The Theatre Centre out on Queen West, where all of the shows are playing. But act fast – performances start on Wednesday, run until February 15th, and tickets are going fast!

All in all, you really won’t want to miss Progress!

So check out their website for scheduling and ticket info, and go see some Cheap Theatre!

Review: Melancholy Play (The Empty Room)

The Empty Room explores melancholy through a quirky play at Toronto’s Collective Space

There’s something strangely comforting about the state of melancholy. It’s like a warm blanket that you know you really should just shrug off and get on with your day. But, no matter how much you rationally argue it, you continue to stay curled up in a big ball of slightly sad contemplation of the world around you. The Empty Room’s Melancholy Play makes a strong effort to explore the experience of this strange emotion from its manic highs to its crushing lows, all in a uniquely designed and performed package.

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