Theatre PANIK to Present Canadian Premiere of STRANGERS, BABIES

Can society ever let go of the past? Theatre PANIK presents the Canadian premiere of STRANGERS, BABIES by Award-winning Scottish playwright Linda McLean, May 11 - May 28, 2017 at Artscape Sandbox.

The play will be presented in a unique space, with limited seating. Audience members follow the action by peeping into motel rooms, spying on characters, and piecing together clues - making each experience unique.

"I am stunned by Linda McLean's use of language - this kind of brutal poetry that just rings so true, elevated in a very modern way. We're very excited to bring her voice to Canada for the first time," director Paul Lampert said.

At the centre of STRANGERS, BABIES, a woman is trying to live a normal life, but with the constant reminder of a horrifying past. Outwardly, she seems fine. But as the play unfolds in five mysterious playlets with each of the men in her life, it becomes obvious that May's history continues to haunt her. When she decides that she wants to bring a baby into the world, the audience is forced to decide whether May's past can ever be forgiven.

Linda McLean is a multi-Award winning playwright from Scotland, whose plays have been translated into multiple languages. Her plays include Any Given Day (Lessa Rossy Playwrighting Award); strangers, babies (Susan Smith Blackburn prize finalist); Shimmer (Herald Angel), One Good Beating (Best One Act Play); Riddance (Fringe First, Herald Angel); What Love Is; This Is Water; Uncertainty Files; Cold Cuts; Doch An Doris; Word for Word; Sex & God and Every Five Minutes.

The show is led by co-Artistic Directors and founders of Theatre PANIK, husband and wife, Paul Lampert (director) and Niki Landau (May). Paul Lampert's many directing credits include six seasons at the Shaw Festival where he was Associate Director, as well as productions for Tarragon Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Persephone Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, The Great Canadian Theatre Company, The National Theatre School of Canada, and the Blyth Festival. He has extensive international experience, including work with theatres in Poland, Germany, Austria, Spain, China, Cuba, USA, and the UK.

Niki Landau has acted in theatres across the country and in the United States. Notable credits include the world premieres of Unholy, by Diane Flacks (Nightwood & Buddies in Bad Times), Jason Sherman´s After the Orchard (National Arts Centre) and Reading Hebron (Factory Theatre), and the Canadian premiere of George F. Walker´s Suburban Motel Series (Factory).

STRANGERS, BABIES features an Award-winning Canadian cast of Richard Lee, Jeff Lillico, David Schurmann, Edmund Stapleton and Richard Ausar Stewart. Richard Lee is an Award-winning actor, fight director, sound designer and theatre producer. His work has garnered three Dora Awards: One for his Sound Design work on paper series (Cahoots Theatre Company) and two in performance Sultans of the Street & Cinderella: A Ratical Retelling (Young People's Theatre). Dora Award-winning actor, and Stratford Veteran Jeff Lillico recent theatre credits include Of Human Bondage (Dora Award-winner, Soul Pepper) and Spoon River (Soul Pepper). Veteran actor David Schurmann has spent 30 seasons at the Shaw Festival and four at the Stratford Festival. Recent theatre credits include How do I love Thee (Berkeley Street Theatre), And Then There Were None (Aquarius Theatre), and he will also star in the upcoming production of King Charles III in January 2018 (Studio 180 and Mirvish Theatre). Edmund Stapleton past theatre credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Shakespeare by the Bow), Spelling 2-5-5 (Carousel Players), Henry IV Part 1, and The Merchant of Venice (Perchance Theatre). Richard Ausar Stewart recent theatre credits include Small Axe (Theatre Centre), Awake (Expect Theatre), I Marcus Garvey (Theatre Archipelago and TV /Film credits include Rogue (Direct TV), Man Seeking Woman, Murdoch Mysteries, (CBC), Nikita (CW) and Covert Affairs (USA Network).

Theatre PANIK has produced challenging, alterNative Theatre in Toronto since 2005. Founded in the wake of the 911 attacks and the ensuing fear of communal spaces, Theatre PANIK's mandate is to awaken: To embolden audiences by the communal experience, in the belief that theatre is a safe way to explore dangerous ideas. Theatre PANIK is also committed to stretching the bounds of the theatrical experience and building bridges to under-represented communities. Most recently, Theatre PANIK produced PEEP, an all-night photography/art installation/drag show bringing together Toronto's best drag kings, queens, trans artists and actors. In Spring 2016, Theatre PANIK devoted itself to the voices of women who have been silenced by producing a mini-documentary inspired by the treatment of female witnesses in sexual assault trials, and with the on-going photography art-project i see you.

IF YOU GO:

Theatre PANIK presents

STRANGERS, BABIES

by Linda McLean

Featuring Niki Landau, Richard Lee, Jeff Lillico, David Schurmann, Edmund Stapleton

and Richard Ausar Stewart

Set by Michael Gianfrancesco - Costumes by Ming Wong

Lighting by Bonnie Beecher - Sound by Christopher Stanton

Video by Cameron Davis - Movement by Kate Alton

Artscape Sandbox Theatre, 301 Adelaide St. West, Toronto, Ontario

May 11 - May 28, 2017

Opening Night: May 12 at 8pm

Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm • Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2pm

Ticket Prices: $30 and can be purchased online www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2904227

For more details on Theatre PANIK, go to www.theatrepanik.ca.