The DoC-WPG wishes to extend warmest congratulations to the WPG-WB for rolling out a tremendously successful night!
It was clear that everyone loved the performances and agrees that we shouldn't shy away from overtly political theatre!
We need the insights and inspirations of writers, actors, directors, and other theatre professionals as part of our wider socio-political discourse! Let's DEFINITELY make the Wrecking Ball an annual event... it's great for all of us, and it was especially great for the DoC... thank you SO much for your generous fundraising efforts on our behalf! We'll spend that money wisely... prepared to be info blitzed, Winnipeg!
Showing posts with label theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label theatre. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
This election, try swinging!
Join us at the Wrecking Ball tonight!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Box Office opens at 7:00 p.m.; Show starts at 8:00 p.m.
Prairie Theatre Exchange, Colin Jackson Studio
Unit Y300 – 393 Portage Avenue, 3rd Floor, Portage Place
Prices: Pay what you can (no advanced sales)
All proceeds will go to the www.departmentofculture.ca
Department of Culture, Right Across Canada!!
Dear friends,
The Department of Culture is a growing community of Canadian cultural workers who are dedicated to ensuring the health and prosperity of our nation in the context of a crucial federal election, and in reaction to a political party that is aggressively undermining the values that have defined Canada for decades.
The Department of Culture does not support a particular political party. We are a national network of concerned citizens affected by the destruction of health care, public services, safe food and water, child care, labour laws, women's rights, public education, the environment and thoughtful culture. We are fighting for economic, social, and political justice for all.
We urge you to vote on October 14; if you are wondering who to support in order to have the most impact in your riding, we highly recommend the website Vote For Environment, a comprehensive resource that will help you make an educated decision about the best use of your vote. Over the week ahead, please take a moment to share this information with friends, colleagues, and relatives, especially those in ridings where the race is tight, and a seat can be taken from the Conservatives.
There is a wealth of cultural activity inspired by the election taking place across the country this week; events that voice the opinions and celebrate the contributions of hundreds of ordinary Canadians. Please join us at The Wrecking Ball and This is NOT a Conservative Party! in your city.
respectfully yours,
Naomi
Monday, October 6: The Wrecking Ball
The Wrecking Ball goes national. That means there will be live events in major cities across Canada: All at Once, All on the Same Day, All Political, All New, All Written Expressly FOR the Federal Election. All thrown up by 100% Canadian actors, writers, directors and technicians in their gala niches from coast to coast. Proceeds go to support Department of Culture.
CORNER BROOK at The Backlot, box office at 10:00pm; show at 10:30pm
HALIFAX at The Bus Stop Theatre 2203 Gottingen St. Halifax; box office at 7:30pm; show at 8:00pm
MONTREAL at MainLine Theatre 3997 boul. St. Laurent; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
OTTAWA at Saint Brigid's Centre, 314 St. Patrick St.(at Cumberland); box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
TORONTO at Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave.; doors at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
WINNIPEG at Prairie Theatre Exchange, Colin Jackson Studio, Unit Y300 - 393 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor, Portage Place; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
CALGARY at the Epcor Centre's Jack Singer Lobby, 205 8th Ave. SE; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
EDMONTON at The Varscona Theatre, 10329 83rd Ave.; box office at 7:30pm; show at 8:00pm
VANCOUVER at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage 2750 Granville St.; box office at 6:00pm; show starts at 9:00pm immediately following an All-Party Forum and Press Conference at 7:00pm
VICTORIA at the Belfry Arts Centre 1291 Gladstone Ave; box office at 7:45pm; show at 8:00pm
