Segal Centre Multi-Award-Winning MASTER HAROLD...AND THE BOYS Comes To Montreal

The Segal Centre, in association with Black Theatre Workshop, is proud to present the acclaimed production of "Master Harold"...and the Boys by the Shaw Festival in association with Obsidian Theatre. One of Athol Fugard's most powerful plays, this Dora Award-winning production will be on the Segal stage from January 21 to February 11, 2018. Fueled by the South African playwright's recollections of his youth, this incendiary play lights a fuse that ultimately explodes the subtle corruption of living in an environment where systemic racism is condoned or even encouraged; addressing racial injustice that lingers far beyond its apartheid era setting.

With multi-award-winning director Philip Akin at the helm, "Master Harold"...and the Boys marks the Shaw Festival's third production partnership with Toronto's Obsidian Theatre. The set and costumes designed by Peter Hartwell, along with the lighting design by Kevin Lamotte and dance sequences by Valerie Moore, transform the theatre into an intimate tea room where audiences witness the private interactions of young Hally (James Daly) growing up in the company of two servants, Sam (André Sills), and Willie (Allan Louis). When Hally learns his tyrannical and racist father is returning home, he succumbs to the cultural hatred fostered by apartheid, costing him and his friends dearly.

The play was initially banned in South Africa and has since become an enduring, modern classic that continues to speak to inequality and injustice.

All three original actors will be making their Segal Centre debuts with this production. Audiences may recognize James Daly from Comedy Networks' Letterkenny, and the Shaw Festival's Uncle Vanya and Peter and the Starcatcher. Allan Louis' impressive resume includes several stage credits including the title role in the Shaw Festival's recent production of Dracula, Baby It's You! on Broadway, and the first national tour of Ragtime, as well as screen credits including NCIS, Castle, and Person of Interest. André Sills is no stranger to the Shaw Festival having appeared in productions of The Madness of George III, An Octoroon, and The Adventures of the Black Girl in her Search for God. Director Philip Akin, James Daly, and André Sills were recognized at the 2017 Dora Mavor Moore Awards and the 2017 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards for their work on "Master Harold"...and the Boys.

"We are proud and excited to bring this extraordinary production to Montreal. It's one of the finest pieces of theatre I've ever seen and features some of the greatest performances in the country. If there was ever a time to witness this important play, this powerful story will resonate deeply in today's global landscape. Everyone should see this," said Segal Centre Artistic and Executive Director Lisa Rubin.

Tickets are on sale now at 514.739.7944 or at www.segalcentre.org.

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is a not-for-profit theatre company dedicated to nurturing, producing and presenting world-class English-language theatre and to showcasing the best professional artists from Montréal and beyond. A part of the community since 1967, the organization was reborn in 2007 as the Segal and has expanded to become a nationally recognized venue for the performing arts with a focus on creation, innovation, diversity and cross-cultural collaborations. Driven by a belief in the power of the arts to strengthen and connect communities, the Segal's programming emphasizes original interpretations of popular classic and contemporary works, new Canadian musicals and engaging productions with universal appeal. www.segalcentre.org

Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival, home to Two-Way Theatre, is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

For the past 17 years, Obsidian has been leading culturally specific work in Canada. Our mission has been to produce plays, develop playwrights and train emerging theatre professionals. Obsidian has featured plays from a world-wide canon focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on works of highly acclaimed Black playwrights and has also provided artistic support to promote the development of work by Black theatre makers. www.obsidiantheatre.com

Black Theatre Workshop is Canada's oldest Black theatre company. Our mission is to encourage and promote the development of a Black and Canadian Theatre, rooted in a literature that reflects the creative will of Black Canadian writers and artists, and the creative collaborations between Black and other artists. Black Theatre Workshop aims to promote and produce Black theatre that educates, entertains and delights its audiences. The company strives to create a greater cross-cultural understanding by its presence and the intrinsic value of its work. www.blacktheatreworkshop.ca.

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