On this page: The Stolen Child | The World Turned Upside Down |
Shakespeare's Interactive Circus | Birds of the Coming Storm | Joan

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Number Eleven Theatre (Toronto) ~ "The Stolen Child"

Directed by Jane Wells

Scripted by Elizabeth Rucker

Designed by Varrick Grimes

The Stolen Child is an original all-ages performance developed in collaboration with the children of the Trinity Bellwoods CARE program. Inspired by tales from England, Scotland and Ireland about children stolen by faeries, the play is performed by members of Number Eleven and the CARE children.

Find out more about Number 11 Theatre at www.numbereleventheatre.com

Stranger Theatre (Toronto) ~ "The World Turned Upside Down"

Directed and dramaturged by Kate Cayley

Stage Managed and designed by Lea Ambros

Banners by Kilby Smith-McGregor

Performed by Kyle Cameron, Sarah Cormier, Simon Rice, and Christina Serra

A short entertaining history of the 17 th Century English Diggers. The World Turned Upside Down will chronicle the tumultuous events of 1649 when a group of revolutionaries took over common land that was being held by wealthy land-owners to build cottages and plant gardens for the good of all. Using the original Digger's songs and manifesto's we will give a brief chronicle of their heroic acts and eventual downfall. Premiering at The Cooking Fire Theatre Festival.

The majority of the show is taken from the writings of Gerard Winstanley, and from The World Turned Upside Down, by Christopher Hill. Additional text by Kate Cayley

Find out more about Stranger Theatre at www.strangertheatre.ca

A Company of Fools (Ottawa) "Shakespeare's Interactive Circus" ~

Al Connors

Nick di Gaetano

Margo MacDonald

Emmanuelle Zeesman

Stage Managed by Erin Finn

Directed by Scott Florence

Costumes by Louise Haydon

Shakespeare's Interactive Circus

Rap, improvisation, fine physical acting and other theatre traditions all blend together in an exhilarating, irreverent romp through a number of Shakespeare's plays. It begins when the star of the show is nowhere to be found and the remaining members of the troupe must improvise their way through the performance. The Fools recreate the atmosphere of the Globe Theatre and interact with the audience in a high energy, fast paced, entertaining performance of Shakespeare that has delighted audiences across Canada for over 10 years.

Find out more about Company of Fools at www.fools.ca

Le Petit Théâtre de l'Absolu (Montreal) ~ "Birds of the Coming Storm"

Performed by: Bill E Dee, Elizabeth Robertson, Hermine Ortega and Mackenzie Ogilvy

Chicago, May 1886. Towards the end of a demonstration, a bomb explodes among a group of policemen, killing seven. In a climate of hysteria, the best-known anarchists of Chicago are arrested. Eight men are put on trial, and without the slightest proof of their guilt, seven of them are condemned to hang.

With the help of paper silhouettes torn from the past, the members of the Petit Théâtre de l'Absolu will sketch out these tragic stories of what it means to stand up and fight against the state of things. In a few tableaux, with puppetry and music, we'll try to pay our respects to some of those unlaid ghosts whose passion for justice still haunts the modern world.

red red rose (Toronto) ~ "Joan"

Christine Brubaker (actor: Hauviette/cast

John Cleland (actor: Wolfe/Charles/cast)

Sherri Hay (Puppet Design)

Camellia Koo (Set/Costume Design)

Patrick McManus (actor: Pierre/Bishop/cast)

John Millard (Composer/Musical Director)

Sarah Phillips (Writer/Director)

Kimberly Purtell (Lighting Design)

Karin Randoja (actor: Isabelle/Joan/cast)

Isaac Thomas (Stage Manager)

Joan is an eclectic and curious retelling of the story of Joan of Arc.The audience will witness high drama, puppetry, live music, wild creatures and a burning at the stake. (Please note: no puppets will be harmed during this production.) Joan is about storytelling -- about the relationship between the story and the teller and the impact stories have on our individual lives.

Find out more about red red rose at www.redredrosetheatre.com

This festival has been generously funded by: