Geordie Theatre Announces its 39th Season!

After an exceptional lauded and critically acclaimed past season, Quebec’s leading English-language Theatre for Young Audiences Company, Geordie Theatre, is honoured to share an exciting 39th season of new and cherished works for all ages. Currently nominated for ten METAs in the 18/19 award season, Geordie is thrilled to welcome you to the theatre as we celebrate the historic 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; a treaty that recognizes the importance of young people being given a world that allows them to think freely, be safe, imagine, and achieve endless possibility. A season that promises to journey Inside, Out, and All Around.

 

Fall Mainstage – Persephone Bound
November 15-24, 2019
Created by Léda Davis and Jed Tomlinson
With additional text creation by Michaela Jeffery
Directed by Micheline Chevrier
Developed in partnership with Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal
Recommended Ages: 13 and up

“I am determined to be seen.” — Persephone

Our mainstage series begins with an inspiring modern adaptation of the Greek myth Persephone. Starring multidisciplinary artist Léda Davies, the play marks the first co-production with Montreal’s award-winning Imago Theatre and Screaming Goats Collective. Persephone Bound is an epic story of survival that follows a young woman’s journey through three vivid realms: The Underworld – a college party that holds the painful memory of her experience of sexual assault; The
Court – a bureaucratic hell- sphere; and The River (Styx) – an internal space where, queen like, she builds a wellspring of courage and strength. The play uses stunning poetry and aerial circus to explore the need for education around consent.

 

Gala Fundraiser- It’s a Wonderful Life
December 6 and 7, 2019
Written for the stage by Philip Grecian
Based on the film by Frank Capra
Directed by Mike Payette and Jessica Abdallah
Produced by special arrangement with the dramatic publishing company of Woodstock, Illinois

A timeless tale for the whole family that reminds us that every life is valuable and that every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings! Every year, Geordie’s Holiday Gala Fundraiser production brings together some of the city’s most prominent community leaders in law, business, education and medicine in a theatrical performance to support Geordie’s unique mission of bringing enchanting and professional theatre to youth, families and communities in Montreal and abroad. Audience members enjoy complimentary cocktails, hors-d’oeuvres, chances to win great raffle and silent auction items, as well as a charitable tax receipt. This year’s gala features retired Quebec Supreme Court Justice Pepita Capriolo as well as the Honourable Jean-François Buffoni.

 

2Play Tour: from September to April
Canada’s longest running and furthest reaching annual theatre tour

Every year, Geordie commissions two new works from emerging and established playwrights and produces two plays, one for elementary schools and one for high schools and CEGEPS. Three exceptional emerging professional actors get cast to take part in this landmark theatre road-trip across 35,000 km to perform
over 200 shows to more than 40 000 students! The tour is committed to bringing live theatre to as many communities as possible by traveling to all 17 regions of Quebec, as well as into Ontario and the Maritimes.

This year’s plays are The Water Chronicles by the talented Alexandria Haber whose world premiere Alice and the World We live in is currently at the Centaur Theatre; and the teen show Fear of Missing Out is written by award-winning playwright Michaela Di Cesare who recently won a META for Outstanding New Text for Successions (Centaur). Each play handles a unique modern-day problem. The Water Chronicles is a beautiful tale which magnifies conversations around climate change while Fear of Missing Out tackles the urgent realities of consent and cultural identity in young people’s lives today. The cast is made up of National Theatre School of Canada graduate Chloe Giddings, actor and playwright Stephen Patrick Booth, as well as Chadia Kikondjo, former favourite of La Voix (TVA) and graduate of Bishop’s University.

GEORDIE THEATRE FEST
February 5-9, 2020

It’s back!!!

This one-week special event gives audiences of all ages the chance to discover great works in Theatre for Young Audiences with staged readings in partnership with the National Theatre School of Canada, and our acclaimed 2Play touring shows (The Water Chronicles and Fear of Missing Out) on a mainstage platform. The Festival will include an ASL-interpreted performance with our partners Seeing Voices Montreal, and all performances and readings will be in “relaxed” format ensuring that all audience members feel welcome. This year Geordie is presenting an exceptional reading, US, NOW, TOGETHER AND ALWAYS, a new
play on children’s rights inspired by the events that took place during the last two major sports events in Brazil. It is developed and written by acclaimed playwright Chelsea Woolley and children’s author Candance Amarante and is directed by Geordie’s Artistic Director Mike Payette. The reading is followed by a panel discussion focusing on global children’s rights and advocacy with special guests from Amnesty International Canada, McGill University, and the Child Rights Ambassador Foundation.