with Vikki Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Nancy Barry, Belladonna, Amélie Bisson, Wes Borg, Ardith Boxall, Andrea Boyd, Pierre Brault, Petrina Bromley, Jenn Brown, Gaylene Buckle, Ken Cameron, Rick Chafe, Ellen Close, Kim Collier, Chris Craddock, Tyrell Crews, Danielle Desormeaux, Julian Doucet, Katrina Dunn, Ciaran Dyke, Dennis Eberts, David Fennario, David Ferry, Neil Fleming, Lucia Frangioni, Anna Fuerstenberg, Bruce Godfree, Sandy Gow, Stephen Hair, Koby Rogers Hall, Stacie Harrison, Michael Healey, Fiona Highet, Kate Hurman, David Jansen, Jillian Keiley, Joey Keithley, Allison Kelly, Amanda Kelly, Jamie Konchak, Leslea Kroll, Trevor Leigh, Ian Leung, Hardee Lineham, Ieva Lucs, Ryan Luhning, Kate Lynch, Danette Mackay, Ruth Madoc-Jones, Simon Mallett, John Mann, Julia Tamiko Manning, Ross Manson, Ava Jane Markus, Doug McKeag, Sarah Migneron, Julie Mortensen, Wajdi Mouawad, Michael Nathanson, Oni the Haitian Sensation!, Teresa Pavlinek, Matthew Payne, Judi Pearl, Valerie Ann Pearson, Ellen Peterson, Valerie Planche, Gray Powell, Deb Pickman, Donavan Purcell, Bill Richardson, Andrea Ritchie, Rick Roberts, Lara Robinson, Michael Rubenfeld, Michèle Lonsdale Smith, Andrew Soren, Kevin Sutley, Judith Thompson, Michael Turner, Clinton Walker, Dave Walsh, Jonathon Young, Marcus Youseff, The Royal Liechtenstein Theatre Company, Le Ball de Montreal, Montreal Women's Choir and many others...
The Department of Culture presents
This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Rocking The Vote Right Across Canada
Flagship concert takes place in Toronto on
Thursday October 9 at The Phoenix Concert Theatre
REGINA's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Tuesday, October 7 @ 8 pm at Regina's Cathedral Village Freehouse
for information contact Michele Sereda, culture.palliser@gmail.com
WINNIPEG's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Wednesday, October 8 @ 7pm at King's Head Pub, 120 King St.
featuring: Quinzy, Drums & Wires, Patrick Keenan, DJ Rob Vilar + VJs Les Klassen, Hope Peterson, and PO-MO
TORONTO's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Thursday, October 9 doors @ 8pm at The Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne St.
featuring Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), DJ Billy Bryans, Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene,) Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies), Friendlyness (DJ/superheavyREGGAE), Manitou Kwe Singers, Nadjiwan, Parachute Club, Porkbelly Futures (Paul Quarrington), The Skydiggers, Ian Tamblyn, Clay and Paper Theatre, and Videos from Rick Mercer, Alex Cuba, Ron Sexsmith, Stars, Winners of the Gone in 30 Seconds video contest.
OTTAWA's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Friday, October 10 @ 8pm at Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York St.
featuring from Vancouver BRASSTRONAUT + from Ottawa SADIE HELL
www.ZaphodBeeblebrox.com
VOTE on Tuesday, October 14
and then, if you're in Toronto, join us for the Department of Culture's Election Party
at the Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. from 8pm on...
Watch the results and celebrate the progressive coalition government we can imagine together for our future.
Department of Culture
Vote For Environment
Department of Culture in Winnipeg
Department of Culture in Montreal
The Department of Culture is a growing community of Canadian cultural workers who are dedicated to ensuring the health and prosperity of our nation in the context of a crucial federal election, and in reaction to a political party that is aggressively undermining the values that have defined Canada for decades.
The Department of Culture does not support a particular political party. We are a national network of concerned citizens affected by the destruction of health care, public services, safe food and water, child care, labour laws, women's rights, public education, the environment and thoughtful culture. We are fighting for economic, social, and political justice for all.
We urge you to vote on October 14; if you are wondering who to support in order to have the most impact in your riding, we highly recommend the website Vote For Environment, a comprehensive resource that will help you make an educated decision about the best use of your vote. Over the week ahead, please take a moment to share this information with friends, colleagues, and relatives, especially those in ridings where the race is tight, and a seat can be taken from the Conservatives.
