Intermission

13/09/2024

REVIEW: In Rosmersholm, ghosts abound

"While the play’s ideas sizzle and pop with contemporary verve, the story’s an occasionally frustrating vessel for those captivating sentiments on politics and identity."

While the play’s ideas sizzle and pop with contemporary verve, the story’s an occasionally frustrating vessel for those captivating sentiments on politics and identity.

13/09/2024

Aluna Theatre drops 2024 RUTAS Festival lineup

The festival showcases a lineup of interdisciplinary talent from across the Americas, with programming connected around the theme of “personal cartographies.”

The 2024 RUTAS Festival will showcase a lineup of interdisciplinary talent from across the Americas

13/09/2024

REVIEW: 1s1 Theatre’s Qalb marries autobiography with ASL poetry

“Since much of Qalb is about distance — between mind and heart, justice and reality, me and you — it’s a powerful statement of hope to conclude with the bridging of a gap.”

Since much of Qalb is about distance, it’s a powerful statement of hope to conclude with the bridging of a gap.

13/09/2024

Joan Didion adaptation to play Prince Edward County this fall

This month, County Roads Theatre Company will present The Year of Magical Thinking, a solo show based on the Joan Didion memoir of the same name.

This month, County Roads Theatre Company will present The Year of Magical Thinking, a solo show based on the Joan Didion memoir of the same name.

12/09/2024

'It’s three hours, but it’s action-packed': How the cast of Cymbeline navigates one of Shakespeare’s most eventful plays

“I warn my friends before they come — I’m like, ‘it’s a long show!’” says actor Jordin Hall. “And then by the end, they’re all usually like: ‘it didn’t feel that long.’ That’s the greatest compliment they can give us — that we kept them hooked for three hours of crazy, not-often-done Shakespeare.”

"It’s three hours, but it’s action-packed," says actor Allison Edwards-Crewe, who plays Innogen.

11/09/2024

Crow’s Theatre reveals intimate cabaret programming

This season, the company will present Crow’s Cabaret, a series of concerts and small-scale productions, alongside its roster of larger plays.

This season, the company will present Crow’s Cabaret, a series of concerts and small-scale productions, alongside its roster of larger plays.

09/09/2024

REVIEW: The Play That Goes Wrong dazzles at Theatre Calgary

“The Play That Goes Wrong is a sparking-flaming-smoking car crash that you just can’t take your eyes off of. A fiery, racing delight, this is not a production to be missed.”

The Play That Goes Wrong is a sparking-flaming-smoking car crash that you just can’t take your eyes off of.

07/09/2024

Gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss: The delight of female rage in theatre

“Personally, I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs — especially when it comes to my girl Hedda," writes contributor Andrea Perez. "And it seems that at least two Ontario directors share my viewpoint, with Hedda Gabler opening twice in the same month at Stratford and at Coal Mine Theatre in Toronto. What makes her story so appealing?”

Personally, I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs — especially when it comes to my girl Hedda Gabler.

06/09/2024

REVIEWS: Toronto International Film Festival 2024

"A filmed production of an experimental Egyptian opera, a TV series penned by Jordan Tannahill, and the moviemaking debut of Broadway director Marianne Elliott are among the offerings at this year’s TIFF with connections to the world of theatre."

Read the reviews:

Drama 1882, By the Stream, and The Salt Path are among the offerings at this year’s TIFF with connections to the world of theatre.

06/09/2024

I’m not a woman, I just play one

“As a performer, my job is to play a character, and if that character is right for me it doesn’t matter what gender they are,” writes non-binary actor Kailin Brown. “What matters is that I can make a difference in someone’s life who can relate to the character, or to me as the actor.”

“As a performer, my job is to play a character, and if that character is right for me it doesn’t matter what gender they are,” writes non-binary actor Kailin Brown.

31/08/2024

REVIEW: The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers brings new meaning to a classic tale

"You may think you know the story of The Tempest, Shakespeare’s shipwrecked saga about wizards, spirits, and nobility on a remote island. But in The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers, playwright Makram Ayache invites new consideration of canonized characters."