 

The WATER CHRONICLES
February 8 & 9, 2020
By Alexandria Haber
Directed by Zach Fraser
Developed in partnership with Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal
Recommended Ages: 5 and up

The Water Chronicles is a playful examination of our relationship with water and the impact this has on our environment. It asks the questions: Who owns water? What happens when we don’t respect water? How can we make a difference in avoiding the very real possibility of a water crisis? In an imaginative and fun way, the play explores the many ways that water impacts our lives and how small changes (and small kids!) and can make a big difference.

 

FEAR OF MISSING OUT
February 8 & 9, 2020
By Michaela Di Cesare
Directed by Sophie Gee
Developed in partnership with Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal
Recommended Ages: 13 and up

Fear of Missing Out is the story of Olive who wants to research a string of assaults at bus stops in her neighborhood for the school paper. Unfortunately, she’s grounded and spends all her free time working at her parents’ deli under their watchful supervision. Olive’s best friend T-Star (née Tanya) is growing impatient with this arrangement and starts to withdraw from the friendship. Vincent, an aspiring forensic scientist on the autism spectrum, befriends Olive and promises to help her crack the case. It is a beautiful coming-of-age play that looks at the tough choices facing teens today; a contemporary tale that honestly navigates
conversations and realities of consent, cultural identity, and independence.

 

Spring Mainstage -VIRGINIA WOLF
May 1 to 10, 2019
Adaptation by Cole Lewis
Images by Clelia Scala
Directed by Jessica Carmichael
Adapted from the Governor General award-winning children’s story by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault and published by Kids Can Press
Recommended Ages: 5 and up

The play tells the story of Virginia who is in a “wolfish” mood — growling, howling and acting very strange. Her sister Vanessa tries everything she can think of to cheer her up, but nothing seems to work. Then Virginia tells her about an imaginary, perfect place called Bloomsberry. Armed with an idea, Vanessa begins to paint the bedroom walls, transforming them into a beautiful garden complete with a ladder and swing. So that what was down could climb up. Before long, Virginia too, has picked up a brush and undergoes a surprising transformation of her own. Inspired by the real-life relationship between Woolf and her caregiving sister, this heartwarming play is a poetic telling of what it is to deal with unwanted emotions and reminds us of the importance of patience, support and love.

 

Confidence – Creativity – Craft
EMPOWERING KIDS AND TEENS AGES 6 TO 17 THROUGH CREATIVITY!

The Geordie Theatre School (GTS) provides kids and teens with the opportunity to build a solid foundation in acting by teaching them how to create fascinating characters, build exciting stories, and present them in the most inspiring way. It provides students with the opportunity to learn from some of Geordie’s favorite theatre professionals. Classes are offered to the general public on Saturdays, Sundays and Thursdays. To register and for more information visit: geordie.ca/about-gts/

 

More about Geordie Theatre and Accessibility

Geordie Theatre is a professional theatre company that has been presenting live English productions for young audiences since 1980. Pushing artistic boundaries with provocative and important stories, Geordie delivers more than 200 performances each season and to date, has performed for over 2.5 million children, teens and their families.

Geordie is committed to creating theatre that is accessible and inclusive to all members of society ensuring that each person regardless of their circumstance has equal access to their shows in a safe, and respectful environment. Every year, we offer ASL interpreted performances for select shows and this year we are proud to announce our first interpreted show of the season for Persephone Bound, taking place on Saturday, November 23rd at 4pm.

We also make sure to offer relaxed performances which are designed to welcome audience members such as those on the autism spectrum, young children, people with anxiety, intellectual or developmental disabilities or people who are unfamiliar with theatre, who might benefit and feel more comfortable in a casual theatre environment. Finally, we are working on a new initiative targeted at helping people with visual disabilities enjoy our shows as well. Our goal is to be able to offer audio visual support for select shows this season.

Geordie is delighted to be sharing our 39th season with you and continue to create inclusive, thought-provoking performances. Performances that inspire meaningful discussions between children and their parents and diverse communities of all ages!

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CONTACT: Farida Badrawy at (514) 845-9810 or communications@geordie.ca
Geordie Theatre Inc. 550 Delinelle. Montreal, QC. H4C 3B1 Tel: 514.845.9810 Fax: 514.845.3634 geordie.ca