Factory Theatre to Present BEATRICE AND VIRGIRL, 4/12-5/11

Factory Theatre presents the world premiere of BEATRICE & VIRGIL by Yann Martel, adapted by Lindsay Cochrane. This is a world premiere production, by the author of the international bestselling novel Life of Pi, and features an all-star Canadian cast of Damien Atkins and Pierre Brault, directed by award-winning director Sarah Garton Stanley. The production runs April 12 - May 11, 2014 • Previews April 12 to 16.

BEATRICE & VIRGIL is a powerful and provocative tale about the relationship between two men, a writer and a taxidermist, and an allegorical tale about a donkey named Beatrice and a monkey named Virgil. As these characters engage, horrific historical truths begin to unravel, leaving the audience stunned.

The innovative stage adaptation of Martel's controversial and critically acclaimed novel by Lindsay Cochrane, a teacher and writer, is "...a fine job, in my estimation, taking the essential from the novel and transforming it into a clever, powerful dramatic piece," remarked Yann Martel.

Directed by Sarah Garton Stanley, Associate Artistic Director/NAC, and director of such iconic theatrical presentations as Metropolis-The Play for her Die in Debt company, and The Mill (Part Three) for Theatrefront, BEATRICE & VIRGIL stars Damien Atkins (London Road/CanStage, The Gay Heritage Project and Real Live Girl/Buddies and Bad Times Theatre, Angels in America/Soulpepper) and Ottawa-based Pierre Brault (Macbeth/St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe/NAC, Stones In His Pockets/GCTC).

Yann Martel is the author of the 2002 Man Booker Prize winning novel Life of Pi, an international bestseller published in more than 50 territories that has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and spent more than a year on the New York Times Bestseller list. It was adapted for the screen by director Ang Lee and won four Academy Awards. Martel is also the author of the novel Self, the collection of stories The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, and a collection of letters to the Prime Minister of Canada, 101 Letters to a Prime Minister. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

"Can you shake that area of darkness that clings to you, always shaped like you, as if constantly to remind you of yourself? You can't. This shadow is doubt. And it goes wherever you go as long as you stay in the sun. And who wouldn't want to be in the sun?" Virgil from BEATRICE & VIRGIL