Little Black Afro Theatre Presents SWAN

Part thriller, part horror fantasy, Little Black Afro Theatre is proud to announce its next production: Swan, a new play by Hamilton-born, Toronto-based playwright Aaron Jan. Gruesome, spine-tingling, and unrelenting, Swan follows a group of young queer women as they piece together a vicious, disturbing episode from their school days 10 years ago. Swan will be produced in association with Filament Incubator from November 3 - 13, 2016, and will be presented at Theatre Passe Muraille's Backspace. 10% of the box office proceeds from this production will be donated to DAREarts, a Canadian children's charity that uses educational experiences in the arts to empower children and youth facing life challenges.

ABOUT THE PLAY
A swan has been torn apart in Cootes Paradise and its innards are scattered along the shore. When a copycat killer emerges in Hamilton 10 years later, the queer environmentalist-detective club of 2006 reunites for one final adventure. What starts as a reluctant club reunion becomes a frenzied attempt to wake up from a nightmarish revisiting of the past.

Performed in episodic, storytelling vignettes, Swan explores the idea of growing up coloured in a predominantly white neighbourhood, the journey of discovering home as the second generation children of immigrants, and how the feeling of cultural inferiority can twist people into suburban monsters.

THE ARTISTS
After two critically-acclaimed productions of his work at the 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival, playwright Aaron Jan (Rowing, Filament Incubator; Silk Bath, Silk Bath Collective) also directs this chilling premiere. The cast features six powerhouse up-and-comers in the Toronto theatre community: Michelle Chiu (Heroes Reborn), Isabel Kanaan (Sex Tape Project, fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company), Bria McLaughlin (P@ndora, Youtheatre), Marina Moreira (Frida Kahlo Googles Herself, Rhubarb Festival, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre), Christine Nguyen (Balm in Gilead, Ryerson Theatre School), and Angela Sun (Bite-Sized, Broadleaf Theatre). Aram Heydarian designs the Set and Costumes for this piece, working alongside Lighting Designer Samuel Chang and Sound Designer Kevin Feliciano. Dramaturgy by Lucy Powis and Stage Management by Logan Cracknell.

Little Black Afro is a community of artists dedicated to providing spaces and resources for the development of new Canadian work. From readings and workshops to full productions we connect artists with local charities, engaging entirely with the communities around us through outreach, donations and volunteering. Since June of 2012 we have brought thirteen original Canadian works to the stage in Mississauga, Hamilton, and Toronto. littleblackafro.com

Filament Incubator was founded with the express intent to be a launching pad for underproduced and underrepresented emerging artists, programming them on a consistent, monthly basis. We aim to be a catalyst in the creation and development of new Canadian work that spans a myriad of perspectives and aesthetics. Filament Incubator is the collective brainchild of Daniel Bagg, Aaron Jan, Zach Parkhurst and Andrew Markowiak. filamentincubator.wixsite.com/home

DAREarts is a Canadian children's charity that uses educational experiences in the arts to empower children and youth facing life challenges, with confidence, courage and leadership skills to unlock their potential and ignite change in their lives and communities.

Swan by Aaron Jan

Produced by Little Black Afro Theatre in association with Filament Incubator

VENUE

Theatre Passe Muraille's Backspace

16 Ryerson Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2P3

RUNTIME

Approximately 2 hours including an intermission

PERFORMANCES

7:30pm Wed Nov 2 - Thurs Nov 3 (Previews)

7:30pm Fri Nov 4 (Opening) - Sat Nov 5

2:00pm Sat Nov 5 - Sun Nov 6

7:30pm Tues Nov 8 - Sat Nov 12

2:00pm Sat Nov 12 - Sun Nov 13

TICKETS

$12 Previews (Nov 2 - 3)

$12 Matinees / $15 Evenings (Nov 4 - 6)

$15 Matinees / $20 Evenings (Nov 8 - 13)

Tickets are on sale by the ARTS BOX OFFICE -
Online at www.artsboxoffice.ca, by phone at 416-504-7529,
and in person at Theatre Passe Muraille.

CONNECT WITH US

Twitter: @LittleBlackAfro #SwanTO

Facebook: fb.com/LittleBlackAfro

Instagram: @LittleBlackAfro

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