Theatre Smash & Canadian Stage to Present DAS DING (THE THING)

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 Löhle'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).

With this award-winning social comedy, Theatre Smash celebrates its 10th anniversary of developing and presenting contemporary theatre works with a global twist. An ambitiously crafted and sharp-witted criticism of globalization told through unlikely interconnected tales, Das Ding (The Thing) cemented playwright Phillipp Löhle's reputation as one of the brightest young voices in new German theatre.

In 2012, with support from the Goethe-Institut, Theatre Smash commissioned the first English translation and adaptation of the German-language work by Canadian Stage dramaturg and Artistic Associate Birgit Schreyer Duarte, who has relocated the central German narrative to Toronto. Schreyer Duarte's translation had its world premiere in 2014 at the New Diorama Theatre in London, UK.

"After three years of workshops and an intense translation and adaptation process, Theatre Smash is thrilled to bring Das Ding (The Thing) to Canadian audiences," said Ashlie Corcoran, Director and Artistic Producer, Theatre Smash. "Our past work on German language plays such as The Ugly One, The Bus and Norway.Today showed us that both our artists and audiences have an attraction to these theatrically exciting and deeply intellectual scripts."

"Das Ding (The Thing) observes the challenging relationships at play in our hyper-connected, globalized world with searing humour and theatrical spark," said Matthew Jocelyn, Artistic and General Director, Canadian Stage. "We are delighted to partner with Theatre Smash for the first time to introduce the oeuvre of Phillip Löhle in the company of an incredible cast and creative team."

Das Ding (The Thing) spans an interconnected world that binds the unlikely fates of an African farmer named Siwa, Chinese business people, Romanian pig-breeders and two young Canadian newlyweds Katherine and Thomas. Told through the journey of the eponymous 'thing' - a cotton fibre in its apparently endless iterations - the play illuminates the fundamental connection between global economics and our domestic lives, forcing us to consider whether such a thing as coincidence truly exists.

Helmed by Dora-nominated director Ashlie Corcoran, this North American premiere is brought to life by five talented actors, playing a total of fourteen characters, including Kristopher Bowman, Lisa Karen Cox, Qasim Khan, Philip Nozuka and Naomi Wright.

The script's sweeping mosaic of scenes and locations will be woven together through an interactive, sculptural production design by Denyse Karn (Projection Design), Drew Facey (Set), Graeme Thomson and Nick Andison (Lighting), Jung-Hye Kim (Costumes) and John Gzowski (Sound).

The production will transfer to the Thousand Islands Playhouse in September 2016 following the Toronto premiere.

During the run of Das Ding (The Thing), audiences will have the opportunity to engage with playwright Phillipp Löhle and explore the creative and logistical process of transposing the play to a Canadian context. On Tuesday, April 12 from 7:15 to 7:45 pm Matthew Jocelyn will facilitate a pre-show panel with Löhle and translator Birgit Schreyer Duarte; on April 16 and 17 (following the 1 pm matinees) audiences are invited to "Kick it with Löhle": a post show question and answer session with playwright and members of the cast and creative team.

Das Ding (The Thing) will be on stage at the Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre (26 Berkeley Street) from April 12 to May 1 (Media night: April 14). Performances run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 8 pm, Fridays at 7pm, and with matinees on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 1pm beginning April 17. Tickets from $24 to $53 are available online, by phone at 416.368.3110, or in person at the Berkeley Street box office. For details visit www.canadianstage.com/online/thing

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