Naomi Wright News

As The Statesman says, the late Mustapha Matura was “the most perceptive and humane of Black dramatists writing in Britain. His 1981 satire Meetings can be proof of that, first opening Off-Broadway and now making its first major 21st-century UK return to the Orange Tree Theatre. In his directorial debut, JMK Young Directors Award winner Kalungi Ssebandeke’s production proves why this classic remains hilarious as ever.

The 2019 Jessie Nominations Party announced the nominees for the theatre awards on Monday, June 3rd at the iA Financial Group Atrium at the BMO Theatre Centre, 162 West 1st Avenue, honouring Vancouver's vibrant artistic community.

Returning to its theatrical roots this year, the 36th annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards were held on Monday, July 16th at Bard on the Beach in the BMO Mainstage in Vanier Park, a fitting venue in a magnificent setting. The awards celebrate excellence in professional theatre and salutes all the talent who contribute to Vancouver's fantastic theatre scene. Thirty-five companies registered over 57 productions this past year contributing to a dynamic theatre season.

Canadian Stage has announced that Shakespeare in High Park will mark 36 seasons of staging open-air theatre in Toronto with adventurous contemporary adaptations of two of Shakespeare's most beloved plays: the tragic romance Romeo and Juliet and the frolicking comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream, running in repertory under the stars from June 28 to September 2 at the High Park Amphitheatre. A pay-what-you-can event, Shakespeare in High Park is Canada's longest-running outdoor theatre experience, and produced by Canadian Stage in collaboration with the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design at York University.

Canadian Stage has announced that Shakespeare in High Park will mark 36 seasons of staging open-air theatre in Toronto with adventurous contemporary adaptations of two of Shakespeare's most beloved plays: the tragic romance Romeo and Juliet and the frolicking comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream, running in repertory under the stars from June 28 to September 2 at the High Park Amphitheatre. A pay-what-you-can event, Shakespeare in High Park is Canada's longest-running outdoor theatre experience, and produced by Canadian Stage in collaboration with the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design at York University.

Some shows are born great, some shows achieve greatness and others have greatness thrust upon them. Presented by Canadian Stage, Shakespeare's KING LEAR and TWELFTH NIGHT are in the hands of a phenomenal group of artists - who thrust greatness on them six nights a week.

Canada's longest-running outdoor theatre experience Shakespeare in High Park will mark 35 years of staging accessible open-air theatre in Toronto with contemporary takes on two Shakespeare classics: King Lear and Twelfth Night, running in repertory from June 29 to September 3 at the High Park Amphitheatre.

Canadian Stage is proud to announce the casting details for the 35th season of Shakespeare in High Park, returning to the High Park Amphitheatre from June 29 to September 3 with bold contemporary takes on King Lear and Twelfth Night, or What You Will under the stars.

Theatre Smash, ARC and Canadian Stage are proud to join forces to present the Canadian premiere of KISS by internationally-acclaimed Chilean playwright Guillermo Calderon (screenwriter, Neruda). Directed by Ashlie Corcoran(Artistic Director, Theatre Smash) with Associate Director Christopher Stanton (Artistic Producer, ARC), KISS will be on stage from March 28 to April 16 at the intimate Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre. A Theatre Smash and ARC production in partnership with Canadian Stage.

The North American premiere and translation of Philipp Lohle's ambitious comedy DAS DING is now playing the Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre. A coproduction between Canadian Stage and Theatre Smash, DAS DING follows the unlikely journey of a thing - in this case, a small cotton fibre - as it travels the world through interconnected narratives. These stories link together to demonstrate the increasingly globalized world through the eyes of this small cotton fibre. Funny, thought-provoking and clever, DAS DING is worth taking a closer look.

Theatre Smash, in partnership with Canadian Stage and in association with the Thousand Islands Playhouse, are proud to present the North American premiere of Philipp Lohle's globetrotting play Das Ding (The Thing) translated from German by Birgit Schreyer Duarte and directed by Theatre Smash Artistic Producer Ashlie Corcoran. Kicking off the company's two-year residency at Canadian Stage, Das Ding (The Thing) runs April 12 - May 1 at the Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre (Previews: April 12 & 13, Media night: April 14).

Tarragon Theatre, in co-production with Theatre Smash, proudly presents the award-winning The Ugly One, a razor sharp satire about image, identity and getting ahead in today's superficial, consumerist culture by Marius von Mayenburg, one of Germany's hottest playwrights. This acclaimed production opens January 14 and runs to February 16, 2014 (with previews from January 8) in Tarragon's Extraspace. Tickets range from $21-$53 (inclusive of HST) and are available by calling Patron Services at 416-531-1827 or by visiting www.tarragontheatre.com.

Tarragon Theatre in co-production with Theatre Smash proudly presents the award-winning The Ugly One, a razor sharp satire about image, identity and getting ahead in today's superficial, consumerist culture by Marius von Mayenburg, one of Germany's hottest playwrights. This acclaimed production opens January 14 and runs to February 16, 2014 (with previews from January 8) in Tarragon's Extraspace. Tickets range from $21-$53 (inclusive of HST) and are available by calling Patron Services at 416-531-1827 or by visiting www.tarragontheatre.com.

A few months ago author/professor David Gilmour rattled and shocked the literary world with his bombastic declaration that he refuses to teach books written by women. The only female writer he was willing to bend his misogynistic rule for? Virginia Woolf. In the weeks that have followed these statements, prestigious highbrow literary awards have been handed to Eleanor Catton, Lynn Coady, and Alice Munro. It is thus with exquisite timing that the Bloomsbury Collective brings to Toronto an exclusive run of A Room of One's Own, a re-enactment and Patrick Garland's adaptation of Virginia Woolf's landmark speech from 1928.

Bloomsbury Collective is currently presenting A Room of One's Own, an immersive production lead by an all female cast and crew where participants step into Cambridge, 1928, to see Virginia Woolf (Naomi Wright) deliver her iconic text for the very first time. The production runs through Nov. 24, 2013 at The Campbell House Museum.

Literary lovers will be delighted to know there's a unique new theatrical event starting this week - a site specific performance piece that examines the life and works of Virginia Woolf. The brainchild of Naomi Wright (who will play Woolf in the production) the show is a fully immersive production that features an all female cast and crew and will take place in Toronto's historic Campbell House. BWW sat down to talk with Wright about how the project evolved over the last decade, the immersive nature of the show, and the challenges of tackling such an iconic and well known literary figure. Set in 1928, the show will feature Woolf delivering her iconic text for the very first time while guests are treated to a reception that includes live music, cash bar and light refreshments. To help create the uniquely hands-on experience, the audience will be encouraged to explore the library, read newspapers from 1928 and peruse Woolf's living quarters to get a better feel for the woman behind the iconic works.

Elektra, the gripping Greek tragedy about a young woman's determination to bring justice and vengeance down on those who murdered her father, starts previews at the Tom Patterson Theatre tonight, July 29.

Elektra, the gripping Greek tragedy about a young woman's determination to bring justice and vengeance down on those who murdered her father, starts previews at the Tom Patterson Theatre on July 29.

In his fairy-tale romance Cymbeline, Shakespeare pits the strength of true love against false accusation and familial discord. Directed by the Festival's General Director, Antoni Cimolino, this hauntingly beautiful play begins previews at the Tom Patterson Theatre on May 10.

Rising musicals star Jessie Buckley is to star in her first film, JOIN MY BAND, with a soundtrack by jazz harpist and singer songwriter Lucinda Belle. Filming starts next month.