Undercurrents Festival Returns: a Revised Belly of the Whale, Ridergirl, among many others from White Horse to New York coming into Ottawa for the Festival.

Byron Laviolette: Photo from Toronto Festival of Clowns. Coming to Undercurrents in Ottawa.

GCTC proudly announces the line-up for the 4^th annual undercurrents: theatre below the mainstream festival in the Studio Theatre of the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre, from February 11 to 23, 2014

On December 11,  Festival Director Patrick Gauthier unveiled the line-up of plays for the 2014 undercurrents: theatre below the mainstream

LIST OF PLAYS and SCHEDUlE

Rider Girl, Colleen Sutton

Tuesday, February 11

7:00 pm Broken

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm RiderGirl

Wednesday, February 12

7:00 pm Ciseaux

9:00 pm Broken

Thursday, February 13

7:00 pm Tashme Project

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Broken

Friday, February 14

7:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Broken

Saturday, February 15

1:00 pm Broken

2:30 pm Can We Talk?

3:00 pm Tashme Project

7:00 pm Rider Girl

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

Sunday, February 16

1:00 pm Ciseaux

3:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

7:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

9:00 pm RiderGirl

Tuesday, February 18

7:00 pm Ciseaux

9:00 pm Tashme Project

Wednesday, February 19

7:00 pm Tashme Project

9:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

Thursday, February 20

7:00 pm RiderGirl

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Tashme Project

Friday, February 21

6:30 pm Can We Talk?

7:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

10:00 pm REVISED From the Belly of a Whale

Saturday, February 22

1:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

2:30 pm Can We Talk?

3:00 pm RiderGirl

7:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Ciseaux

Sunday, February 23

1:00 pm Ciseaux

3:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

undercurrents is GCTC’s festival of independent theatre is held in its Studio Theatre from February 11-23, 2014. The festival showcases the best in indie theatre from Ottawa and across the country. Over the past three years, the festival has presented six world premieres as well as provided a platform to artists who are in the final stages of their creation processes.

GCTC created the festival in 2011 to give independent theatre companies and emerging artists in Ottawa an opportunity to develop and present their work. GCTC is committed to promoting Ottawa and national artists not only by presenting their work in its intimate Studio Theatre but also by providing mentorship in production management, grant writing, dramaturgy and touring opportunities.

PROGRAMME DETAILS

Broken

A Ramshackle Theatre (Whitehorse, YK) production

Written and Performed by Brian Fidler

Directed by Maiko Bae Yamamoto

What if you forgot who you are?

William has discovered a box of his late grandfather’s things: a broken camera, a pocket watch, a box of slides. Each object triggers a landslide of memories, revealing the complicated relationship between what he remembers and what he can never forget.

Drawing on Ramshackle Theatre’s puppetry of found objects, Broken is a story of 1985, lime poppe shoppe pop and Alzheimer’s disease.

“One of our favourite SummerWorks plays of 2013” ~ Torontoist

“Fidler’s performance leaves the audience in awe” ~ Whitehorse Star

 

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RiderGirl

A RiderGirl Productions (Ottawa, ON) production

Created and performed by Colleen Sutton

Directed by Janet Irwin

A prairie girl is seduced into sports fandom and discovers the rules don’t just apply to the game. Two-time Prix Rideau Award nominee Colleen Sutton throws herself into multiple characters as she fights for first downs and flags begin to fly. Loaded with laughs, it’s a fast-paced, physical and trash-talking march down the field that will haul your heart into the game. Come in your colours. It’s GAME TIME!

“…impossible to dislike perky Colleen Sutton who scores a touchdown with her one-woman go-go-go show…”

~ Winnipeg Free Press

“Trust me, this show is a MUST for Rider fans.” ~ Rod Pedersen, Voice of the Riders, 620 CKRM

~Edmonton Journal

~ CBC Manitoba

 

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The Tashme Project: The Living Archives

Created and performed by Julie Tamiko Manning (Montreal, QC) and Matt Miwa (Ottawa, ON)

The Tashme Project is a verbatim theatre piece that traces the history and common experience of the Nisei (or 2^nd Generation Japanese Canadians) through childhood, WW2 internment and post-war resettlement. Now in their 70’s and 80’s, the Nisei were children at the time of internment and their stories of adventure and play are presented in sharp relief to the more common internment narratives of hardship and injustice.

