Alumnae Theatre Company presents its much-anticipated annual event: the New Ideas Festival, running from Wednesday, April 24 to Sunday, May 5, 2024 in the Mainstage Theatre.
Eight exciting new one-act plays!
Celebrating its 36th year, the New Ideas Festival has been a cornerstone of Toronto’s theatre scene, providing a platform for both emerging and established theatre artists to explore fresh ideas and push artistic boundaries. Each year, audiences are treated to a diverse array of theatrical innovation and creativity, with bold premieres and groundbreaking performances. This year’s lineup features an eclectic mix of genres and themes, promising something for everyone.
(Photo credits: Alumnae Theatre Company. Graphic design by Suzanne Courtney.)
Event details
Hosted by: Alumnae Theatre Company
Week 1 program (April 24 – 28). Each performance includes all four plays.
- This Woman is an Island: Written by Hope McIntyre, directed by Madelaine Rose. One cold night in 1960, Kate bursts into the Brandon Mental Institute seeking help. She is doubting her sanity and experiencing fever dreams. After fighting all her life, perhaps it is time to rest. A kind nurse is inspired by the wild adventure that Kate’s life truly was. Based on the true story of Kate Rice, Canada’s first female prospector.
- Pretending: Written by Natalie Stephenson, directed by Barbara Larose. Spanning five years, the breakdown of a marriage and the relationship between parents and their firstborn child: one story, three people, three different versions. Everything is just fine.
- Just for Tonight: Written by Sheila Toller, directed by Erin Jones. Caring for a loved one with dementia isn’t fun, but it can be funny. And reality is more negotiable than you might think. Jane reflects on a year of living with her elderly aunt, who is only staying “just for tonight.”
- Mirror Images: Written by Jean Sheppard, directed by Mel Thompson. “We have to confront ourselves. Do we like what we see in the mirror?” (Maya Angelou) Mirror Images focuses on the decisions four women must make at a pivotal moment in their lives.
Week 2 program (May 1 – 5). Each performance includes all four plays.
- Double Down Helix: Written by Carolyn Bennett, directed by Nicole Anne Smith. Who are you? Your DNA can tell you. Find out using our kit. All it takes is your saliva. Just spit and ship. Easy! Learn the story of you – Patricia Taylor – for 50 percent off the regular price.
- A Little Bite of Paradise: Written by Melanie Stevenson, directed by Ilana Linden. After a mother loses her son to an opioid overdose, her son’s teenage drug dealer, Wayne, loses a big delivery. Does the dead boy’s mother have anything to do with its disappearance, and why does she insist on hiring Wayne to help in her garden?
- Victorian Closet Drama: Written by Nina Kaye, directed by Kyra Keith. In a small but well-furnished Toronto parlor in the late 1800s, the eccentric Luff family holds a dinner party and stages a theatrical play in the dining room, hoping to gain the admiration of the exacting Jewells. It is not likely to go well. A silly play that playfully swipes at gender roles, conventional marriage, and the nuclear family.
- Je Suis Morte: Written by R.J. Downes, directed by Ivana Obradovic. The Performance Artist known as Salon is presenting a revival of her very first production Je Suis Morte. Is the show as pretentious as it sounds? Is there deeper meaning behind the opaque words and movement of the artist? What is really going on, and what does it all mean?
Type of event: one-act play festival
Dates: Wednesday, April 24 – Sunday, May 5, 2024
Start times: Wednesday – Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM ET / Saturday & Sunday matinées at 2:00 PM ET
Duration: 2 hours (plus intermission) for each set of four performances
Cost: C$15.00 (+ C$2.00 service fee per ticket) for each week of four plays
Location: Alumnae Theatre Company, 70 Berkeley Street, Toronto, ON, M5A 2W6 (corner of Berkeley Street and Adelaide Street East)
Booking link: Book your tickets here
Contact details: Alumnae Theatre Company, 70 Berkeley Street, Toronto, ON, M5A 2W6, Canada; 416-364-4170, ContactUs@alumnaetheatre.com
Content warning: For audiences 13+.
Accessibility: Alumnae Theatre’s Berkeley Street entrance and the Mainstage Theatre are wheelchair accessible. There is a wheelchair accessible restroom on the ground floor.
Cancellation policy: No refunds. Exchanges can be made online up to 8 hours in advance by using the “code” found in your confirmation of purchase email.