undercurrents theatre festival, in its landmark tenth year of operation, has offered to its audiences the ultimate mid-winter treat: works-in-progress by some of Ottawa’s brightest emerging voices that have matured beyond a Fresh Meat framework but that still understand the extent to which they have room to explore. This year’s under development series featured three mid-journey works: Beth-Anne (created by Monica Bradford-Lea and Nicholas Leno), Honey Dew Me (created by theatre decentred), and Home Sweet…Something (created by Litera Pro).  

These projects have been marketed as works with aspirations beyond the Arts Court Library; in truth, all three will likely make reappearances in Canada’s coming Fringes. In an admirable move on undercurrents’ part, the shows have not been marketed any less than the “mainstage” performances in the much-larger Arts Court Theatre; they’ve been granted equal promotional weight, plus the added bonus of dramaturgical and developmental support from undercurrents mentors. 

 I’ve grouped the under development series together for the simple reason that these projects form an astounding triptych of the Ottawa “emerging artist” mentality: these voices in conjunction with each other speak to an Ottawa that’s starved (but ever-so-slowly recovering) from lack of representation of backgrounds and genres. This cohort of (for the most part, recent uOttawa Theatre graduates) paints a portrait of a generation willing to carry the dramatic torch through the hallowed halls of the well-loved Arts Court; for every moment that might need polishing, there are two more that speak to a dazzling maturity, awareness, and hunger for vibrancy onstage.

…

Read More Read More