“The Highlight of the festival.” ~ What Are Years?

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A Quiet Sip of Coffee (or, This is Not the Play We’ve Written)

An AnimalParts (Toronto, ON / New York, NY) production

Created and performed by Anthony Johnston & Nathan Schwartz. Created with Anita Rochon

In the summer of 2004, Anthony Johnston and Nathan Schwartz – self-proclaimed gay/straight best friends duo – wrote a prank letter to a fundamentalist “ex-gay” organization asking for funds to develop their new play: Never Cry Wolfman. To their surprise, they were invited to workshop the play at the group’s retreat in rural British Columbia – under the condition that they also spend two weeks participating in gay conversion therapy. Years later, the friends reunite to tell their story as a piece of theatre.

“Fast paced and intriguing… more intimate than (an) on-screen close up… an experience that is unique wonderfully live” ~ nytheatre.com

“Hilarious and harrowing avant-garde autobiography.” ~ Flavorpill NY

 

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Ciseaux – A WORLD PREMIERE

A THÉÂTRE ROUGE ÉCARLATE (Ottawa, ON) production

Written and directed by Lisa L’Heureux

Performed by Lissa Léger & Marie-Ève Fontaine

Deux vies tissées par un lien. Chacune portant en elle le pôle opposé. L’une le nord, l’autre le sud. L’autre, son homologue inséparable, sa négation. L’autre, vers qui tout converge jusqu’à en être indissociable. Comme deux lames de ciseaux.

Two lives bound together. Each carrying within her the opposite pole. One is the north while the other is the south. Each is the other’s counterpart, the other’s negation, towards whom everything converges until the part become inseparable. Like a pair of scissors.

Ciseaux will be presented in French with English surtitles. Ciseaux sera présenté en français avec surtitres en anglais.

 

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Morro and Jasp do Puberty

An Up Your Nose and In your Toes (Toronto, ON) production

Created and performed by Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee

Directed and Dramaturged by Byron Laviolette

Morro and Jasp do Puberty explores clown sisters Morro and Jasp’s journey into almost adulthood. As Jasp marvels at the wonders of boys and brand new bodily functions, Morro awkwardly attempts to hide from the inevitable changes overtaking her. This show is perfect for anyone who wants to remember (or forget) the magical and terrifying journey that is growing up. A hilarious look back at the best period of your life!

WINNER – Patrons’ Pick 2009, Best of the Fringe 2009 (Toronto Fringe Festival)

Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble (NOW Magazine, 2009)

Official selection: New York Clown Festival (2010)

“Two of the most original clowns on the Canadian scene” ~Toronto Star.

“So well written and so well performed that I think EVERY girl and boy who is going through puberty or have passed it, should see this show…simply brilliant.” ~ Tapeworthy

 

“Funny and touching, it’s a Fringe winner.” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ~ NOW Magazine, 2009

 

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In addition to the 6 plays, undercurrents will present two special productions in the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre Lobby.

REVISED From the Belly of the Whale

A Mi Casa Theatre (Ottawa, ON) production

Created and performed by Nick Di Gaetano and Emily Pearlman

Created and directed by Patrick Gauthier

REVISED From the Belly of a Whale is a response to 2012’s LIVE From the Belly of a Whale – a show that almost tore a company and friendship apart. Join Mi Casa for a live reconciliation party/concert as they examine their friendship while unpacking their flawed creative process, air the skeletons in their closet and probe the delicate and personal nature of the imagination. Drinks, music, laughs and warm hearts included.

ONE NIGHT ONLY – Admission is $10 and includes a free downloadable track from the show

 

Can We Talk?

