Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, is pleased toreveal the three curatorial threads being explored at the upcoming Luminato Festival, asexemplified by the 2010 theatre and dance program. From the relationship between east andwest, the way rights and freedoms are expressed artistically, to a celebration of the diva, theseover-arching concepts unify the many artistic disciplines presented at Luminato, and provideFestival-goers with a thought-provoking way to navigate the 2010 Festival program.
Luminatotakes place June 11-20, 2010. Tickets go on sale April 15.
"Each year Luminato's programming team works on creating a cohesive program that weaveselements of the Festival together," says Artistic Director Chris Lorway. "The first step is to lock ina number of significant anchor pieces. From there, we work with artists and companies to fleshout some of the ideas that these anchor works represent. Our hope is that the final result of thisprocess will enhance the festival experience as audiences discover and follow these threadsacross all artistic disciplines."
Included among these 2010 curatorial threads is the notion of east and west, and the way inwhich this familiar division informs how individuals and communities define themselves. Theanchor project within this theme is Volcano Theatre's The Africa Trilogy. Three years in themaking and featuring an international team of playwrights, directors and designers, The AfricaTrilogy explores how geography and notions of society are sometimes defined by Westerngeneralizations about this somewhat misinterpreted continent.
The way in which human rights are expressed artistically is another unifying concept beingexpressed through Luminato's 2010 Festival programming. Whether artistic, intellectual, orhuman rights, the idea of standing up for what one believes in is a constant cross-culturalstruggle. Toronto artist Erika Batdorf explores the quest to find one's voice amidst oppression inOne Pure Longing: Táhirih's Search, while Halifax's 2b theatre company's Homage exploresthe moral rights associated with an artist's ability to control the destiny of their work once it hasbeen turned over to someone else.In Luminato's previously announced operatic anchor Prima Donna, Rufus Wainwright hascreated an archetype as the nucleus of his opera: the powerful - yet fragile - woman. The 2010festival celebrates this notion with the curatorial thread of the diva.
In their first North Americanappearance Syria's Enana Dance Theater presents Julia Domna, a piece about a famous Syrianfolk hero who personifies this notion."We're thrilled to announce Luminato's curatorial threads and the way in which they unifyelements of our theatre and dance program," says Luminato CEO Janice Price. "As we beginannouncing our fourth Festival season, the 2010 theatre and dance program exemplifiesLuminato's position as Canada's premier international multi-disciplinary arts festival."Luminato will continue announcing its Festival lineup over the next couple of weeks, which willfurther elaborate on the Festival's 2010 curatorial themes.
Complete 2010 Luminato theatre and dance programs:
THEATREThe Africa Trilogy - World PremiereA triple bill of new plays, The Africa Trilogy examines the complicated relationship existingbetween Africa and the West. Inspired by the 2005 Massey Lectures by Stephen Lewis, TheAfrica Trilogy explores the human reality of this complex global relationship from three distinctpoints of view. The piece features a creative ensemble of three writers and three directorsspanning three continents. Directors Ross Manson, Liesl Tommy, and Josette Bushell-Mingoalong with playwrights Roland Schimmelpfennig, Christina Anderson, and Binyavanga Wainainadraw upon their own cultural experiences in order to question the way we see and imagine eachother. Commissioned by Luminato and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, The Africa Trilogy isa production of Toronto's Volcano Theatre and is presented in association with HarbourfrontCentre. The performance runs for a total of three hours 30 minutes, including two intermissions.In previews Thursday, June 10 - Sunday, June 13; Tuesday, June 15 (opening night) -Sunday, June 20 at the Fleck Dance Theatre$30 - 45
One Pure Longing: Táhirih's Search - World PremiereIranian poet and teacher Táhirih challenged Tehran's cultural conventions in the mid-1800s byremoving her veil, ultimately leading to her execution. Inspired by Táhirih's poetry, One PureLonging: Táhirih's Search explores faith, freedom of expression, and women's rights. Theperformance utilizes song, poetry recitation, and movement to represent the courage needed tospeak out against oppressive forces. Designed by Bretta Gerecke, One Pure Longing: Táhirih'sSearch features an international cast lead by acclaimed theatre director Erika Batdorf.Commissioned by Luminato, the production runs 75 minutes.Friday, June 11 - Monday, June 14 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre$35