There is a wealth of cultural activity inspired by the election taking place across the country this week; events that voice the opinions and celebrate the contributions of hundreds of ordinary Canadians. Please join us at The Wrecking Ball and This is NOT a Conservative Party! in your city.
respectfully yours,
Naomi
Monday, October 6: The Wrecking Ball
The Wrecking Ball goes national. That means there will be live events in major cities across Canada: All at Once, All on the Same Day, All Political, All New, All Written Expressly FOR the Federal Election. All thrown up by 100% Canadian actors, writers, directors and technicians in their gala niches from coast to coast. Proceeds go to support Department of Culture.
CORNER BROOK at The Backlot, box office at 10:00pm; show at 10:30pm
HALIFAX at The Bus Stop Theatre 2203 Gottingen St. Halifax; box office at 7:30pm; show at 8:00pm
MONTREAL at MainLine Theatre 3997 boul. St. Laurent; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
OTTAWA at Saint Brigid's Centre, 314 St. Patrick St.(at Cumberland); box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
TORONTO at Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave.; doors at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
WINNIPEG at Prairie Theatre Exchange, Colin Jackson Studio, Unit Y300 - 393 Portage Ave., 3rd Floor, Portage Place; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
CALGARY at the Epcor Centre's Jack Singer Lobby, 205 8th Ave. SE; box office at 7:00pm; show at 8:00pm
EDMONTON at The Varscona Theatre, 10329 83rd Ave.; box office at 7:30pm; show at 8:00pm
VANCOUVER at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage 2750 Granville St.; box office at 6:00pm; show starts at 9:00pm immediately following an All-Party Forum and Press Conference at 7:00pm
VICTORIA at the Belfry Arts Centre 1291 Gladstone Ave; box office at 7:45pm; show at 8:00pm
with Vikki Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Nancy Barry, Belladonna, Amélie Bisson, Wes Borg, Ardith Boxall, Andrea Boyd, Pierre Brault, Petrina Bromley, Jenn Brown, Gaylene Buckle, Ken Cameron, Rick Chafe, Ellen Close, Kim Collier, Chris Craddock, Tyrell Crews, Danielle Desormeaux, Julian Doucet, Katrina Dunn, Ciaran Dyke, Dennis Eberts, David Fennario, David Ferry, Neil Fleming, Lucia Frangioni, Anna Fuerstenberg, Bruce Godfree, Sandy Gow, Stephen Hair, Koby Rogers Hall, Stacie Harrison, Michael Healey, Fiona Highet, Kate Hurman, David Jansen, Jillian Keiley, Joey Keithley, Allison Kelly, Amanda Kelly, Jamie Konchak, Leslea Kroll, Trevor Leigh, Ian Leung, Hardee Lineham, Ieva Lucs, Ryan Luhning, Kate Lynch, Danette Mackay, Ruth Madoc-Jones, Simon Mallett, John Mann, Julia Tamiko Manning, Ross Manson, Ava Jane Markus, Doug McKeag, Sarah Migneron, Julie Mortensen, Wajdi Mouawad, Michael Nathanson, Oni the Haitian Sensation!, Teresa Pavlinek, Matthew Payne, Judi Pearl, Valerie Ann Pearson, Ellen Peterson, Valerie Planche, Gray Powell, Deb Pickman, Donavan Purcell, Bill Richardson, Andrea Ritchie, Rick Roberts, Lara Robinson, Michael Rubenfeld, Michèle Lonsdale Smith, Andrew Soren, Kevin Sutley, Judith Thompson, Michael Turner, Clinton Walker, Dave Walsh, Jonathon Young, Marcus Youseff, The Royal Liechtenstein Theatre Company, Le Ball de Montreal, Montreal Women's Choir and many others...
