- Written, directed and performed by Nadia Ross and Christian Lapointe
Creators Nadia Ross and Christian Lapointe began an intense dialogue following their co-nomination for the 2016 Siminovitch Prize for excellence and innovation in theatre direction. Known for their unique artistic visions and creations, their discussions led to a process-based project exploring how human relationships are transformed by the virtual world and pornoculture.
In Portrait of Restless Narcissism (P.O.R.N.), two people’s lives collide on the internet in an attempt to escape the loneliness of our time. Through an intricate ballet between reality and fiction mediated by their online personas, the duo is endlessly searching for a way out of the empty reflection projected by pornoculture.
Company
STO Union is a multi-arts performance company producing original new creations for presentation and engagement at home and abroad. STO Union’s projects take their inspiration from the ancient art form of the theatre and expand this definition into new realms of artistic practice. The company’s projects are built through a workshop process that relies heavily on research, development and dramaturgy. Key discoveries made during that process and the ensuing productions are shared widely in person and digitally.
Creative team
- Written, directed and performed by Nadia Ross and Christian Lapointe
- Lighting design Steve Lucas
- Set design Geneviève Lizotte
- Video design Lionel Arnould
National Creation Fund investment
The National Creation Fund’s investment of $115,000 allowed STO Union to collaborate with a larger creative team through an extended workshop process, and provided the time required to fully explore the integration of technology with the set and live performance.
Credits
Co-production: Theater der Welt Düsseldorf 2020, STO Union, Théâtre Carte Blanche, Festival TransAmériques; HAU Hebbel am Ufer; BIT Teatergarasjen.
Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund.
Performance dates
Past performances
May 18 & 19, 2020: World premiere, Komödie in der Steinstraße (Düsseldorf), presented by the Festival Theater der Welt 2020 - postponed
November 19 to 21, 2020: Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre (Toronto), presented by Canadian Stage - postponed
