Theatre
Projections of the North
What do you make of the North?
Inspired by northern imagery drawn and photographed from storybooks, instructional texts and northern themed books, a variety of shapes
represent how we have come to ‘project’ the north. Romantic, historical, and sometimes cliché, these images combine understandings and misunderstandings of the complexities inherent in the north.
Visual/Material Anthropologist and… Continue Reading
Celebrating our Planned Giving Donors
On Wednesday, April 17th, the NAC Foundation held its annual Emeritus Luncheon to thank donors who have provided a gift for the future, through a bequest in their will, a gift of life insurance or other planned giving arrangements.
Emeritus Circle members and guests enjoyed a NAC Orchestra rehearsal of Peter Paul Koprowski’s latest commission, Podhale, written… Continue Reading
Tulugak means Raven
I have been asked to write a few words about my experiences with Tulugak: Inuit Raven Stories, but I have to warn you, I won't be objective in any part of this missive. I started working at Canada's National Arts Centre last fall. Shortly after my arrival, it was suggested that I might be a good candidate to work… Continue Reading
Things Seen and Overheard at the NAC this Morning
On my walk through the building, down the twisting, turning, magical halls of the NAC this morning I took-in and overheard:
- an Inuit-art gallery exhibit as part of the Northern Scene festival
- a production team meeting on the Southam Hall stage
- a piano being tuned in rehearsal hall B
- a Steinway being rolled… Continue Reading
March Madness - NAC English Theatre is truly everywhere!
Three Plays, Three Cities, Three Openings, Two Nights – what a way to kick off March for the NAC English Theatre!
Last week, English Theatre celebrated in style as three co-productions opened in Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.
February 27th saw the opening night of Michel Nadeau’s beautiful And Slowly Beauty… at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. The… Continue Reading
Beverley Cooper’s Creation: Innocence Lost
On February 28th NAC Foundation donors were treated to a question & answer pre-show chat with Beverley Cooper, playwright of Innocence Lost: A Play About Steven Truscott. The audience learned the challenges Beverley experienced in choosing how to approach the project, given that the play is based on a true story. She ultimately decided to create a fictional character,… Continue Reading
Innocence Lost with Beverley Cooper Part 2
Playwright Beverley Cooper talks about her powerful drama, Innocence Lost, A Play about Steven Truscott.
Part 2 - Now running in the NAC Theatre until March 16.
Innocence Lost is told from the point of view of a fictional character named Sarah. Why did you choose this technique?
At first I thought about doing the… Continue Reading
Innocence Lost with Beverley Cooper Part 1
Playwright Beverley Cooper talks about her powerful drama, Innocence Lost, A Play about Steven Truscott.
Part 1
The Blyth Festival gave you a nearly impossible deadline to write the play. How did you cope with the pressure?
The Artistic Director at Blyth, the wonderful Eric Coates, asked me in August of 2007 if I would be… Continue Reading
Innocence Lost Production Diary
During the month of January sketch artist Marc Taro Holmes attended rehearsals of Beverley Cooper's Innocence Lost: A Play About Steven Truscott with his sketchpad. He drew live while the actors were going about the work of building the characters and story at the Centaur Theatre in Montreal.
These drawings are both a document of…
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Backstage Tour for Subscribers
The NAC recently invited some subscribers to learn more about what happens behind the scenes at the NAC. Patrons were able to examine the set of Metamorphoses and ask the Jillian Keiley, the director, and theatre artists and technicians questions about the production. Guests also enjoyed cookies and coffee in the carpentry workshop amongst theatre maquettes, props and machinery… Continue Reading
Two Plays, Two Cities, Two Openings, Two Nights!
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Two Plays, Two Cities, Two Openings, Two Nights... too much? Not for the NAC English Theatre!
Last week, the NAC English Theatre kicked off 2013 with two shows opening back to back, in two different cities.
Thursday, January 31st saw the opening night of Beverley Cooper’s Innocence Lost: A Play About Steven Truscott at the Centaur… Continue Reading
In support of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards
WE ARE HERE!
Over the past few months, English Theatre Artistic Director Jillian Keiley and Associate Artistic Director Sarah Garton Stanley, have been visiting cities across Canada, meeting and greeting with artists, while conducting general auditions.