The Department of Culture presents
This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Rocking The Vote Right Across Canada
Flagship concert takes place in Toronto on
Thursday October 9 at The Phoenix Concert Theatre
REGINA's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Tuesday, October 7 @ 8 pm at Regina's Cathedral Village Freehouse
for information contact Michele Sereda, culture.palliser@gmail.com
WINNIPEG's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Wednesday, October 8 @ 7pm at King's Head Pub, 120 King St.
featuring: Quinzy, Drums & Wires, Patrick Keenan, DJ Rob Vilar + VJs Les Klassen, Hope Peterson, and PO-MO
TORONTO's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Thursday, October 9 doors @ 8pm at The Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne St.
featuring Dave Bidini (Rheostatics), DJ Billy Bryans, Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene,) Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies), Friendlyness (DJ/superheavyREGGAE), Manitou Kwe Singers, Nadjiwan, Parachute Club, Porkbelly Futures (Paul Quarrington), The Skydiggers, Ian Tamblyn, Clay and Paper Theatre, and Videos from Rick Mercer, Alex Cuba, Ron Sexsmith, Stars, Winners of the Gone in 30 Seconds video contest.
OTTAWA's This is NOT a Conservative Party!
Friday, October 10 @ 8pm at Zaphod Beeblebrox, 27 York St.
featuring from Vancouver BRASSTRONAUT + from Ottawa SADIE HELL
www.ZaphodBeeblebrox.com
VOTE on Tuesday, October 14
and then, if you're in Toronto, join us for the Department of Culture's Election Party
at the Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. from 8pm on...
Watch the results and celebrate the progressive coalition government we can imagine together for our future.
Department of Culture
Vote For Environment
Department of Culture in Winnipeg
Department of Culture in Montreal
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Playwrights provoke with political work
Reposted from: Stage Door / By Kevin Prokosh / Winnipeg Free Press, October 1, 2008
***
The Wrecking Ball is swinging through Winnipeg next Monday in an attempt to poke a hole in the notion that political theatre is dead in Canada.
Wrecking Ball is a four-year-old Toronto theatre movement that seeks to address the annoying reality that there's too much theatre in our politics and not enough politics in our theatre. Prominent Canadian playwrights such as Jason Sherman, Norm Foster, Morris Panych and Daniel MacIvor have penned politically minded monologues meant to challenge and provoke audiences.
For the first time, Wrecking Balls are going national, with eight of them, including one here, set to go Monday, showcasing the work of writers venting expressively about the federal election. The lineup for the Winnipeg ball consists of Michael Nathanson, Ellen Peterson and the Royal Liechtenstein tag team of Gord Tanner and Trish Cooper, as well as a piece called Nail Biter by playwright Judith Thompson.
The 8 p.m. cabaret, to be held at Prairie Theatre Exchange, is open to the public and is a pay-what-you-can event, with proceeds going to the department of culture, an ad hoc group of artists fighting the Stephen Harper government's funding cuts to the arts.
The Wrecking Ball will be welcomed in Winnipeg, where political theatre sightings are quite rare. Last season, Theatre Project's production called How to Kill Yourself With a Screwdriver by Devin McCracken -- inspired by the 2005 shooting of Matthew Dumas by a Winnipeg police officer -- was one example. The Wrecking Ball is seeking a more immediate, ripped-from-the-headlines response to events.
"It's a way to unify the country on political grounds," says Wrecking Ball organizer Michael Rubenfeld, a Toronto actor/director. "As Canadians, we fear controversy. We fear asking difficult questions and being too political. We're not comfortable disagreeing."
The local participants must adhere to two rules: Create brief, explosive pieces inspired by what's happening right now in the election and do it in one week to guarantee maximum freshness. A two-hour rehearsal during the day Monday is all that stands between author and audience.
"This is gloves off," says local producer Rick Chafe, author of Shakespeare's Dog. "It's so immediate, it will be charged with a different kind of energy. What you'll hear is right out of a writer's pen. There will be blood on the floor."
