Centaur Theatre Announces 21st Wildside Festival

Centaur Theatre presents the 21st Wildside Festival from January 4 to 13, 2018, aptly branded the "hottest two weeks in winter"! Five high-octane Canadian shows plus Centaur's Best of the Fest pick from last summer's Fringe, coming all the way from Ireland.

Wildside curator, Johanna Nutter, stated, "There are so few opportunities for new, cutting-edge English indie theatre in Montreal; Wildside is a celebration of deserving artists and their work, productions that wouldn't ordinarily get this kind of mainstream exposure." Regarding the play selection process, Nutter explained, "I usually approach the programming like I'm planning a banquet, choosing plays that cover a spectrum wide enough to satisfy everyone's tastes. This year it just worked out that the most of the playwrights, actors, or the subject matter of each production is female or non-binary centric. Recent world events and media headlines suggest that this year's Wildside is in total sync with global issues and changes."

The line-up explores such hot-topics as the legalization of gay marriage, the diminishment of cultural traditions through assimilation, family dynamics, gender labeling, women's evolving roles, and physical or emotional trauma.

On her maiden voyage to the wild side, Centaur's Artistic and Executive Director, Eda Holmes, said, "This will be my first experience of Centaur's Wildside and I can't wait. It is so important to give our loyal audience a chance to experience the next generation of theatre artists and at the same time, introduce a new audience and groups of artists to Centaur. Over the years, the Wildside Festival has given us a truly creative relationship with the emerging artists in Montreal. Many begin at Wildside, move on to Brave New Looks, and then end up in the subscription season. I want to continue to build on that by creating more opportunities for exchanges between our audience and all the incredible theatre artists, not only here in Montreal but from across the country. The Wildside Festival expands all of our notions of what theatre can be and that is a great thing."

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, directly following the last show of the evening, audiences are invited to pop-up pass-the-hat performances by some of Montreal's best and brightest sketch, stand-up, and improv artists at the wild and wonderful Off-Side, held in the Ted T. Katz Family Trust Gallery. The ever popular Friday Night Tributes are back, with Iggy Pop (Friday Jan. 5) and NINA SIMONE (Friday Jan. 12). Get to know some of Montreal's up-and-coming artists in a relaxed, intimate setting where anything can happen ... and usually does! All six evenings are free and open to the general public; no ticket stub is required for admission.

Regular single tickets to Wildside shows are $16 each, or $13 for season subscribers, students, under 30s and seniors. With so many great shows to choose from, audiences are encouraged to see more and save with the 4-Show Superpass, available at a regular price of $50, or $40 for season subscribers, students, under 30s and seniors.

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