Factory Theatre to Present World Premiere of Coleman's 'Scratch'

Factory Theatre will present the world premiere of the Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman's deeply moving and funny play Scratch first written when she was only 16. Scratch is a semi-autobiographical story of Charlotte's experience, told through the touching and quirky perspective of 15 year old Anna, of losing her mother, novelist and journalist Carole Corbeil to ovarian cancer. Charlotte states, "I had an urgent need to tell a story that came from a place of pure grief. So much of who I am came from losing her. My writing and talent is so linked to that loss".

Charlotte, also the daughter of playwright, actor and former Theatre Passe Muraille Artistic Director Layne Coleman is a recent graduate of the National Theatre School in Montreal. There, for her graduating class, she wrote the powerful double bill, John … Sudden Death about the last night in the life of Hab's player John Kordik and Cindy … a Perfect Circle about Kordic's stripper girlfriend. The double bill directed by Richard Greenblatt received rave reviews heralding Charlotte as "a talent to watch".

Distinguished dramaturge Iris Turcott, the recent recipient of the prestigious George Luscombe Award recognized Charlotte's talent as a young playwright and the poignancy and humour of her writing. She has guided the development of Scratch throughout the play development program at Canadian Stage up until the 2007-2008 season.

Notably, Scratch has won the 2007 Herman Voaden Award and was chosen to be further developed at the 2008 Banff PlayRites Colony. Two Time Dora Award winning director ahdri zhina mandiela will be directing the world premiere of Scratch on the Factory Mainstage.

"Anna has lice. Her mother has cancer. Her Aunt buys her a pair of Gap jeans while she worries Anna's on drugs. Still she can't stop scratching. She can't get rid of the lice and she can't face the inevitable," describe press notes

Factory Theatre's central mission is to create, develop and produce new Canadian theatre with an emphasis on original Canadian plays and the development of Canadian playwrights. Factory has a longstanding commitment to the development of emerging artists, and to giving our own indigenous artists, from all of Canada's diverse communities, a theatrical voice.

For more information including ticket sales please visit www.factorytheatre.ca