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A woman in a white ruffled shirt and black tails gazes at us as she holds up a vintage bicycle wheel in her right hand.
A woman in a white ruffled shirt and black tails gazes at us as she holds up a vintage bicycle wheel in her right hand.

For the love of bicycles For the love of bicycles

Part musical, part documentary theatrical journey.

Home Events Performance Guild Festival Theatre presents: Evalyn Parry’s SPIN

Guild Festival Theatre presents: Evalyn Parry’s SPIN

For one night only, on Saturday, July 6, 2024, Guild Festival Theatre (GFT) launches their 13th season of performances in the park with Evalyn Parry’s SPIN, a timeless musical celebration of the bicycle in an innovative production that has toured the continent for over a decade.

Whimsical, moving, illuminating, celebratory & inventive

Inspired in part by the incredible true story of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1895, SPIN takes the audience on a journey from 19th century women’s emancipation to the present day, forging unexpected links across time and history. A vintage bicycle, hooked up to simple electronics and suspended in a mechanic’s stand, becomes a percussion instrument – played from fenders to spokes to sprung vinyl seat, from whirling pedals to bells, percussionist Brad Hart creates a captivating sonic accompaniment to Parry’s evocative songs and stories.

“Part theatre, part music gig, part spoken word poetry, part documentary… whatever it is, it is brilliant.”

– Toronto Star

SPIN is a show for anyone who loves to ride a bike, or anyone who has ever yearned for personal or collective liberation. And if you don’t already ride a bike, be warned: you may leave the show wanting to give it a try. For this outdoor, concert version of SPIN at Guild Theatre Festival, Parry and Hart are accompanied by a string trio led by violinist Kathleen Kajioka, with string arrangements by composer/songwriter Michael Holt. In lieu of the show’s original video projections, SPIN’s backdrop will be the glorious Greek Theatre. You can read about the production’s history here.

Vintage-style poster for SPIN, created & performed by Evalyn Parry, featuring a photo of a woman in top hat and brown tails, arms gesturing out wide as she sings at a microphone. In the background, vintage illustrations of women on bicycles. Above the woman, a review quote: "Part theatre, part music gig, part spoken word poetry & part documentary... whatever it is, it is brilliant." Toronto Star. To the left of the title: Starring The Bicycle as music, musical instrument & agent of social change. To the right of the title: & featuring Brad Hart on the 1972 CCM Galaxie bicycle, air pump, chains, vocals.

(Photo credits: OutSpoke Productions / Guild Festival Theatre. Photo of Evalyn Parry by Jeremy Mimnagh.)

About Guild Festival Theatre

For more than a decade, Guild Festival Theatre (GFT) has enchanted patrons at beautiful open-air productions at the stunning Greek Theatre in Scarborough’s iconic Guild Park & Gardens. Scarborough’s only professional theatre, GFT is proud to champion local arts and culture and has been honoured with numerous awards and commendations, including Best Live Theatre (Scarborough Mirror), the Urban Hero Award (Metroland Media), the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award and two Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

About OutSpoke Productions

Dedicated to creating innovative works of documentary performance, OutSpoke Productions integrates music, theatre, visual media, sound and technology, using historical and personal narratives to tackle issues of gender, climate and justice. Founded in 2003 by theatre artist and songwriter Evalyn Parry as a platform for artistic collaboration, production and dissemination, OutSpoke’s collaborators have included professional theatre artists, musicians, sound artists, visual designers, animators and filmmakers. With support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Now program and Gay Agenda Productions, OutSpoke is currently making a short film of The Ballad of Annie Londonderry, directed by Tess Girard.

Photo of a woman in period costume, on stage in front of a vintage microphone, right arm raised as she looks up and out. On the right is a man in period costume and hat, standing behind a bicycle, mounted on a stand to chest height. The bike has the sign Londonderry on it, with hats and prize ribbons hung by the front wheel.

(Photo credits: Evalyn Parry & Brad Hart. OutSpoke Productions.)

Event details

Hosted by: A Guild Festival Theatre presentation of an OutSpoke Production

Type of event: outdoor theatre performance

Created & performed by: Evalyn Parry

Directed by: Ruth Elund Madoc-Jones

Music accompaniment by: Brad Hart (bicycle percussion/vocals), Kathleen Kajioka (violin, string leader), Angela Rudden (viola) & Mary-Katherine Finch (cello)

String arrangements by: Michael Holt

Date: Saturday, July 6, 2024

Start time: 7:30 PM ET

Duration: TBA

Cost: C$30.00

Location: The Greek Theatre, Guild Park & Gardens, 201 Guildwood Parkway, Scarborough, ON

Public transit: From Kennedy subway station, take the 116 or 116A eastbound bus to the ‘Guild Inn’ stop on Guildwood Parkway. Enter the gate into the park.

Trailer: Watch the trailer

Booking link: Book your tickets here.

Contact Details: Guild Festival Theatre, 19 Earswick Drive, Scarborough, ON, M1E 1C7, Canada; 647-250-7438, boxoffice@guildfestivaltheatre.ca, guildfestivaltheatre.ca

 

Accessibility: Guild Park, where GFT performs, is wheelchair accessible, has accessible washrooms and also has hearing assistance.

Refund policy: Please contact the theatre company: boxoffice@guildfestivaltheatre.ca or call 647-250-7438.