A STO Union (Ottawa, ON) production

Created and performed by Sarah Conn

The phone’s ringing and it might be for you! Emma from Victoria is on the line and she has some questions about life in Ottawa. Part storytelling, part conversation, Can We Talk? is an exploration of the impulse to leave the place where you were born, emigration by choice, and the decision to stay behind.  Can We Talk? is an interactive and immersive live art piece for one audience member.

All performances take place in the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre Lobby.

Admission is pay-what-you-can

 

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Pitch Party

A Company of Fools (Ottawa, ON) and GCTC production

Got a project that you need creative collaborators on? Wanting to get onboard someone’s project in the early stages? The Pitch Party is made for you. Need some collaborators for your devised piece? Need a writer to give words to your idea? Need a director to give shape to your words? Need a producer to bring your piece to the world? The Pitch Party is the place to be.

Creators, writers, directors, producers – you’ll have an opportunity to pitch your project your project in 4-5 minutes.

Actors, directors, producers, writers – you’ll have an opportunity to hear pitches, and then have a 4-5 minute ‘Dance Card’ meeting with the people whose projects are of interest to you.

On Wednesday, February 19^th, all will have the opportunity to drink, eat, schmooze and dream in an evening we hope will fuel the next few seasons of new work on Ottawa stages.

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GCTC’s undercurrents: theatre below the mainstream runs from February 11 – 23, 2014.

 

Show times:

Each of the 6 productions run approximately one hour and is presented 5 times throughout the 12 day festival. During the week there are two performances a night – at 7:00 and 9:00 PM. On Saturday and Sunday show times are 1:00, 3:00, 7:00 and 9:00 PM. Can We Talk runs approximately 20 minutes and is presented 10 times throughout the festival at 12:30, 2:30, 6:30, and 8:30 PM. Please check the festival schedule for dates.

For the full festival schedule visit: http://www.gctc.ca/whats/undercurrents

Tickets go on sale December 11, 2013.

Single tickets – $15,

3-show subscription – $40,

6-show subscription – $60

Reservations for REVISED Belly of the Whale need to be booked through the GCTC Box Office or online at www.gctc.ca. Ticket price is $10.00.

By Phone: GCTC Box Office at 613-236-5196. In Person: GCTC Box Office at 1233 Wellington Street West, at the corner of Holland Avenue. Online: http://www.gctc.ca/your-visit

 

undercurrents: theatre below the mainstream 2014 – Schedule

Tuesday, February 11

7:00 pm Broken

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm RiderGirl

Wednesday, February 12

7:00 pm Ciseaux

9:00 pm Broken

Thursday, February 13

7:00 pm Tashme Project

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Broken

Friday, February 14

7:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Broken

Saturday, February 15

1:00 pm Broken

2:30 pm Can We Talk?

3:00 pm Tashme Project

7:00 pm Rider Girl

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

Sunday, February 16

1:00 pm Ciseaux

3:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

7:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

9:00 pm RiderGirl

Tuesday, February 18

7:00 pm Ciseaux

9:00 pm Tashme Project

Wednesday, February 19

7:00 pm Tashme Project

9:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

Thursday, February 20

7:00 pm RiderGirl

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Tashme Project

Friday, February 21

6:30 pm Can We Talk?

7:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

10:00 pm REVISED From the Belly of a Whale

Saturday, February 22

1:00 pm Morro and Jasp do Puberty

2:30 pm Can We Talk?

3:00 pm RiderGirl

7:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

8:30 pm Can We Talk?

9:00 pm Ciseaux

Sunday, February 23

1:00 pm Ciseaux

3:00 pm A Quiet Sip of Coffee

 

 

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About the Great Canadian Theatre Company:

GCTC is celebrating its 39th Anniversary Season in 2013 – 2014.

“To foster, produce and promote excellent theatre that provokes examination of Canadian life and our place in the world.”

GCTC is committed to the production of new Canadian work and artist development. We continue to commission and workshop new plays by emerging and established playwrights. We mentor emerging companies and artists through our undercurrents festival, master classes, and internships.

Media Contact:

Sheilagh D’Arcy McGee

Media Relations Coordinator

613-236-5192, ext. 239 or 819-918-7443 or media@gctc.ca