You may think you know the story of The Tempest, Shakespeare’s shipwrecked saga about wizards, spirits, and nobility on a remote island. But in The Tempest: A Witch in Algiers, playwright Makram Ayache invites new consideration of canonized characters,

31/08/2024

Yes, those standing ovations at Something Rotten! are real — just ask Portia and Bea

“I’ve never been part of a show that had not one, but two standing ovations before we even get to curtain call,” actor Starr Domingue shares. “And that happens almost every day.”

“I’ve never been part of a show that had not one, but two standing ovations before we even get to curtain call,” actor Starr Domingue shares. “And that happens almost every day.”

30/08/2024

Lighthouse Festival Theatre announces 2025 season, curated by incoming artistic director Jane Spence

Lighthouse Festival, located in Port Dover and Port Colborne, has announced its jam-packed 2025 summer season.

Lighthouse Festival Theatre, located in Port Dover and Port Colborne, has announced its jam-packed 2025 summer season.

30/08/2024

Wendy and Peter Pan explores the power of love — and grief

“Part of what gets me through the very emotionally tumultuous ending of the story is remembering that Wendy has to live for the family members who are still there,” says Cynthia Jimenez-Hicks, who plays Wendy in the Stratford Festival's production of Wendy and Peter Pan. “I just think that that's such a beautiful part of this adaptation.”

29/08/2024

REVIEW: Sparks fly in Norm Foster’s uproarious Lakefront

"In its world premiere at Lighthouse Festival, Lakefront is not only a love letter to Canada, but also a love letter to love."

In its world premiere at Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Lakefront is not only like a love letter to Canada, but also a love letter to love.

29/08/2024

‘After this play, you'll be changed’: Inside the incendiary world of Rosmersholm

“We get to dig into something in the present moment and also reflect on the world and our global community,” says actor Virgilia Griffith. “That's what makes it special, that we're doing the play in 2024 and that it will be in conversation with the world.”

“We get to dig into something in the present moment and also reflect on the world and our global community,” says Rosmersholm actor Virgilia Griffith. “That's what makes it special, that we're doing the play in 2024 and that it will be in conversation with the world.”

28/08/2024

Toronto Dance Theatre reveals exhilarating 2024-25 season

The season will see the return of audience favourite The Magic of Assembly, as well as new work produced in partnership with local institutions such as Nuit Blanche and the Toronto Biennale.

Toronto Dance Theatre's next season will see the return of audience favourite The Magic of Assembly.

28/08/2024

Stratford Festival unveils 2025 season, including the return of Robert Lepage

Next year’s season includes two beloved musicals as well as the return of acclaimed director Robert Lepage, who will direct Macbeth at the Avon Theatre.

Next year’s Stratford Festival season includes two beloved musicals as well as the return of acclaimed director Robert Lepage.

22/08/2024

REVIEW: This year’s SummerWorks Performance Festival embraced danger — in more ways than one

"Several of this year’s productions took direct aim at our present moment’s evils: Targets included corporate speaking gigs, rent payments, climate change, global wealth inequality, and the ostracization of horse girls."

Read the review: https://buff.ly/46V61VV

Many productions took direct aim at our present moment’s evils: Targets included corporate speaking gigs, climate change, and more.

21/08/2024

Spotlight: Norm Foster

“I'm really proud that people want to see my work and want to see my new stuff,” says Foster. “That makes me want to keep writing. Whenever I think, ‘Oh, maybe I’ve written my last play,’ I go, ‘No, I think I've got a few more in me. Let's keep going.’”

“I'm really proud that people want to see my work and want to see my new stuff,” says Foster. “That makes me want to keep writing. Whenever I think, ‘Oh, maybe I’ve written my last play,’ I go, ‘No, I think I've got a few more in me. Let's keep going.’”

19/08/2024

Stratford Festival review: The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia? A review in five acts

"The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? delivers an off-kilter comedy and disturbing tragedy in a fashion that would make the Ancient Greeks proud."

The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? delivers an off-kilter comedy and disturbing tragedy in a fashion that would make the Ancient Greeks proud.

