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Collage by Emily Jung
From left to right: Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Charlie Petch, Gloria Mok and family, Luke Reece, Dario Dvon, Sky-Ravinn, Courage Bacchus, Selecta Sarah
“We’re so thrilled to present this season, our first programmed together as a collaborative leadership! As ever, the work will be eclectic, moving, and full of surprises. We’re so proud that these four shows were developed at TPM through our Buzz program. From supporting VR conference attendees to a de-escalation workshop and everything in-between, we hope you will join us through our red doors, as we continue our journey of bringing you some of the most exciting artists and work in town!”
– Marjorie, Indrit, and Michelle
#BeyondTO Festival
Playing May 10th – 18th, 2024
Concluded Programming
PXR Conference 2023
A Single Thread Theatre and Electric Company Theatre Production &
Theatre Passe Muraille Venue Partner
Nov. 10th & 17th, 2023
VUKA
facilitated by Tsholo Khalema
Part of Theatre Passe Muraille’s Buzz In-development Series
Playing December 1st to 3rd, 2023
As I Must Live It
by Luke Reece
WORLD PREMIERE
A Theatre Passe Muraille and Modern Times Stage Co-Production
Playing February 11th – March 2nd, 2024
No One’s Special at the Hot Dog Cart
by Charlie Petch
WORLD PREMIERE
A Theatre Passe Muraille and Erroneous Theatre Co-Production
Playing March 14th – 23rd, 2024
Woking Phoenix
by Silk Bath Collective
WORLD PREMIERE
A Theatre Passe Muraille and Silk Bath Collective Co-Production
Playing April 12th – 27th, 2024
“This May, we are bringing back our presentation festival, #BeyondTO”
The sophomore edition of our presentation festival #BeyondTO welcomes Soliloquio (Argentina) and Camille: The Story (Québec) to share intimate stories from the breadth of the human experience.
“Live Performance in VR”
This November, Theatre Passe Muraille will be the venue sponsor for The Performance and XR (PXR) Conference which will bring together artists, technologists, game creators, and academics to discuss digital art creation and innovation. The first and only conference of its kind in Canada, PXR has grown into a significant platform for showcasing the latest advancements in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality performance. Gathering over four hundred participants from diverse backgrounds across Canada and the globe, including artists, programmers, and industry professionals. PXR2023 promises to be their most ambitious conference yet, with a hybrid format combining virtual reality and in-person hubs in Vancouver, Toronto, and Kingston. TPM will be the in-person hub for Toronto, loaning and assisting with our VR units for those who wish to attend the conference.
“I am, because you are.”
VUKA is Theatre Passe Muraille’s Emerging Black Creation Unit, created and facilitated by Tsholo Khalema. Focused on Black new career artists, VUKA (which means rise or wake in Zulu) will be a presentation of four in-progress works by Sebastian Urmom, Selecta Sarah, Courage Bacchus, and Dario Dvon.
Featuring performances of drag, singing, live music and theatre in a community created night of storytelling.
Thanks to the Metcalf Foundation for their support of Vuka.
“This is the story As I Must Live It.”
As I Must Live It is a funny, endearing, and thought-provoking new work from award-winning spoken word artist Luke Reece. Through poetic storytelling touching on everything from antagonistic squirrels to Chris Pratt’s abs, Reece shares his experiences growing up with a mentally-ill father in a mixed-race family. Featuring Reece’s signature deft wordplay, with the direction of internationally acclaimed audience-specific practitioner Daniele Bartolini and stunning projections from one of the UK’s leading immersive production design companies, Limbic Cinema. As I Must Live It brings the page to the stage for an intimate and pun-filled event.
“Everything I needed to know about emergency health care, I learned as a teenage hot dog vendor in downtown Toronto”
Award winning playwright, author, and spoken word performer Charlie Petch (They/He) shares their personal accounts of working at hot dog stands around downtown Toronto. Through spoken word, musical storytelling and de-escalation techniques, Charlie regales audiences with tales of survival, and kindness as a witness to life on the street.
No One’s Special at the Hot Dog Cart will be touring to Public Energy Performing Arts, Peterborough on April 24, 2024.
“Experience the taste of the Woking Phoenix!”
An epic exploration of two decades of a family’s survival. Woking Phoenix tells the story of three siblings, their mother, and their restaurant as they seek to find belonging within small-town Ontario. An intergenerational Chinese love story about creating community and the food that reminds us of home.
On Tour...
Sound of the Beast
by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
A Theatre Passe Muraille Production
Playing Jan. 20th – Jan 25th, 2024, at PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2024 at Salmon Arm Arts Centre, Salmon Arm and Vernon, BC
“Compassion is good, but it’s just motivation. Cars need engines. Movements need mobilization.”
Through spoken word, storytelling and hip hop, acclaimed wordsmith Donna-Michelle St. Bernard illuminates racial discrimination, the suppression of expression and the trials of activism. Her experience as a Canadian emcee is woven through with allusion to Tunisian emcee Weld El 15’s unjust imprisonment for rhymes against a regime. This story creates a space to reflect on how we are connected to the systems that oppress us, and how we can empower each other to rise up.
Sound of the Beast will tour to PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Salmon Arm and Vernon BC.
...and more
As always, we are thrilled to continue supporting the development of new work. Our Buzz In-Development Series encompasses all the pieces that are simmering at TPM, focusing on creating an artistic process that centres the art and the artist. This can happen in a multitude of ways, be it through dramaturgical meetings, workshops with actors, working with designers, or just space to create!
This year, it will include our second year of VUKA, our emerging Black creators unit facilitated by Tsholo Khalema and funded by the Metcalf Foundation. We are also supporting two playwrights, Taija Shoneé-Chung and Vivian Chong as part of our Diaspora Dialogues partnership.
Other Buzz artists we are supporting include Samson Bonkeabantu Brown, Boyband the Boyband (Monica Garrido, Tricia Hagoriles, Lu Linares, Heath V. Salazar), Jenn Forgie, Ken Harrower, Charlie Petch, Luke Reece, and Leslie Ting.
Additionally, the company has extended its Accessible Transportation Fund for patrons who may require accessible transportation to and from the theatre. This year the fund will have a focus on senior communities thanks to support from the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Community engagement is at the heart of how TPM sees its impact beyond the walls. Our in-person Prelude community programming series this season will include community meals, panels, and workshops, all inspired by our productions and free to attend. As well, our Book Club and Truth & Reconciliation Call To Action groups will continue to meet virtually throughout the season, and participants can sign up for free at any time.
Social media
@beyondwallsTPM
#TPM2324
Media Inquiries
To schedule an interview with the artist, or staff members at Theatre Passe Muraille regarding this production, please email Red Eye Media at Suzanne@redeyemedia.ca
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