Nathanson, a huge fan of TV's The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, said he was seduced to join in by the opportunity to write political satire.
"I think artists have understandable concern about the state of the arts and the relationship of the Conservative government to the arts," he says. "My inspiration is being drawn from one of the best (and oldest) political satires: Duck Soup, the famous Marx Brothers movie."
***
The Wrecking Ball is swinging through Winnipeg next Monday in an attempt to poke a hole in the notion that political theatre is dead in Canada.
Wrecking Ball is a four-year-old Toronto theatre movement that seeks to address the annoying reality that there's too much theatre in our politics and not enough politics in our theatre. Prominent Canadian playwrights such as Jason Sherman, Norm Foster, Morris Panych and Daniel MacIvor have penned politically minded monologues meant to challenge and provoke audiences.
For the first time, Wrecking Balls are going national, with eight of them, including one here, set to go Monday, showcasing the work of writers venting expressively about the federal election. The lineup for the Winnipeg ball consists of Michael Nathanson, Ellen Peterson and the Royal Liechtenstein tag team of Gord Tanner and Trish Cooper, as well as a piece called Nail Biter by playwright Judith Thompson.
The 8 p.m. cabaret, to be held at Prairie Theatre Exchange, is open to the public and is a pay-what-you-can event, with proceeds going to the department of culture, an ad hoc group of artists fighting the Stephen Harper government's funding cuts to the arts.
The Wrecking Ball will be welcomed in Winnipeg, where political theatre sightings are quite rare. Last season, Theatre Project's production called How to Kill Yourself With a Screwdriver by Devin McCracken -- inspired by the 2005 shooting of Matthew Dumas by a Winnipeg police officer -- was one example. The Wrecking Ball is seeking a more immediate, ripped-from-the-headlines response to events.
"It's a way to unify the country on political grounds," says Wrecking Ball organizer Michael Rubenfeld, a Toronto actor/director. "As Canadians, we fear controversy. We fear asking difficult questions and being too political. We're not comfortable disagreeing."
The local participants must adhere to two rules: Create brief, explosive pieces inspired by what's happening right now in the election and do it in one week to guarantee maximum freshness. A two-hour rehearsal during the day Monday is all that stands between author and audience.
"This is gloves off," says local producer Rick Chafe, author of Shakespeare's Dog. "It's so immediate, it will be charged with a different kind of energy. What you'll hear is right out of a writer's pen. There will be blood on the floor."
Nathanson, a huge fan of TV's The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, said he was seduced to join in by the opportunity to write political satire.
"I think artists have understandable concern about the state of the arts and the relationship of the Conservative government to the arts," he says. "My inspiration is being drawn from one of the best (and oldest) political satires: Duck Soup, the famous Marx Brothers movie."
Friday, September 26, 2008
PWYC EVENT: Election ’08: Green Plan vs. Rain Man -- Or: Harper Hates Minorities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Winnipeg and National Wrecking Ball Media Contact:
Michael Rubenfeld, 416-830-2559, rubenfeld@yahoo.com
The writ has been dropped, and, too lazy to bend down and pick it up, our Prime Minister has decided to call an election. And so, The Wrecking Ball swings into action to bring you a one-night-only event (Monday, October 6, 2008) of bracing political theatre from some of the county’s hottest artists!
Come witness the throw-down between Harper’s haircut and Dion’s personality-like public interface. Come find out why Jack Layton’s moustache and Elizabeth May have never been seen in the same room. Come and thrill to the sounds of the third round of parliamentary musical chairs in four years. Most of all, come and find out why in this election the stakes are higher and the consequences more fraught than ever before.
The Wrecking Ball is an event of fresh and steaming new political theatre that has been matching playwrights and performers with world events for the past five years. And, for the first time (and not a moment too soon), Winnipeg joins a single night of Wrecking Balls swinging right across the nation!
