presented by Theatre Ad Infinitum in association with Why Not Theatre

February 22 to March 4, 2012 at Factory Studio Theatre

(Preview on February 21)

Last year we wowed Toronto audiences with Theatre Ad Infinitum’s The Odyssey, and this year we’re proud to be bringing them back!

The UK’s multiple award-winning Theatre Ad Infinitum’ Canadian premiere of The Big Smoke, a one-woman a cappella performance by Amy Nostbakken, co-written by Nostbakken and director Nir Paldi.

In a courageous physical performance with a completely original text and score sung a cappella, Amy Nostbakken’s nuanced voice tells the story of a brilliant young artist from Toronto given the opportunity of a lifetime: a solo exhibit at London’s Tate Modern.

Inspired by the lives of Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton, this poetic waltz with death won The Big Smoke an Argus Angel Award at the 2011 Brighton Festival Fringe, and Nostbakken was nominated for Best Female Performer in the Latest Awards by Brighton’s Latest 7 magazine. It premiered to rave reviews at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, leading to a national tour of Britain in spring/summer 2011 that included stops in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford and Leeds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8UnMwAMEQA

“I was convinced I’d seen something special: a one-woman play about the sudden onset of depression, and a story delivered entirely in song. I was captivated for an hour by Amy Nostbakken’s warbled narrative, and clapped and whooped accordingly at the end… This play was excellent.”
Tom Lamont, The Observer (The Guardian, UK)

“I search for the words to describe it as it takes such an extraordinary form – a riveting melange of in-character monologue, storytelling, torch song, performance poetry, and experimental vocal score… ultimately we are held by the extraordinary performance skills of Amy Nostbakken.”
Dorothy Max Prior, Total Theatre Magazine (UK)

Tickets are available via www.factorytheatre.ca, by email at boxoffice@factorytheatre.ca, by phone at 416-504-9971, or at the door.

More info can be found at www.theatreadinfinitum.com

After an official sell out run in Edinburgh (which was an unbelivable accomplishment given that there are over 3,000 shows!) SPENT has been invited to play at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, India.

The first of many international dates…stay tuned!

Here are some press highlights we garnered from the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh:

Selected as Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe

Selected as Best of the Fest (top 5 shows of the Fringe) by List Magazine

“Ravi Jain and Adam Paolozza, the Vladimir and Estragon of Bay Street lead us through the existential lows and mystical highs of financial life…an extraordinary hour of physical theatre”
The Independent

“The unbelievably fast transitions between accents and mannerisms is just one element among many which demonstrate that this is a well-polished piece which deserves the awards and acclaim is it receiving.”
Westend/Broadway World

A physically swift and comically ingenious deconstruction of what it has felt like to be tossed about by the economic tsunami. Ravi Jain and Adam Poalozza from inhabit a vault-load of characters all with city-slick timing.
Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph ****

Presented by Ahuri Theatre, in association with Why Not Theatre

Opens September 30 and runs to October 8, 2011 (preview September 29)
at The Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen Street West

A Fool’s Life is a fantastical tale about a family man coming undone. This new play is inspired by the life and short stories of Japanese writer Akutagawa Ryunosuke, often referred to as ‘the father of the Japanese short story’, and best known as the author of Rashomon. Dark, bizarre and absurd, this multi-lingual piece combines elements of Butoh, live drumming, shadow puppetry and projections on a set made entirely of paper.

A Fool’s Life is performed by an international ensemble including dora award winning artists Richard Lee, Claire Calnan, Derek Kwan, Julian DeZotti and Japan-based actress Haruna Kondo. Kagura drummer Gaishi Ishizaka of Japan provides live percussion. Sean Frey designs the set and projections and André du Toit designs the lighting and stage manages. Dora Award-winning artist Ravi Jain, Artistic Director of Why Not Theatre, is the producer.

“Even drops of sweat are made impressively beautiful through Ahuri Theatre’s artistically trained muscles.”-Nikka Times

“wonderfully imaginative little show that is well worth 75 minutes of anyone’s time” -Robert Crew, Toronto.com (3 1/2 out of 4 stars)

Monday – Saturday, 8PM. Tickets: Tuesday – Saturday $20, Monday & Preview Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC)
Theatre Centre Box Office: 416-538-0988 or visit www.ahuritheatre.com or www.totix.ca

May 2011

Why Not Theatre’s latest creation and continued development of the Komagata Maru Project.  A new “site-specific podcast” featuring the stories of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees of the MV Sun Sea

No Entry was created out of interviews with Sri Lanakan Tamil’s fleeing their homeland to avoid persecution, torture and genocide.  In August 2010, a boat called the MV Sun Sea carried some 400 Sri Lanakan Tamils to Canada.  The boat’s arrival  sparked heated debate with regards to Canada’s immigration policies.  To this date the passengers are still being processed by the Canadian Boarder Service Agency and their refugee claims being investigated.

