Borne

Hello all!
Hope you're enjoying your Canada Day weekend. It's shaping up to be beautiful.
Our neighbour, playwright Judith Thompson, is as busy as ever. Her latest undertaking is Borne. Here's the scoop:
"I am reaching out with great hope and pride to invite you to Borne,- a show I have created in collaboration with nine wheelchair users--following the smashing success of our first company venture, RARE… last year at the Young Centre (Soulpepper) from June 27 – July 19, 2014 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts.
Rare Theatre has produced this show in partnership with Soulpepper.  These performers are not professional actors, but they are simply brilliant-provocative, and radical.

Everything I thought I knew about..not walking…plus all the other issues, is exploded, shattered and in pieces. Re..borne.love, Judith

For tickets and more details visit soulpepper.ca or call 416-866-8666.

Visit the show page:

http://www.soulpepper.ca/performances/14_season/borne.aspx

Watch the behind the scenes video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-C4Rkqn-R0"

Cheers,

Vanessa

Watching Glory Die at the Upstairs Berkeley

Area resident Judith Thompson wrote and stars in Watching Glory Die, which opens next Thursday. Its subject matter will be familiar to most people who are up on news and current events. And I quote: 

“A riveting yet deeply compassionate portrait of three women, inextricably linked by shared helplessness in the face of tragedy: Glory, a troubled 19 year old inmate, incarcerated for offences at age 14, whose compulsive, rebellious nature leads to a non-ending, ever spiraling clash with Corrections Canada; Rosellen, the girl’s suburban adoptive mother desperately trying to remain connected to her daughter; and Gail, a working class prison guard, struggling to walk the line between her ‘orders’ and her conscience."

Tickets are $18.
The Toronto Star wrote about the play recently, as well.I had a chance to see the play while it was being workshopped last year. To say that it's powerful is an understatement.
Watching Glory Dies runs May 15th to June 1 at Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.
Cheers,
Vanessa

RARE at the Young Centre

Local resident Judith Thompson's creation RARE is being remounted at the Young Centre this month.
"Created and directed by playwright Judith Thompson, with the cast writing most of their own material, the RARE artists lift the mask of Down Syndrome to show us their humour, their grace, their rage and their dreams."
Tickets are $15 to $30.
Cheers,
Vanessa

RARE: More Shows Added

This rolled into my inbox from our neighbour, playwright Judith Thompson. Sounds like an excellent opportunity to see some inspiring theatre! And I quote:

"Hey Vanessa,

Would you do us a favour and post on your Ring Around that our show RARE, featuring nine performers who happen to have Down Syndrome,after a sell out at the Fringe,  has THREE added shows, Aug 1, 2nd and 3rd at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, at the North York Station. Aug 1st is sold out but there are some tix left for the 2nd and 3rd.

Call Ticketmaster for these 15 dollar tickets!"
Cheers,
Vanessa

The Tempest

It's a tradition that each Spring, playwright Judith Thompson directs a Shakespeare play at different local schools using child students as actors.
This year, that tradition will draw to a close at Palmerston PS with a production of The Tempest starring approximately 60 children (roles are shared so that everyone can participate).
Much work goes into the play: original music is written; a backdrop is created; costumes are sewn and rehearsals span three months or more.
The result is always amazing, especially considering the age of the actors.
Performances will take place in the Palmerston PS gym on June 17th and 18th starting at 7 pm.
If you'd like to attend, you can buy $5 tickets at Palmerston PS's Mayfest this Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm. They'll be at the main ticket booth.
Cheers,
Vanessa