Wrecking Ball events are scheduled to happen on the same night across the country in cities (or 'niches', as Harper might say) from Halifax all the way to Victoria. They will be linked up through the most sophisticated (that is to say, cheapest) technological means available, which will create a tide of political inspiration and action from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast! To coast!
Cities include Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax, where playwrights will all face the only two Wrecking Ball rules:
1) PLAYS MUST BE BASED ON CURRENT WORLD EVENTS--RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
2) PLAYS MUST BE WRITTEN IN ONE WEEK. THEN REHEARSED BRIEFLY AND THROWN RAW BEFORE A HUNGRY AUDIENCE.
A hand-picked coterie of Canadian playwrights will create brief, explosive plays inspired by the election: the candidates, their policies, and which party hasn’t bought enough carbon offsets for their belching campaign buses and piggish jets. The playwrights have complete free rein over what they choose to write – The Wrecking Ball’s only goal is to challenge and provoke. Each city will present plays from local artists as well as those from their national brethren. Or sisteren. And, all the plays will be no more than a week old, so you know the theatre’s gonna smell fresh!
Proceeds from these PWYC events will support the Department of Culture. Check them out (or oot, as we say in this country) at www.departmentofculture.ca.
The Winnipeg event includes plays by Judith Thompson, members of The Royal Liechtenstein Theatre Company , Ellen Peterson, and Michael Nathanson. Check it out on Monday, October 6, 2008 at the Prairie Theatre Exchange’s Colin Jackson Studio (Unit Y300 – 393 Portage Avenue) at 8:00 p.m. PWYC.
The Wrecking Ball was founded in Toronto in November 2004 to address a nagging imbalance: too much theatre in our politics, not enough politics in our theatre. There have been six Wrecking Balls cabarets to date, all of which sold out, proving there is an undeniable appetite for politically charged work in this fine land!
Past writers for The Wrecking Ball include: Jason Sherman, Judith Thompson, Karen Hines, Norm Foster, David Young, Michael Healey, Morwyn Brebner, Daniel MacIvor, Hannah Moscovitch, Andrew Moodie, Claudia Dey, Morris Panych, d’bi.young, Linda Griffiths, and many others. COLDAX, a series of political play readings at the Tarragon in the spring of 2004 was such a hit that The Wrecking Ball presented The Silencing of Rachel Corrie at the Tarragon’s Spring Arts Fair in 2005. Check out the website for more information about political theatre throughout the world: www.thewreckingball.ca.
The Winnipeg Wrecking Ball: Election ‘08 is ONE NIGHT ONLY PERFORMANCE
Join us on Monday, October 6, 2008
Box Office opens at 7:00pm
Show starts at 8:00pm
Prairie Theatre Exchange, Colin Jackson Studio
Unit Y300 – 393 Portage Avenue
3rd Floor, Portage Place
Prices: Pay what you can (no advanced sales)
All proceeds will go to the www.departmentofculture.ca
Winnipeg and National Wrecking Ball Media Contact:
Michael Rubenfeld, 416-830-2559, rubenfeld@yahoo.com
For information about other Department of Culture (Winnipeg) events, contact:
Department of Culture (Winnipeg)
Milena Placentile, departmentofculture.winnipeg@gmail.com
The Winnipeg and National Wrecking Ball presents...
Election ’08: Green Plan vs. Rain Man
Or: Harper Hates Minorities
Election ’08: Green Plan vs. Rain Man
Or: Harper Hates Minorities
Winnipeg and National Wrecking Ball Media Contact:
Michael Rubenfeld, 416-830-2559, rubenfeld@yahoo.com
The writ has been dropped, and, too lazy to bend down and pick it up, our Prime Minister has decided to call an election. And so, The Wrecking Ball swings into action to bring you a one-night-only event (Monday, October 6, 2008) of bracing political theatre from some of the county’s hottest artists!