Since September, the ‘Audition Tour’ has been in six cities, five provinces in four months, visiting Toronto, Calgary, Regina, Ottawa, Montreal, and St. John’s, with… Continue Reading
National Arts Centre artists, audience and staff are giving back!
Canadian Soprano Measha Brueggergosman, the players of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the artists from the NAC’s English Theatre Company and Theatre Calgary, the NAC’s audience and countless staff members are giving their time, their talent and their spirit of compassion this holiday season.
Today, NAC English Theatre is staging a special benefit performance of Pride and Prejudice at… Continue Reading
Audiences Are Saying “I DO” to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy!
As audiences continue to swoon over Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and ticket demand is strong, the NAC English Theatre recently added four more performances:
Sunday, December 9 at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 12 at 2 p.m.
and Wednesday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m.
On…
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Alberta Invasion!
Alberta Artists are taking the National Arts Centre by storm this week and next. Two of our biggest Christmas blockbuster shows are from Alberta companies this year. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, our co-production with Theatre Calgary, is so popular we have extended the run by three nights until December 12. Adapted for the stage by Janet Munsil, directed by Dennis Garnhum… Continue Reading
Beyond the House Program
Often people attend a play or concert having thoroughly researched what they are about to experience. The who, what, when, where and why have all been answered before they settle into their seat. I prefer to show up without any expectations. I will have read the show description and watched some video clips but generally that is the depth… Continue Reading
Two Classic Plays…Two Separate Periods…Two Different Cities…One Opening Night Part II
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10:06 p.m. Ottawa - Audiences head out from the opening of The Glace Bay Miners' Museum (a co-production with Neptune Theatre) and enter the NAC Salon for the after party.
8:06 p.m. Calgary - Audiences are getting ready for Pride and Prejudice to open at Theatre Calgary.
Two plays opening the same night in different cities -… Continue Reading
Two Classic Plays…Two Separate Periods…Two Different Cities…One Opening Night
Disponible en anglais seulement
When the 2012 -13 English Theatre season was announced, there was much excitement around the first two productions in the Theatre, Wendy Lill's The Glace Bay Miners' Museum (a co-production with Neptune Theatre) and Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - in a co-production with Theatre Calgary - in a new adaptation by Janet Munsil.
The two plays are… Continue Reading
Rochelle and David Greenberg: Supporting the NAC gives couple the chance to ‘pay it forward’
When Rochelle and David Greenberg went to see the National Arts Centre Orchestra that night they weren’t expecting anything out of the ordinary. Then suddenly a hush fell over the audience.
Canadian politician and patron of the arts, the Hon. Mitchell Sharp was walking across the stage with a baton in his hand. “His health was failing but… Continue Reading
Donor Profile: Dr. Kanta Marwah
The event happened many years ago, but Dr. Kanta Marwah has never forgotten it.
The distinguished research professor and Professor Emeritus of Economics had recently arrived in Ottawa to join the faculty at Carleton University. She chose to spend this particular New Year’s Eve celebrating in the NAC lobby.
“That was my introduction to the Centre,” she… Continue Reading
Culture Days
Everyone knows that any good performance hall worth its salt is haunted by ghosts. The NAC is no different. If you roam backstage, (and you're really, really quiet) you might hear an otherwordly voice reciting a line from Shakespeare's King Lear, or Michel Tremblay's Les Belles-soeurs. Or you might glimpse a vision of an ethereal prima ballerina, desperately racing… Continue Reading
What’s new at ‘the Knack’?
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My colleague Martin has worked at the NAC for over nine years. Throughout his career here Martin’s dad has taken great joy needling him by mispronouncing the abbreviation NAC. He jokingly refers to Martin's workplace as—the knack.
“What's going on at the knack?” he will ask at family barbeques and birthday dinners. Alternatively he will create groan-inducing puns such… Continue Reading
Governor General’s Performing Arts Gala: a thunderous success
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The 20th Governor General’s Performing Arts Gala was a thunderous success complete with a surprise grand finale featuring one of rock music’s legends. The Who guitar god Pete Townsend joined his friend and GG laureate Des McAnuff on stage for a raucous medley performance of hits from The Who’s Tommy Broadway musical.
Other memorable moments from the Gala… Continue Reading