Nightwood Theatre Presents HER2 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Now thru Feb 1

Nightwood Theatre continues its 2014/15 season with the world premiere of HER2 by celebrated playwright Maja Ardal at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street, from tonight, January 13 to February 1, 2015. Directed by Kim Blackwell and featuring a stellar all-female cast, HER2 is a probing examination of the uneasy relationship between medical science and the human spirit.

Seven women with one thing in common -- a highly aggressive form of breast cancer -- are recruited for a clinical trial of a new drug. While the researcher measures its progress in terms of blood counts and tumour sizes, the subjects of her experiment, struggle to deal with the renewed dread that paradoxically accompanies this sudden glimmer of hope in their lives. As the group under goes the treatment they bond together into a community characterized not by medical statistics but by their human qualities of courage, humour, and wisdom.

Playwright Maja Ardal shared her inspiration, "During my cancer treatments I found that the chemotherapy rooms were full of isolated individuals. I wondered, what would happen if a group of women spent their treatment time together? I read about clinical trials with cancer patients in one room receiving the drug. This captured my imagination. The voices of several very different women came vividly alive in my mind, rich with fear, anger, hope and joy. The theme became clear. Can community well-being encourage immunity? Is scientific research willing to accept the idea?"

HER2 features performances by some of Canada's most esteemed actresses including Olunike Adeliyi, Diane D'Aquila, Monica Dottor, Kyra Harper, Brenda Kamino, Nancy Palk, Ellora Patnaik, Chick Reid, Maria Vacratsis and Bahareh Yaraghi. Nightwood Theatre has also assembled an exciting creative team for this premiere, including set and costume designer Julia Tribe, lighting designer Kim Purtell, sound designer Jennifer Gillmor, projection designer Denyse Karn, choreographer Monica Dottor and stage manager Melissa Rood.

Says Nightwood Theatre's Artistic Director Kelly Thornton, "I am thrilled to bring this remarkable company of women together to realize this powerful play for the stage. This year alone, an estimated 23,800 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,000 will die from it. Now more than ever this is a story that needs to be told and as Canada's national women's theatre, Nightwood is the theatre to tell it."

DETAILS:

HER2

Written by Maja Ardal

Directed by Kim Blackwell

Featuring Olunike Adeliyi, Diane D'Aquila, Monica Dottor, Kyra Harper, Brenda Kamino, Nancy Palk, Ellora Patnaik, Chick Reid, Maria Vacratsis, and Bahareh Yaraghi.

Previews: Tuesday, January 13 and Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Opening Night (Media): Thursday, January 15, 2015

Special PWYC: Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Performance times: Tuesday to Saturday at 8:00 pm

Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm

Ticket Prices: Preview tickets are $25; Regular tickets are $39-$45

Theatre Location: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto, ON

Box Office: All tickets are available through the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre box office at 416-368-3110 or online at nightwoodtheatre.net.

ABOUT NIGHTWOOD THEATRE - Led by Artistic Director Kelly Thornton and Managing Director Beth Brown, Nightwood Theatre forges creative alliances among women artists from diverse backgrounds in order to develop and produce innovative Canadian theatre. As Canada's National Women's Theatre since 1979, Nightwood has launched the careers of many of the leading theatre artists in the country. Now in our 35th season, we remain actively engaged in mentoring young women and promoting women's place on the local, national and international stage.

For more information about Nightwood Theatre productions and artist development activities, visit nightwoodtheatre.net. Please visit facebook.com/nightwoodtheatre and follow us on Twitter at @nightwoodtheat for behind-the-scenes news, special offers, and advance notice of events.