Geordie Theatre Announces it’s 40th Season
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- September 8, 2020
After a lauded – yet compromised – 39th season, Geordie Theatre, Quebec’s largest English-language Theatre for Young Audiences company, is thrilled to announce its milestone 40th Season which will embrace our current unprecedented climate while honouring the stories of young people who inspire and challenge the world every day.
Partnering with diverse artists and communities from Quebec and abroad, this season looks forward to presenting memorable and moving productions for the whole family. Stories that make us laugh, think, and urge us to discover the invaluable bonds we have and can make with each other.
We welcome you to a new year that puts a spotlight on Geordie’s remarkable history, as we forge ahead in bringing art and conversation to families during these unimaginable times.
Thank you for being a part of the magic and discover what happens when stars come together!
2Play Tour
September 2020 to April 2021
Canada’s longest running and furthest reaching annual theatre tour!
Every year, Geordie develops two new works from emerging and established playwrights and produces two plays; one for elementary schools and one for high schools and CEGEPS. Together, they have become the highly anticipated annual 2Play Tour!
This flagship tour is committed to bringing theatre to as many communities as possible by traveling across 35,000 km, including all 17 regions of Quebec, as well as through Ontario and the Maritimes to perform over 200 shows to more than 40,000 students!
To ensure that all young people are given access to the arts regardless of their circumstances, we have emboldened this mission by introducing a new offering, specific to this year. For the first time in its history, Geordie is offering live-stream performances to keep the impact of theatre alive in schools even when we cannot physically be there. The idea is to continue to offer schools an immediate and engaging experience without putting their or our artists’ health at risk. We hope that with this opportunity we will be able to offer our shows to even more communities than we did before.
Three exceptional emerging professional actors are working hand in hand with Geordie to discover and create theatre in a new era.
“It’s bringing forward a lot of new ways to communicate and to connect with people, and I think that’s something that’s going to help me grow as a performer.”- Alyssa Angelucci-Wall, Actress
This year’s world premiere plays are Little Mighty Superhero by the talented Marie Barlizo (Lucky, Centaur Wildside), directed by recent META (Montreal English Theatre Award) recipient Liz Valdez (Encore, Tableau D’Hôte Theatre). It is accompanied by Celestial Bodies by Jacob Margaret Archer, a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, whose work has been performed all over western Canada. Geordie’s Artistic Director Mike Payette directs this piece for high schools.
Joining Alyssa, a Concordia University Theatre graduate, are Wahsonti:io Kirby (National Theatre School) who was to appear in the Stratford Festival’s Hamlet 911 before its Covid cancellation, and recent University of Victoria alumnus Douglas Peerless, who has recently moved to Montreal for this special tour.
THE LITTLE MIGHTY SUPERHERO
By Marie Barlizo
Directed by Liz Valdez
Dramaturgy by Emma Tibaldo
Developed in partnership with Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal
Recommended Ages: 5 and up
One night, Max and his imaginary friend, Jayson (aka the little Mighty Superhero), share in their bedtime ritual of re-enacting the story of the Bakunawa, the moon-eating water dragon. But this night is different, and Max misses his Lola who used to tell him the same story whenever he was afraid of the dark. When Max and Jayson discover that the moon in the sky is gone, the two go on a wild adventure to the underworld where they are met by a travelling Ferryman, the powerful Bathala, and the infamous Bakunawa, only to discover that as Max’s courage grows, Jayson begins to fade.
The Little Mighty Superhero is a heartwarming journey of a young boy’s quest to rediscover imagination and memory in the face of fear and the unknown. At the core of this vibrant and visual play, is the reminder that every adventure is more memorable when you can share it with someone you love.
CELESTIAL BODIES
By Jacob Margaret Archer
Directed by Mike Payette
Developed in partnership with the National Theatre School of Canada
Recommended Ages: 12 and up
Stella, a fast-thinking (and even faster-talking) teenager, has barley even started high school, and she’s already over it. Obviously, the best course of action is to lay low and hope that no one notices that she’s an awkward, clinically anxious space-nerd. But when that plan goes supernova and explodes, she scrambles to cope with totally normal teen challenges, like bullying, casual binge eating, and…accidentally becoming an ice hockey goalie?
Armed with supportive but questionably effective from her mom’s ( a consummate peacemaker and a pep-talking former Olympian), as well as the unwavering enthusiasm of high-energy classmate, some surprisingly astute coaching from her somewhat obtuse crush, and a good dog name Oort Cloud, can Stella find the genuine pleasure of existing in a physical body in a world that wants to shame her for the body she has?
Interrogating the way bodies are approached as a problem to be fixed, Celestial Bodies is one girl’s cosmic journey to truly owning, literally and metaphorically, the space she occupies.
GEORDIE THEATRE FEST
February 3rd – 7th, 2021
It’s back!!!
