World Stage 2016 to Present Jacob Wren's EVERY SONG I'VE EVER WRITTEN

World Stage 2016 closes its stellar season with PME-ART's Every Song I've Ever Written, a musical journey with ambitious ideas and a mixtape heart by eccentric and eclectic writer and performer Jacob Wren.

From 1985 to 2004, Wren wrote a total of 58 songs that few people have ever heard. And then he abandoned songwriting for good. In this unique project, Wren examines memory, history, things that may or may not exist, songwriting and pop culture; while also exploring the much larger cultural shift in how music is listened to and understood.

Every Song I've Ever Written is divided into three parts:

• On June 9, Wren will perform all 58 songs in chronological order at The Power Plant. The free solo-show allows guests to come and go during the 5+ hour music marathon.
• The June 11 Band Night will feature local bands reimagining Wren's songs for a one-night-only concert at Harbourfront Centre's Brigantine Room, accompanied by conversations between Wren and the musicians. Featured artists include Above Top Secret, Maylee Todd, Phèdre, Regina of Light Fires and Snowblink.
• At any time, the public is invited create their own versions of Wren's songs by downloading and recording from his music catalogue and then uploading their new version.

"Every Song I've Ever Written is a snapshot of a specific period in the life of a prolific and important provocateur," explains World Stage Artistic Director Tina Rasmussen. "This unique project follows the artistic process as Jacob examines his work and its reach in an amalgamation of rock concert and theatre."
Toronto-born Wren recently released his latest novel Rich and Poor, which follows on the critical success of his 2014 novel Polyamorous Love Song. Wren co-founded Candid Stammer Theatre in Toronto in 1988 and moved to Montreal in 2002 where he is still based. As co-artistic director of the interdisciplinary group PME-ART, Wren focuses on creative contemporary practice via local, national and international artistic collaborations through performances, installation, public process and theoretical and practical research.

Since its inaugural season 30 years ago in 1986, World Stage continues to present groundbreaking contemporary performances from around the world. The 2016 season, curated by Artistic Director Tina Rasmussen, included seven international theatre, dance and multidisciplinary performances from Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Palestine.