Prior to this incident, Sri Lankan Tamils protested in the Toronto streets the genocide happening in their country.  Frustrated by being labeled as terrorist supporters, they stopped Toronto by taking over the Gardner Expressway, in hopes someone would listen to their story.  This piece is an attempt to have those stories seen and heard.

Each audience member will be given an i-pod, which features audio from a passengers from the MV Sun Sea and The Ocean Lady (a boat that arrived in 2009), as well as two Sri Lankan Canadians from Vancouver who help to settle and integrate the refugees.  All provide perspective into why these people came here, how they are being treated now and what the Harper government is doing to keep them out.

This piece is part of Why Not Theatre’s longer exploration of the Komagata Maru, a Japanese Steam ship that carried 376 British Indians to Canada in 1914.  The ship was turned away due to the governments desire to stop the “Brown invasion” and maintain Canada as a “white man’s country”.  Inspired by the documentary by Ali Kazimi, Why Not looks to create a play that examines Canada’s changing relationship to India over the last 100 years as well as its relationship to immigration, refugees and its identity as a compassionate country.

Directed by Ravi Jain
Interviews by Sharada Eswar
Photos by Gobhi Theivendran

Special thanks to:

Cara Eascott, Dan Bergeron, Manjula Selvarajah, Subramanium Selvarahjah, Nayani Thiyagarajah, Lenin Sivam, Malarvilly Varatharaja, Ariyan Janagan, Anu Yogeswaran, Lekha Rajkumar, Sahana Rajkumar, Kubes Nava, Sarena Parmar and the passengers of the MV Sun Sea and Ocean Lady who shared their stories.

2014

In 1914, a group of 376 Indians led by Gurdit Singh, set out to immigrate to Canada challenging Canadian Immigration policies and the myth of equality within the British Empire. The passengers were not allowed to land in Canada and the ship was forced to return to India. The passengers consisted of 340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims, and 12 Hindus, all British subjects. This was one of several incidents in the history of early 20th century involving exclusion laws in Canada and the United States designed to keep out immigrants of Asian origin.

This play will examine Canada’s relationship to India over the last 100 years and look at questions around how history shapes our present and future and how do we apologize for the past? Who is accountable and what are we apologizing for? In January 2010, the project launched with the help of TARA Arts founder Jatinder Verma and a group of exciting South Asian artists. As the project continues to evolve and work toward a full production in 2014 we will keep you posted with how we progress. Thank you to Ali Kazimi for making the documentary film, Continuous Journey, which inspired this project.

A two-person comedy highly acclaimed for its fast paced, intelligent and poetic commentary on the greed that caused the financial crises. At the heart of this clown / buffoon piece is the story of two financial executives who have lost everything in the crash and jump from a building. Winner of the Dora Award for Best Performance (Toronto), two actors play 20 characters from around the world in this physical and comedic tour de force. Created in collaboration with three seasoned international physical theatre companies, this show will have you laughing all the way to the bank.

Created in collaboration with Theatre Smith Gilmour and Theatre RUN, Spent is a new Canadian play that won popular and critical praise for its fast-paced, poetic, poor-man’s commentary on the excesses and absurdities that led to the financial crisis. Spent was honored with three 2010 Dora nominations, including Best Production and Best New Play. Spent won the 2010 Dora for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble.

Sold out Run at the Edinburgh fringe festival! www.SpentTheShow.com

Press

• “If you wanna laugh yourself silly, see Spent… A wonderful combination of incisive satire and sharp physical comedy…Performers Paolozza and Jain are impeccable, alternating and blending movement and dialogue so expertly that you’d think they’re joined not only at the hip but also at a telepathic brain level.”
  

  Jon Kaplan, Now Magazine

• “Spent is an utterly engaging hour because it is smart and witty… [the show] is first class theatre from powerhouse creators… The brilliance of the show is how two human bodies can create whole vistas of images through movement and Andre du Toit’s innovative lighting… Jain and Paolozza are charismatic performers.”
  

  Paula Citron, Classical 96.3FM

• “Spent is splendidly satirical as Paolozza, Jain, Smith and Gilmour target the greed that underlies the current crisis.”
  

  Robert Crew, Toronto Star

• “Happily Jain and Paolozza are talented clowns, and under the often expert direction of Smith and Gilmour, they create moments of inspired lunacy that drew delighted guffaws.”
  

  John Colbourn, Toronto SUN 

• “This is a great show! Inventive, physical, funny, virtuosic and somewhat sly. It’s unabashed physical theatre done with a mixture of simplicity and sophistication. Ravi and Adam are the real thing.”
  