This one-week special event gives audiences of all ages the chance to discover great works in Theatre for Young Audiences with staged readings in partnership with the National Theatre School of Canada, and our acclaimed 2Play touring shows (The Little Mighty Superhero) and (Celestial Bodies) on the main stage, as well as activities for the whole family to enjoy, curated by Geordie Theatre School.
The Festival will include an ASL-interpreted performance with our partners Seeing Voices Montreal, and all performances and readings will be in “relaxed” format, ensuring that all audience members feel welcome.
MAINSTAGE SERIES
JONATHAN: THE SEAGULL PARABLE
March 23rd – April 10th, 2021
Geordie Theatre / Surreal SoReal Co-production Presented by Théâtre Denise-Pelletier
Created and directed by Jon Lachlan Stewart
Choreography by Luca ”Lazylegz” Patuelli
Recommended Ages: 13 and up
This new and exceptional tour-de-force production, inspired by the modern treasure Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, follows a young rebellious seagull who, tired of his clan’s repetitive routine, tries to fly differently. Forced into exile, the adventurer finds refuge in a new clan and through time and guidance, returns home with the mission of teaching his community new ways of flying.
A visionary story that identifies how society perceives physical limitations, as well as how we look at other communities’ ways of living. A tri-lingual piece (English, French, body) featuring professionals in both physical disability and non-disabled communities, this inspiring journey promises to move us in unexpected ways.
VIRGINIA WOLF
April 30 to May 8, 2021
Adaptation by Cole Lewis
Images by Clelia Scala
Directed by Mike Payette
Adapted from the Governor General award-winning children’s story by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault and published by Kids Can Press
Recommended Ages: 5 and up
The play tells the story of Virginia who is in a “wolfish” mood — growling, howling and acting in very strange ways. Her sister Vanessa tries everything she can think of to cheer her up, but nothing seems to work. Then Virginia tells her about an imaginary, perfect place called Bloomsberry. Armed with an idea, Vanessa begins to paint the bedroom walls, transforming them into a beautiful garden complete with a ladder and swing, so that what was down could climb up. Before long, Virginia too, has picked up a brush and undergoes a surprising transformation of her own.
Inspired by the real-life relationship between Woolf and her caregiving sister, this heartwarming play is a poetic telling of what it is to deal with unwanted emotions and reminds us of the importance of patience, support, and love.
Confidence – Creativity – Craft
EMPOWERING KIDS AND TEENS FOR 10 YEARS!
Geordie Theatre School (GTS) was quick to adjust last March, in the beginning of the closures and cancellations, to ensure that young people and their families were given space to play and dive into the world of theatre. GTS has built upon its knowledge of creating content for families in an online format by continuing GTS Online for all our regular programming until we are able to safely share the same training space. In the meantime, there are many exciting things in store this year – including the launch of a Teen Ensemble and a Workshop Series – that will keep our kids and teens engaged and working together.
GTS offers multi-level after-school classes, public classes, and specialty workshops that provide children and teens with the opportunity to build a solid foundation in acting by learning the craft from passionate and caring professionals, educators, and artists. Its programming is entirely inclusive and supports families from low-income households through its unique GTS Bursary Fund.
More about Geordie Theatre and Accessibility
Geordie Theatre is a professional theatre company that has been presenting live English productions for young audiences since 1980. Pushing artistic boundaries with provocative and important stories, Geordie delivers more than 200 performances each season and to date, has performed for over 2.5 million children, teens, and their families.
Geordie is committed to creating theatre that is accessible and inclusive to all members of society ensuring that each person, regardless of their circumstance, has equal access to their shows in a safe, and respectful environment. Every year, we offer ASL- interpreted performances for select shows.
We also make sure to offer relaxed performances which are designed to welcome audience members such as those on the autism spectrum, young children, people with anxiety, intellectual or developmental disabilities or people who are unfamiliar with theatre, who might benefit and feel more comfortable in a casual theatre environment.
Finally, with our new creation space – Espace Geordie – a fully equipped performance space to offer live streaming services, we are determined to make our performances even more accessible. Our goal is to offer our work to communities that do not have access to professional theatre and to create stories that are accessible to as many people as possible.
“If we do not go to these communities, then there’s a huge disservice there. We have not only an artistic responsibility, but a social responsibility by virtue of the work and the audiences that we reach. Unequivocally, our primary duty within Geordie is to ensure that accessibility remains integral to everything that we do.”
– Mike Payette, Artistic and Executive Director, Geordie Theatre
Geordie is delighted to share our 40th season with you and continue to create inclusive, thought-provoking performances. We will be unveiling some exciting initiatives throughout the year that highlight Geordie’s role in the community and the future. We look forward to bringing theatre that inspires meaningful discussions between children and their parents and diverse communities of all ages!
