BWW Interviews: Luminato Artistic Director Chris Lorway Talks Theatre Programming

Luminato is a massive creative arts festival that will be taking over the city of Toronto for ten days beginning June 11th. Luminato features theatre, dance, music, visual arts, film, literature, food and more! Many of the events are free and there are big names coming out to participate in the fun (including John Malkovich, Rufus Wainwright, Jully Black, Sass Jordan and more!

BWW had the chance to speak with Luminato Artistic Director Chris Lorway about the festival, and we bring you his thoughts as well as an overview of the theatre events the festival is offering this year:

This year's Luminato offers a ton of exciting events for theatre lovers, is there one particular show you are especially excited about?

This is always a difficult question. It is like asking parents which one of their children they like the best. If I was forced to pick one show, I would have to say the Africa Trilogy as I have been working on it with Volcano Theatre and its artistic director Ross Manson since I arrived in Toronto in 2007. To me it truly represents everything Luminato is about - a small company with a big idea who, through a partnership with us, were able to make a project like this happen. It is a stellar collaboration between acclaimed local and International Artists who have gathered to tackle one of the most pertinent issues in the world right now - "What is the West's relationship with the world's most complex continent?" I attended a rehearsal just last night and I'm very excited about how the project is coming together. Ross and his collaborators should be incredibly proud of what they have been able to accomplish with this poignant trilogy of new work.

The premiere of Rufus Wainwright's Opera is certainly a coup to be able to present, do you think it will be able to draw a good crowd from people who don't normally go to the Opera?

I have now seen the show twice, in Manchester and in London. The audiences in both instances were very different then your typical opera audience. They were young, hip and in many cases going to the opera for the first time. I expect most of them were Rufus fans and they loved what they saw. As we were in the lobby at intermission and after the show, you could hear the buzz about how excited they were to be at the opera. Chances are that any fears that they had about the art form were significantly diminished. While some of the classical music critics had negative quibbles about the piece, the audience had the ultimate say - and it was positive. Which is why the run at Sadler's Wells in London was completely sold out.

For people not familiar with Luminato or its programming, could you sum up what they can expect if they come out to some of the theatre events?

We are hoping to introduce Toronto audiences to things that they wouldn't normally see if it wasn't for Luminato. So this includes bringing in large-scale international work like The Infernal Comedy (starring John Malkovich) and Prima Donna. We also have had great success with new work from Canadian artists. Last year, Soundstream's and Luminato teamed up to produce The Children's Crusade, which was one of the sleeper hits of last year's Luminato. This year we have new productions like the aforementioned The Africa Trilogy and Homage, a piece from 2b theatre from Halifax. Both productions for me represent the exciting theatre making that is currently happening in Canada.

What has been your favourite part of working on this year's programming?

Every year we get to become experts in something new. With The Africa Trilogy being a core part of this year's event, we decided to program literary and music events that would thematically tie into this show. As a result, the programming team has been introduced to some of the most amazing artists, musicians and writers from this part of the world. And on the completely fun side, Prima Donna launched us into the world of the Diva! We have spent the last couple of months lining up a star studded roster of international divas for our outdoor shows in Yonge-Dundas Square. This includes performances by Grammy nominated Melanie Fiona, INDIA, Lea DeLaria, Justin Bond and the world's biggest Japanese pop star, Maki Nomiya. It is going to be a fun place to hang out during the festival.

Below is a breakdown of the programming offered at Luminato this year that specifically falls under the category of "theatre"

For more information or to see the many other events being offered, please visit the official website at www.luminato.com.

The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer - North American Premiere

Two-time Oscar nominee John Malkovich makes his Luminato debut starring in the true story of celebrated Austrian author and notorious murderer Jack Unterweger in The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer. Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1976 for murdering a teenage girl, Austria's Jack Unterweger reinvented himself as a literary celebrity with his acclaimed autobiography, Purgatory. Hailed by his country's intellectual elite as a triumph of rehabilitation, Unterweger was paroled in 1990 - only to claim the lives of eleven more women on two continents. Baroque and Classical arias performed by sopranos Bernarda Bobro and Marie Arnet accompanied by the Vienna Academy Orchestra accentuate eight monologues exploring Unterweger's life. PArt Theatre, part opera, part concert, this North American premiere affords a glimpse into the heart of human darkness. Written and directed by Michael Sturminger, The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer is produced with Musikkonzept, Vienna, in association with Ronacher Theatre, Vienna and presented by TELUS. Major media partners for this production are CTV and The Globe and Mail.

