Russian Branch of Antonin Artaud's Theatre in Toronto: "Voluspa" & "A Hunt For a Sweet Little Deer", August 29, September 6-7

Screenshot: Shows in Toronto: Teatralnaya Laboratoriya of Vadim Maksimov
Credit: teatr-labor.ru

Dear friends,

Now we have here in Toronto for a very short time one of the most unorthodox Russian theatre directors, Vadim Maksimov, the professor of Theatre Arts at St. Petersburg State Theatre Academy (Russia), the Chair of "Western Theatre" department of this Academy, scientist concentrating on Antonin Artaud's theatre and a practicing theatre director who has his own style within the "Artaud theatre" concept.
In 1984 for such practicing he established an experimental "Theatre Laboratory" (Teatral’naiia Laboratoriia), which productions prepare and run constantly.

This week Maksimov’s "Laboratory" gives just only one performance of his "Voluspa" production (aka "The Prophecy of Violva") in Toronto, which completely demonstrates the mentioned above style of Maksimov; a piece taken from the early medieval German epos (The Elder Edda). In September he takes this production to the Mont-Laurier International Theatre Festival in Quebec.
BELOW SEE THE DETAILS ON THIS PRODUCTION IN TORONTO.

There’s also a certain experiment that Vadim Maksimov and I conduct and for which he came to Toronto. Specifically, Maksimov will apply his methods of directing to stage my play "Melody Ranch Escape or A Hunt For A Sweet Little Deer", which I wrote in such a way that its non-traditional context is hidden, so that on the surface it looks very traditional. Maksimov noticed this and in his staging he wants to achieve similar effect: on the surface - relatively traditional methods, while in essence he will merge it with the "Artaud theatre" concept.
BELOW SEE THE DETAILS ON THIS PRODUCTION IN TORONTO.

Both productions are in Russian, but for such kind of theatre this seems not relevant, plus, we will provide a very helpful synopsis for each performance (for “Voluspa” the description of characters in program completely reveals the story; for “A Hunt…” we give a synopsis for each scene).

We will be happy if you come to just enjoy and/or to judge this work. We will appreciate any criticism.

HERE ARE THE PRODUCTION RUN DETAILS:

"Voluspa": tickets $20, at the door
August 29, 2009, at 8 PM
Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto, St. George Campus
2 Sussex Ave, Toronto (St. George Street and Sussex Avenue; St. George subway, exit to St. George)

"A Hunt For A Sweet Little Deer": tickets $20, at the door
September 6, 2009, at 8 PM
Central Auditorium of the North York Central Public Library
5120 Yonge Street, North York

September 7, 2009, at 8 PM
George Ignatieff Theatre, University of Toronto, St. George Campus
15 Devonshire Place, Toronto (Devonshire Place is a street that starts from Bloor; St. George subway, exit to Bedford Avenue)

See you there.

Yours,

Vladimir Milman

link:
The Arts Junction: Russian-Canadian Collaborative Theatre Project in Toronto