Geordie presents the
third edition of its Theatre Fest

Where families come to play from February 5 to 9, 2020!

Joins in this year for the third edition of the Geordie Theatre Fest! This one-week special event supports Geordie’s initiative of being a leader in development of great new works for Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA). 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 Geordie Theatre Festival gives audiences of all ages the chance to get an inside look at what’s next for TYA.

Staged readings

February 5 to 7, 2020
In partnership with the National Theatre School of Canada

For this year the Geordie Theatre Fest will be presenting four staged readings: When We Grow Up, written by Kalale Dalton-Lutale and directed by our former artistic director Dean Patrick Fleming; Celestial Bodies, written by Jake Archer and directed by Amanda Kellock; The Granddaughter, written by Gillian Clark and directed by Dean Patrick Fleming; and finally, The Ugly Ones, a special reading to honour the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Ugly Ones is written and developed by acclaimed playwright Chelsea Wolley and children’s author Candace Amarante, and directed by our artistic director Mike Payette. It is a story inspired by true events that occurred prior to the Soccer World Cup 2014 and The Rio Olympic Games in 2016 where, in preparation for these events, some favelas were cleared, resulting in the relocation of street children to detention camps. The reading will be followed by a discussion featuring special guests from UNICEF Canada, Save the Children, McGill University, and Equitas.

WHEN WE GROW UP
February 5, 2020 at 11 am
By: Kalale Dalton-Lutale
Directed by: Dean Patrick Fleming
Featuring: Danny Brochu, Mahalia Golnosh Tahririha, Anton May and Leni Parker.

CELESTIAL BODIES
February 5, 2020 at 7 pm
By: Jake Archer
Directed: by Amanda Kellock
Featuring: Lucinda Davis

THE GRANDDAUGHTER
February 6, 2020 at 7 pm
By: Gillian Clark
Directed by: Dean Patrick Fleming
Featuring: Samantha Bitonti and Alex Goldrich

THE UGLY ONES
February 7, 2020 at 7 pm
By: Candace Amarante and Chelsea Woolley
Directed by: Mike Payette
Featuring: Camila Fitzgibbon, Gabe Maharjan and Mariana Tayler

Mainstages: The Water Chronicles and Fear of Missing Out

Developed in partnership with Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal

Every year, Geordie produces two plays by exceptional playwrights and directors, one for elementary schools and one for high schools and CEGEPS. This year the cast is made up of National Theatre School of Canada graduate Chloe Giddings, actor and playwright Stephen Booth, and Chadia Kikondjo, former favourite of La Voix (TVA) and graduate of Bishop’s University.

The artists have been travelling thousands of kilometres to be part of this landmark theatre road-trip, performing over 200 shows to more than 40 000 students!

Finally, in a few weeks, Geordie’s annual 2Play Tour will be brought to the mainstage presenting the Water Chronicles and Fear of Missing Out.

THE WATER CHRONICLES
February 8 and 9, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Recommended ages: 5 and up

The Water Chronicles is written by the gifted Alexandria Haber with plays produced in Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and the UK, and directed by Zach Fraser, a Montreal-based director and teacher at John Abbott College.

The show is a playful examination of our relationship with water and the impact this has on our environment. It asks 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!) can make a big difference.

FEAR OF MISSING OUT
February 8 and 9, 2020 at 4 pm
Recommended ages: 13 and up

Fear of Missing Out is written by the award-winning playwright Michaela Di Cesare, who recently won a META for Outstanding New Text for Successions (Centaur), and directed by the talented Sophie Gee, a former NTS graduate and theatre creator, who recently created the show Lévriers and directed The Tropic X for Imago Theatre.

The play is the story of Olive who wants to research a string of assaults at bus stops in her neighbourhood 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.

Geordie Theatre Fest

Performances: February 5 to 9, 2020
ASL interpreted performance of Fear of Missing Out: February 8 at 4 pm
Venue: Strathearn Center, 3680 Jeanne-Mance, Montreal
Tickets for staged readings: pay-what-you-decide
Tickets for mainstages: $22.43 (adults), $20.13 (seniors, students); $17.25 (teens 13-17); $15.53 (children 12 and under)
Box office and information: 514 845-9810 or geordie.ca

Images: courtesy of Geordie Theatre

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