16/08/2024

A beginner’s guide to Dream in High Park

Looking for a crash course on Toronto’s favourite outdoor theatre tradition? We have you covered!

Looking for a crash course on Toronto’s favourite outdoor theatre tradition? We have you covered!

15/08/2024

Following a major rebrand, Crossroads Theatre is redefining summer theatre in Toronto

“If we start to think about the arts as a health service, I feel like that shift in thinking could do a lot for the arts, and a lot for the people of Toronto,” says Michelle Urbano, artistic director of Crossroads Theatre (formerly Shakespeare in Action).

“If we start to think about the arts as a health service, I feel like that shift in thinking could do a lot for the arts, and a lot for the people of Toronto,” says Michelle Urbano, artistic director of Crossroads Theatre (formerly Shakespeare in Action).

13/08/2024

REVIEW: Guild Festival Theatre’s eerie Isle of Demons reverberates with hope and resilience

"Isle of Demons is a superb way to spend a summer’s evening: with the stunning backdrop of Guild Park, and the breeze picking up as if on cue, it’s the ideal venue and time of year for such a tale."

Read the review:
https://buff.ly/4cF9skV

Isle of Demons is a superb way to spend a summer’s evening, with the stunning backdrop of Guild Park and the breeze picking up as if on cue.

13/08/2024

Speaking in Draft: Davinder Malhi

“When I was younger — around when I graduated theatre school in 2020 — queerness meant identity and identity politics,” says multi-hyphenate Malhi. “In many ways, it still does, but I’ve gotten to a place now where I don’t desire to discuss the identity part of queerness.”

“When I was younger — around when I graduated theatre school in 2020 — queerness meant identity and identity politics,” says multi-hyphenate Malhi. “In many ways, it still does, but I’ve gotten to a place now where I don’t desire to discuss the identity part of queerness.”

10/08/2024

REVIEW: TK Fringe brings a strong mélange of summer shows to Kingston

"This year’s lineup includes a mix of touring and local productions, and of the made-in-Kingston variety, there’s a good blend of student, amateur, and professional work."

This year’s lineup includes a mix of touring and local productions, and of the made-in-Kingston variety, there’s a good blend of student, amateur, and professional work.

09/08/2024

Spotlight: Vanessa Sears

“If I want to be the most expansive, detailed, versatile artist I can be, the only way to do that is to keep learning, questioning, exploring, and working,” says Sears, currently starring as Juliet in the Stratford Festival's production of Romeo and Juliet.

Read the full Spotlight at the link below!

✍️: Fiona Raye Clarke
📸: Dahlia Katz

“If I want to be the most expansive, detailed, versatile artist I can be, the only way to do that is to keep learning, questioning, exploring, and working,” says Sears, currently starring as Juliet in the Stratford Festival’s production of Romeo and Juliet. “If that’s not where the open do...

07/08/2024

NEWS: Dawn Jani Birley to debut new show in the Tarragon Extraspace in September

This fall, internationally acclaimed Deaf actor Dawn Jani Birley will premiere a new work, Qalb: A Journey of the Ego, at the Tarragon Extraspace.

This fall, internationally acclaimed Deaf actor Dawn Jani Birley will premiere a new work, Qalb: A Journey of the Ego, at the Tarragon Extraspace.

07/08/2024

Why would anyone do a PhD in theatre?

“In an industry where stagnant government funding and tuition freezes have contributed to increasingly rigorous competition for fewer full-time positions, I’ve found myself reflecting: why do a PhD in theatre today?”

Read the Artist Perspective:

In an industry involving rigorous competition for few full-time positions, I’ve found myself reflecting: why do a PhD in theatre today?

03/08/2024

Isle of Demons blends hope and grief at Guild Festival Theatre

“It's a really powerful piece for right now,” says actor Kiera Publicover. “We see so much grief going on around us all of the time and sometimes it feels impossible to fight through it, but at the end of the day, it's the hope that gets us through.”

“It's a really powerful piece for right now,” says actor Kiera Publicover. “We see so much grief going on around us all of the time and sometimes it feels impossible to fight through it, but at the end of the day, it's the hope that gets us through.”