Friday, June 11 - Saturday, June 12, 8 PM at Massey Hall
$55 - 125

Prima Donna - North American Premiere

Composed by acclaimed singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, Prima Donna makes its North American debut at Luminato. Set in Paris, 1970, Prima Donna tells the story of Régine Saint Laurent, an aging opera singer attempting to regain her status as one of the world's greatest sopranos. An avid opera aficionado, Wainwright is a Canadian-American citizen who spent his formative years in Montreal. The Prima Donna cast includes Charlotte Ellett, Toronto's Colin Ainsworth and Gregory Dahl, and celebrated British soprano Janis Kelly in the title role. Prima Donna is helmed by award-winning opera director Tim Albery, and conducted by Robert Houssart with set and costume design by Antony McDonald. Prima Donna was commissioned by Manchester International Festival, Sadler's Wells, Luminato, and Melbourne International Arts Festival in French with English SURTITLES^TM. Presented by The Weather Network.

Monday, June 14, Wednesday June 16, Friday June 18, Saturday June 19, 7:30 PM at the Elgin Theatre
$50 - 200

The Africa Trilogy - World Premiere

A triple bill of new plays, The Africa Trilogy examines the complicated relationship existing between Africa and the West. Inspired by the 2005 Massey Lectures by Stephen Lewis, The Africa Trilogy explores the human reality of this complex global relationship from three distinct points of view. The piece features a creative ensemble of three writers and three directors spanning three continents. Directors Josette Bushell-Mingo, Ross Manson and Liesl Tommy, along with playwrights Christina Anderson, Roland Schimmelpfennig, and Binyavanga Wainaina draw upon their own cultural experiences in order to question the way we see and imagine each other. Commissioned by Luminato and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, The Africa Trilogy is a production of Toronto's Volcano Theatre and is presented in association with Harbourfront Centre. The performance runs for a total of three hours 30 minutes, including two intermissions.

In previews Thursday, June 10 - Sunday, June 13; Tuesday, June 15 (opening night) - Sunday, June 20 at the Fleck Dance Theatre
$30 - 45

One Pure Longing: Táhirih's Search - World Premiere

In 1848, at a religious conference in what is now Iran, the poet and teacher known as Táhirih, or "The Pure One" dared to appear in public without a veil. Inspired by Táhirih's poetry, One Pure Longing: Táhirih's Search explores faith, freedom of expression, and women's rights. The performance utilizes song, poetry recitation, and movement to represent the courage needed to speak out against oppressive forces. Designed by Bretta Gerecke, One Pure Longing: Táhirih's Search features an international cast lead by acclaimed theatre director Erika Batdorf. Commissioned by Luminato, the production runs 75 minutes.

Friday, June 11 - Monday, June 14 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
$35

Best Before

Best Before combines video gaming with live theatre to create an inventive participatory experience. Each audience member navigates an anonymous avatar, interacting with a panel of on-stage experts - an electronic artist, a game tester, a politician, and a traffic flagger. A simulated city, BestLand, gradually develops as each audience member adds their personal touch via game controllers. BestLand evolves and devolves as the audience clashes and collaborates while making personal, social, and political decisions. Best Before is a work from theatre company Rimini Protokoll, known for attracting attention throughout Europe for blurring the line between reality and fiction. Best Before is commissioned by PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and co-produced by Goethe-Institut, Brighton Festival, Hebbel - Theater Berlin GmbH, Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Rimini Apparat, The Cultch, and La Bâtie - Festival de Genève. Supported by Arts Partners in Creative Development and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Wednesday, June 16 - Saturday, June 19 at the Berkeley Street Theatre
$35

Homage

Based on the work of Canadian sculptor Haydn Davies, Homage documents the commission, construction, and demolition of the artist's first large-scale outdoor commission. Homage explores the meaning of public art, proprietorship, and the creative spirit by examining issues surrounding artistic rights. By Halifax's 2b theatre company, Homage features an award-winning creative team and a custom-built theatre-in-the-round designed by architect Peter Blackie. Homage runs for 90 minutes with no intermission.

Thursday, June 17 - Saturday, June 19 at the Imperial Oil Opera Theatre
$35

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When and Where?

Luminato

Runs from June 11th - June 20th at various locations throughout Toronto

For more information please visit the official website at www.luminato.com

To purchase tickets call 416-872-1111 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca