The Theatre Centre to Present PROMISES TO A DIVIDED CITY, 5/30-31

In a collaboration with 'international live-art stars' (The Globe and Mail), Mammalian Diving Reflex, The Theatre Centre presents Promises to a Divided City. Created by Mammalian, this data-driven, interactive performance takes audiences on a tour through our 'Divided City', examining its social and economic dynamics. For a limited run of 11 performances for two days only on May 30 and 31 (with a capacity of 20 people per show), a cast of more than 30 performers from across the GTA will animate all the spaces at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen St. W.), inviting audiences to help save a divided Toronto.

"It is a huge honour to welcome back Darren O'Donnell and Mammalian Diving Reflex to our new home," said Franco Boni, General & Artistic Director, The Theatre Centre. "When I first asked Darren to consider making a work for our inaugural year of programming, we spoke about celebrating three things that have been critical in The Theatre Centre's recent success: our heritage and that of our new home, a former Carnegie Library; the tenacity, goodwill and vision of our many dedicated volunteers; and the idea of philanthropy and what it means to selflessly give. Mammalian not only explores these three things in the context of The Theatre Centre but, with their usual brilliancy and playfulness, they make us look at the city we live in."

Internationally renowned for creating one-of-a-kind experiences, like Haircuts by Children and All the Sex I've Ever Had, Mammalian creates performances designed to encourage discussion and investigate the social sphere. Promises to a Divided City explores their beloved home base, the city of Toronto. Using the latest research and data, including reports from J. David Hulchanski (University of Toronto), the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Capital in the 21st Century by Thomas Piketty, Mammalian looks at one of the biggest challenges facing the city: the growing wealth inequality dividing city's neighbourhoods, and how it's changing the current and future state of Toronto.

"Promises to a Divided City speaks openly about the people of Toronto and our differences," said Darren O'Donnell, Artistic Director, Mammalian Diving Reflex. "It focuses on arguably the most important differences: economic class and, wrapped up in class, ethnicity and race. So we're going to talk about class and race. Hope you're okay with that."

In their tradition of using community collaboration to provide unique and tailored experiences, Mammalian is asking audience members to fill out a survey prior to the performance. The data collected will be used during the show, giving participants a personal perspective on their role as a citizen of the 'Divided City'. Mammalian will use their characteristic playful humour to explore the data, talk trends, goof around, tell some stories, have a meltdown, sing some songs, make some promises and think about the city.

Promises to a Divided City will be presented at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen St. W.) with five performances on May 30 and six performances on May 31. The performance is approximately 80 minutes long with no intermission. Tickets from $10 to $15 are available online at theatrecentre.org by phone at 416-538-0988.