Only five performances!
From Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27, 2024, Art of Time Ensemble, in association with The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School and Koffler Arts, presents the world premiere of Sankofa: The Soldier’s Tale Retold, a reimagining of Igor Stravinsky’s 1918 theatrical work L’Histoire du Soldat, at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre. This theatre performance, its poetic dialogue accompanied by live music, will be the Art of Time Ensemble’s final production – so you won’t want to miss it!
(Photo credits: Art of Time Ensemble. Andrew Burashko, Titilope Sonuga & Tawiah M’Carthy. Photo by John Lauener.)
Reinventing a tale set in the past to reflect our modern times
Through the journey of a fictional soldier attempting to enlist in WWI, this Soldier’s Tale is set against the historical context of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, the only Canadian battalion composed of Black soldiers to serve in the First World War. In a psychological battle with the Devil, the Soldier embodies the battalion’s resilience and enduring struggle against racism, discrimination and historical erasure.
This new work features a libretto* by Nigerian poet, playwright and performer Titilope Sonuga; and is directed by Tawiah M’Carthy, with music director and conductor Andrew Burashko. The award-winning cast features Diego Matamoros, Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Olaoluwa Fayokun and Ordena Stephens-Thompson. A seven-piece ensemble of musicians from The Glenn Gould School will perform the score, written by the early to mid-20th century Russian composer and conductor Igor Stravinsky.
“Re-envisioning Stravinsky’s score with a new narrative and staging that speaks directly to one of the most pressing social and political movements of today allows for new ownership, new authorship, and new audiences. It is an important and opportune moment for such creative and radical experimentation.”
– Andrew Burashko, Artistic Director, Art of Time Ensemble
Like the symbol of the Sankofa bird from which this story draws its name (a word in the Twi language of Ghana which means to go back and retrieve what was forgotten), Sankofa blends past and future as the rhythm of Sonuga’s poetry weaves through Stravinsky’s original music. The work is an invitation to honour a difficult history while moving toward a more promising future.
*A libretto is the text, or script, of an opera or musical theatre. In this case, the term is being used for a theatre piece with music accompaniment.
About Art of Time Ensemble
Led by Artistic Director Andrew Burashko, Art of Time Ensemble transforms the way audiences experience music. Connecting the best aspects of high art and popular culture in their concerts, Art of Time entertains as it enlightens, revealing the universal qualities that lie at the heart of all great music. Sankofa: The Soldier’s Tale Retold will be their last production.
About the Glenn Gould School
Building on The Royal Conservatory’s century-old tradition of musical excellence, The Glenn Gould School (GGS), named after the famous Royal Conservatory graduate, is one of the leading post-secondary music performance training institutions in North America, and one of the few to be integrated with a major performing arts centre – Koerner Hall. GGS alumni are widely acclaimed on the world’s stages and hold leadership positions in cultural organizations in Canada and across the globe.
About Koffler Arts
Koffler Arts is a multi-disciplinary arts platform for visual art, performance and literary events, that positions the contemporary Jewish experience within broader social, historical and cultural conversations on identity, memory and place.
(Photo credits: Art of Time Ensemble.)
Event details
Type of event: theatre performance with music
Music by: Igor Stravinsky
Libretto by: Titilope Sonuga
Director: Tawiah M’Carthy
Conductor & music director: Andrew Burashko
Cast: Diego Matamoros, Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Olaoluwa Fayokun & Ordena Stephens-Thompson
Musicians: Graham Lumsden (trumpet); Ken Kagawa (trombone); Anne Murdoca (clarinet); Wolfgang Scheitinger (bassoon); Julia Mirzoev (violin); Cameron Breiter (double bass) & Andrew Busch (percussion).
Dates: Thursday, October 24 – Sunday, October 27, 2024
Start times:
- Thursday – Saturday @ 8:00 PM ET
- Saturday & Sunday matinées @ 2:00 PM ET
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes (no intermission)
Cost: C$35.10 – $79.00
Location: Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON, M5J 2G8
Booking link: Book your tickets here. You can also book by contacting the Harbourfront Box Office at tickets@harbourfrontcentre.com or 416-973-4000.
Contact Details: Art of Time Ensemble, 596 St. Clair Avenue West, Unit 4, Toronto, ON, M6C 1A6, Canada; 647-344-2254, info@artoftimeensemble.com, artoftimeensemble.com
Content warning: Mature subject matter. Gun sound effects. For audiences 13+.
Accessibility: Info here. Accessible seating available. For any inquiries, contact the Harbourfront Centre box office at 416-973-4000.
Refund policy: Please note that all performance ticket sales are final. Ticket upgrades and exchanges, where possible, must be completed at least 24 hours prior to the performance. Please allow extra time for parking and locating your venue. Latecomers are not guaranteed entrance to all performances as late calls differ by production, and no refunds will be issued.