  Leah Cherniak, Clown Master teacher and former Artistic Director of Theatre Columbus

• “I was delighted by Spent, a great way to spend 40 minutes in a black box and come out feeling richer, not spent. Witty, subversive, “cocasse” – I hope there is more where that came from.”
  

  Mathew Jocelyn, Artistic Director Canadian Stage Company 

• “You don’t want to miss this show!”
  

  Franco Boni, Artistic Director of the Theatre Centre 

Creative Team

• Written by: Dean Gilmour, Michele Smith, Ravi Jain and Adam Paolozza
• Directed by: Michele Smith and Dean Gilmour
• Performed by: Adam Paolozza and Ravi Jain
• Lighting Desinger Andre du Toit
• Poster Design by Mina Mikhail

A Small World Music presentation
Thursday March 17, 8:00
Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St.
Tickets $40 – $70 @ ticketmaster.ca / 416 870-8000

Why Not Theatre is a community partner and can offer 10% discount tickets with the code: WHYNOT

Among the most celebrated Indian musicians in history, tabla maestro ZAKIR HUSSAIN is renowned across musical boundaries and around the world. His astounding technique and sympathetic playing have made him the favourite accompanist for India’s greatest artists. Zakir is also a key player in world music with his culture-crossing collaborations. Sitarist NILADRI KUMAR is one of his generations brightest stars. A lineage of five generation of sitar players combine with a fearless sense of creativity to help make a truly remarkable artist. These two massive talents unite for an evening of musical fireworks!

March 26 – March 31, 2011

10am-5pm
cost: $525.00 ($464.50 plus HST)
*some scholarships are available

In partnership with Theatre RUN and Canada Council for the Arts

Commedia dell’arte: Stretch your physical language beyond its limits and search for richness in expressivity, creativity, and imagination of our physical gestuality. Marcello is one of the founders of Complicite and is a world class physical performer who collaborates regularly with Peter Brook.

Space is limited to 24 participants to register please email: marcello.workshop2010@gmail.com

February 24th, 2011 at Brampton Rose Theatre

A packed house of 870 people, beautiful storytelling and incredible artists makes one unbelievably exciting evening of theatre!

Click here to hear Rashi Khilnani, of Radio Canada International, speak about the importance of events like these.

Thank you to all of those who made it out to Brampton on Thursday night… for those who didn’t make it, buy your tickets in advance and stay tuned for another performance in the future!!

About the Play

Why Not Theatre is proud to host the international screen and stage star, Naseeruddin Shah, in ‘Ismat Apa Ke Naam’ – a play performed in Hindu/Urdu and based on three short stories by the famous Urdu writer, Ismat Khanum Chughtai (1915-1991). The plays are directed by Naseeruddin Shah and powerfully performed by him alongside his wife Ratna Pathak Shah and daughter Heeba Shah (themselves renowned actresses).

The play is a celebration of Chughtai, whose work needs little introduction in India; thumbing her nose at the accepted notions/moralities, she created a provocative body of work which astounded and shocked her contemporaries. Shah’s intention to enact three of her short stories is his tribute to this ‘witty, wise, warm, wonderful woman, a unique, enchanting writer for the ages.’

This is a very rare and special opportunity to catch the play that has delighted Indian critics and audiences and to watch Shah perform on stage. Shah is a graduate of India’s prestigious National School of Drama, and has acted in over 125 Indian and International films. He’s won 4 Filmfare awards (India’s equivalent of the Oscars) and recently starred in the highly acclaimed Monsoon Wedding.

‘Gharwali’ told by Naseeruddin Shah, is a heady satire on the social mores of the times (1940s) is uncannily accurate in its observations on the nature of the man-woman equation.

‘Mughal Bachcha’ told by Ratna Pathak Shah talks about the so called successors of the great Mughals, the ‘landed gentry’ of Uttar Pradesh, in the time of the British Raj. This wry and perceptive social commentary is interwoven with a love story of epic proportions.

‘Chhui Muee’ told by Heeba Shah is an account of a child birth in a train compartment, which is witnessed by three totally fascinated but differently affected women. A first person description, seen through the eyes of a child, the story transcends the personal and becomes a hymn of praise to the courage, power and integrity of the rural woman.

Performed in Hindu/Urdu.

For tickets: www.myrosetheatre.ca

Jan 27-28, 2011 9:15pm

First presented at the Summerworks Festival 2009, Greenland won the Top two Festival Jury Prizes, NOW Magazine Audience Choice Award and SummerWorks Outstanding Production Award

Receding ice levels off the coast of Greenland have revealed that an area thought to be part of the mainland is actually a separate island. This discovery mirrors a growing rift between the island’s discoverer and his increasingly distant family, set adrift after a catastrophic loss.

Presented at the Tarragon Theatre Extra Space after The Odyssey (Tickets PWYC)

For Reservations: Tarragon Theatre Tickets, or call 416-531-1827