Paradise

By Patti Flather

March 2015

February 2018 & May 2018

“A captivating new piece of Canadian theatre…Paradise is an exciting collaboration between two very different Canadian theatre artists – director Majdi Bou-Matar and Yukon playwright Patti Flather. Together they have created a physically and aurally impressive piece of storytelling about important issues, both perceived and not, that threaten our very existence – from the war on terror to the effects of mental illness and homelessness on our everyday lives, with the help of a talented group of actors and designers.” – Brenda Leadlay, Artistic Executive Director, Magnetic North Theatre Festival

“Paradise: what you get when you cross a skilled, veteran playwright with a vibrant, movement-based theatre company. Patti Flather and the MT Space have come together to produce a show that is as beautiful as it is unsettling, linking stories of peaches, snakes, dogs, limericks, and ordinary people under stress.” – Ric Knowles, Professor of Theatre Studies, University of Guelph

An unemployed logger, a young man accused of terrorism, a family doctor and his daughter, are all searching for their humanity inside the systems that cage us all. This play explores human rights, mental illness and addictions, and our own personal complicity in such urgent issues that surround us on daily basis. A poetic, complex and challenging work, Paradise is a beautiful marriage of the text and imagery of Patti Flather with the distinct physical style of MT Space.

A Gwaandak Theatre and MT Space co-production, Paradise premiered at the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon in 2015, and was showcased at IMPACT 15 in Kitchener, Ontario, with Gwaandak Theatre/MT Space booking tour dates from 2017-2018 on. Presented in Edmonton by Azimuth Theatre, Paradise toured at Expanse as part of Chinook Series, Edmonton’s international curated arts series, in February 2018. Paradise also toured at Sudbury Theatre Centre as part of PlaySmelter, Sudbury’s New Work Festival. This showing was presented by Pat the Dog Theatre Creation, and included a public reading by Patti Flather on May 4 at STC, which was presented by Pat the Dog and supported by PlayConnect, Playwrights Guild of Canada’s readings program.

CREDITS

Featuring Aldrin Bundoc* (***), Nicholas Cumming, Pam Patel, Michael Peng** (***)

Playwright | Patti Flather

Director | Majdi Bou-Matar

Set & Properties Designer | David Skelton

Sound Designer & Composer | Jordy Walker

Lighting Designer | Jenny Jimenez

Costume Designer | Melaina Sheldon

Music (2015) | Gord Grdina (Oud); Olivier de Colombel (Saxophone); Darcy McCord (Cello)

Stage Manager (Feb & May 2018) | Zac Gungl

Technical Director (Feb 2018) | Julie Ferguson

Technical Director (May 2018) | R. Brent Clements

Production & Tour Manager (May 2018) | Margaret (Bó) Bárdos

Photography | Bruce Barrett

*Member of ACTRA (March 2015)

**Member of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (March 2015)

***The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy. (2018)