Come witness the throw-down between Harper’s haircut and Dion’s personality-like public interface. Come find out why Jack Layton’s moustache and Elizabeth May have never been seen in the same room. Come and thrill to the sounds of the third round of parliamentary musical chairs in four years. Most of all, come and find out why in this election the stakes are higher and the consequences more fraught than ever before.
Montreal, meet Victoria; Winnipeg, meet Halifax.
Artist, meet artist. Let the coalitioning commence!
Artist, meet artist. Let the coalitioning commence!
The Wrecking Ball is an event of fresh and steaming new political theatre that has been matching playwrights and performers with world events for the past five years. And, for the first time (and not a moment too soon), Winnipeg joins a single night of Wrecking Balls swinging right across the nation!
Wrecking Ball events are scheduled to happen on the same night across the country in cities (or 'niches', as Harper might say) from Halifax all the way to Victoria. They will be linked up through the most sophisticated (that is to say, cheapest) technological means available, which will create a tide of political inspiration and action from coast to coast to coast to coast to coast! To coast!
Cities include Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Halifax, where playwrights will all face the only two Wrecking Ball rules:
1) PLAYS MUST BE BASED ON CURRENT WORLD EVENTS--RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
2) PLAYS MUST BE WRITTEN IN ONE WEEK. THEN REHEARSED BRIEFLY AND THROWN RAW BEFORE A HUNGRY AUDIENCE.
A hand-picked coterie of Canadian playwrights will create brief, explosive plays inspired by the election: the candidates, their policies, and which party hasn’t bought enough carbon offsets for their belching campaign buses and piggish jets. The playwrights have complete free rein over what they choose to write – The Wrecking Ball’s only goal is to challenge and provoke. Each city will present plays from local artists as well as those from their national brethren. Or sisteren. And, all the plays will be no more than a week old, so you know the theatre’s gonna smell fresh!
Proceeds from these PWYC events will support the Department of Culture. Check them out (or oot, as we say in this country) at www.departmentofculture.ca.
At the Wrecking Ball Nearest You...
The Winnipeg event includes plays by Judith Thompson, members of The Royal Liechtenstein Theatre Company , Ellen Peterson, and Michael Nathanson. Check it out on Monday, October 6, 2008 at the Prairie Theatre Exchange’s Colin Jackson Studio (Unit Y300 – 393 Portage Avenue) at 8:00 p.m. PWYC.
About The Wrecking Ball
The Wrecking Ball was founded in Toronto in November 2004 to address a nagging imbalance: too much theatre in our politics, not enough politics in our theatre. There have been six Wrecking Balls cabarets to date, all of which sold out, proving there is an undeniable appetite for politically charged work in this fine land!
Past writers for The Wrecking Ball include: Jason Sherman, Judith Thompson, Karen Hines, Norm Foster, David Young, Michael Healey, Morwyn Brebner, Daniel MacIvor, Hannah Moscovitch, Andrew Moodie, Claudia Dey, Morris Panych, d’bi.young, Linda Griffiths, and many others. COLDAX, a series of political play readings at the Tarragon in the spring of 2004 was such a hit that The Wrecking Ball presented The Silencing of Rachel Corrie at the Tarragon’s Spring Arts Fair in 2005. Check out the website for more information about political theatre throughout the world: www.thewreckingball.ca.
The Winnipeg Wrecking Ball: Election ‘08 is ONE NIGHT ONLY PERFORMANCE
Join us on Monday, October 6, 2008
Box Office opens at 7:00pm
Show starts at 8:00pm
Prairie Theatre Exchange, Colin Jackson Studio
Unit Y300 – 393 Portage Avenue
3rd Floor, Portage Place
Prices: Pay what you can (no advanced sales)
All proceeds will go to the www.departmentofculture.ca
Winnipeg and National Wrecking Ball Media Contact:
Michael Rubenfeld, 416-830-2559, rubenfeld@yahoo.com
For information about other Department of Culture (Winnipeg) events, contact:
Department of Culture (Winnipeg)
Milena Placentile, departmentofculture.winnipeg@gmail.com
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