A free & fun-filled weekend of new plays for kids!
Theatre Direct Canada presents Forward March Festival 2024 on Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5, 2024 at the George Chuvalo Neighbourhood Centre in Toronto. This free, two-day festival invites children between 7 and 12 to experience three new plays curated and created especially for them. Programming will feature new works-in-progress by AMAVA Collective, Phoenix The Fire, and solo artists Christopher-Elizabeth and Annasofie Jakobsen.
The Forward March Festival is an invitation for emerging artist companies to explore their creative process and take risks with content and form within the realm of theatre for young audiences. During the process, artists are offered guidance from Indigenous Culture and ASL consultants, as well mentorship from a guest director and Theatre Direct’s producing team. All plays are performed with ASL interpretation or, for plays in ASL, with voiceover in English.
About Theatre Direct Canada
Now in its 47th season, Theatre Direct Canada is one of the country’s leading theatres for young audiences, with award-winning productions that have reached audiences in schools and theatres across Canada and the world. Recent collaborations include the Dora Mavor Moore award-winner for Outstanding New Play Finding Home: A Salmon Journey up the Humber River and Wishes in the Wind, a soulful parade capturing the struggles and resilience of children commissioned by the National Arts Centre of Canada.
(Photo credits: Theatre Direct Canada.)
Event details
Presented by: Theatre Direct Canada
Produced in partnership with: The George Chuvalo Neighbourhood Centre
Type of event: theatre for young audiences
Dates & times: Saturday, May 4 & Sunday, May 5, 2024 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Program: Three short new works-in-progress will be presented, with a brief Q&A to follow each performance:
- BLANK by AMAVA Collective An interactive comedic play about kids, parents and the rules that get in between, for better or for worse. BLANK invites audiences on a vibrant and rhythmic adventure to the enchanted land of Wonder, located happily in the middle of planet Imagination – where Onyx enforces the rules and Emerald brings the cool. With this clash of opinions comes an epic battle, ultimately impacting the children the hardest, and challenges those viewing. Cast and creative team: Jan Jennings, Tsholo Khalema & Hannah Jennings.
- Continue? by Christopher-Elizabeth and Annasofie. An innovative, interactive video game play, where audience members get in on the game! Two siblings made a promise to beat all the old video games their late (and great) dad left behind. After five years of no contact, the two reunite to try to beat the one game their dad never finished. Creator/director: Christopher-Elizabeth. Cast: Michelle Blight & Evander Jack Dewar.
- MEDUSA’S SISTERS by Phoenix The Fire. Poignant shadow puppetry play inspired by Greek mythology about three sisters who set off on a journey to fight a terrible curse. MEDUSA’S SISTERS tells the story of Stheno and Euryale, who stood by their infamously cursed sister and find themselves experiencing a transformation of their own. Playwright/director: Gaitrie Persaud-Killings. Cast: Jaideep Goray, Gaitrie Persaud-Killings & Aria Persaud.
Duration: Total of 3 hours. Each performance runs for approximately 20-30 minutes, followed by a 10-minute Q&A with the artists.
Cost: Free (spots may be reserved in advance, see the booking link below)
Location: George Chuvalo Neighbourhood Centre, 50 Sousa Mendes Street, Toronto, ON, M6P 3Z5
Trailer: Watch the trailer
Booking link: Reserve your spot here.
Contact Details: Sehar Bhojani, Associate Artistic Director; Theatre Direct Canada, 1 Wiltshire Ave, Unit 127, Toronto, ON, M6N 2V7, Canada; 905-912-4247, sehar@theatredirect.ca, theatredirect.ca
Accessibility: All plays are performed with ASL interpretation or, for plays in ASL, with voiceover in English. Please contact the organizer for venue accessibility information.