EVOLUTION THEATRE! Local Theatre Company Celebrates Five Year Anniversary
On December 13, 2010, Ottawa‘s Evolution Theatre, will be celebrating its five year anniversary with a staged reading of the satirical comedy We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! by Dario Fo at the Arts Court Studio.
Evolution Theatre is a registered charity, which was founded in December of 2005 by three graduates of the University of Ottawa’s Theatre Program, Christopher Bedford, Linda Culbert & Nancy Kenny. Since then, the company has rapidly become a staple in the local arts community and well-known for producing edgy, contemporary work. CBC Radio’s Alvina Ruprecht has called Evolution Theatre “an important contribution to the professional theatre scene in Ottawa.”
The company has been honored with multiple award nominations through the Rideau Awards, Capital Critics Circle, Golden Cherries, the Ontario Arts Council and the Ottawa Xpress. Their production of Daniel MacIvor’s This Is A Play sold out its run at the 2008 Ottawa Fringe Festival and was remounted as part of an evening of one-acts, with two other local companies. The Governor General Award-winning playwright stated in an Ottawa Citizen interview that “Evolution Theatre gets the purpose of the show and knows how it works best.” In 2008-2009, Evolution Theatre was named one of two production mentorship companies under the Great Canadian Theatre Company, where they produced the Canadian premiere of Mark Ravenhill’s pool (no water) and partnered with the Cube Gallery for Roland Schimmelpfennig’s Arabian Night.
Dario Fo’s We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! holds a special meaning for Evolution Theatre as it was the first play the company ever produced. It was presented under a limited engagement in 2005 and Artistic Director Christopher Bedford is thrilled to be bringing it back. He states that “this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate where we’ve come from and to share a wonderful show that many of our current supporters might have missed the first time around.” The show blends farce and pointed social commentary to tell the story of the aftermath of a protest against rising food prices, which escalates to rioting and theft. The comedy fits well into the company’s mandate for thought-provoking theatre.
The reading will feature the talents of Bedford, David Scott, Kate Smith, last seen in both pool (no water) & Arabian Night, and original cast members Nancy Kenny and Chris Macauley.
Along with We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!, the event will include Evolution Theatre’s season announcement for 2011, as well as a big surprise, which will have an effect on the company for coming years. As no Birthday Party is complete without a Birthday Cake, guests are invited to join in blowing out the candles and help Evolution Theatre raise funds for its upcoming projects. All proceeds from the door and the cash bar will help fund the company’s future endeavors.
Evolution Theatre’s Birthday Party will be taking place on Monday December 13 in the Arts Court Studio – 2 Daly Avenue.
Doors open at 7 p.m. with festivities beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 at the door and can be reserved in advance by sending an email to reservations@evolutiontheatre.ca.
Tags: Christopher Bedford, Evolution Theatre, Linda Culbert, Nancy Kenny, theatre in Ottawa, We Won't Pay!We Won't Pay!
