≈ 100 minutes · No intermission
Last updated: February 6, 2024
Program Notes
How do text messages and a Charles Dickens classic from 1838 connect in the modern era? In this reimagining of Oliver Twist, TWISTED follows Ollie and Nancy, roles reprised by the show’s playwrights Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman and Joseph Jomo Pierre, as they navigate the gritty streets of Toronto. Finding solace in each other despite their turbulent upbringings surrounded by abuse and addiction, they forge a powerful bond through text messages that combine Ollie’s poetic, lyrical verses and Nancy’s powerful prose. As their connection grows, they plan a dangerous escape for a better life. Equal parts Dickens and Drake, Twisted takes cues from the original work to craft a vivid story of disenfranchised youth in Toronto.
Copies of Twisted may be purchased through Playwrights Canada Press: https://www.playwrightscanada.com/Books/T/Twisted
Artists
Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman is a Dora Award winning and two time Governor General nominated playwright and screenwriter. Winner of The Herman Voaden Award, and The K.M. Hunter Artist Award. Graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada. Selected theatre credits: The End of Pretending (Summerworks, TPM) Scratch (Factory Theatre, La Licorne, Theatre Plexus, Off-Broadway Players). Sudden Death, (Next Stage, Pyretic Productions), Twisted with Joseph Jomo Pierre (Factory Theatre). Guarded Girls (Tarragon Theatre, Green Light Arts). Directed, co-created: Highway 63: The Fort Mac Show (Architect Theatre, TPM). Must recently she created the solo show Want Now directed by Nina Lee Aquino (Factory Theatre, as part of Year of the Rat). And wrote the book for the new musical, Almost a Full Moon (Citadel Theatre) based on Hawksely Workman’s album of the same name.
Trinidadian born, Scarborough raised, Joseph is an accomplished playwright and actor. He is a graduate of York University with an Honours BFA in acting. He was a Governor General Awards Finalist for his play Shakespeare’s Nigga. A recipient of the K.M Hunter award Joseph has either held a playwrighting residency or was a member of a playwrights group at some of the most influential theatres in Toronto. These include Factory Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Can-stage and Obsidian Theatre. Published work include Shakespeare’s Nigga, Beatdown (Three plays by Joseph Jomo Pierre) and Twisted, all published through Playwrights Canada Press. In film he served as a Consulting Director for Empz 4 Life the last documentary by Canadian icon Allan King. Recently his latest project Builders of Nations was streamed on CBC Gem.
Nina Lee Aquino is a renowned Filipino Canadian director, dramaturg, artistic leader, teacher, and mentor. She previously served as Artistic Director at Cahoots Theatre (2009–2012) and Factory Theatre (2012–2022). Currently, Nina is the Artistic Director of the National Arts Centre English Theatre. She edited the country’s first two-volume Asian Canadian play anthology and co-edited the award-winning inaugural book on Asian Canadian theatre. In addition, she holds an adjunct professorship at York University's Theatre Department and serves on the board of directors for the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. Her numerous accolades include the Canada Council for the Arts’ John Hirsch Prize for Directing, the Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Director, the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Margo Bindhart and Rita Davies Cultural Leadership Award, and three Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Direction.
Michelle Ramsay is an award-winning lighting designer for dance, theatre and opera. Previous designs include: Come Home: The Legend of Daddy Hall (Tarragon Theatre); Women of the Fur Trade (Stratford Festival); Bed and Breakfast (Capitol Theatre); Prison Dancer (Citadel Theatre/National Arts Centre); Beautiful (Arts Club); Redbone Coonhound (Tarragon Theatre/Imago Theatre); Martyr (ARC); The First Stone (New Harlem); The Doctors Dilemma (Shaw Festival); The Tempest (Theatre Rusticle).
Michelle has received eight Dora Awards, a SATAward, the 2008 Pauline McGibbon Award, and was a finalist for the 2021 Siminovitch Prize. She is on the Board of the Associated Designers of Canada.
Richard Lee is an award winning theatre artist and film maker. His work has garnered him multiple Dora Mavor Moore nominations out of which he has received three. His play Monday Nights (an interactive and immersive basketball show), has recently toured to PuSH International Performing Arts Festival, after a successful run at Toronto’s Luminato Festival. Richard is an advocate of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the arts and works tireless for a better more thoughtful tomorrow.
Akeem Oh is a American-Canadian singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer primarily based in Toronto Canada. His work stretches across multiple creative industries such as music, film and theatre. His singles "Winter Crush" and "School Girl" were released to critical acclaim, with CBC naming the former one of the "Top 3 New Ontario Songs You Need To Hear“. The main focus for Oh has been shows, including sold out shows at Ottawa's National Arts Centre in 2022 and at the infamous Club SAW in 2023. He’ll be releasing new music in early 2024.
Jackie McCormick is an Ottawa based Stage Manager who has proudly called this city home for ten years. She was most recently the Stage Manager for the Revival of the NAC Indigenous Theatre/NEPA/GCTC co-production of Women of the Fur Trade in Toronto after its successful run in Ottawa in January. This Winter she was also the Stage Manager for the staged readings of Twisted and Brotherhood: The Hip Hopera as part of the NAC Hip Hop Festival. Jackie was also a Coordinator for the first volume of Irresistible Neighbourhoods, Ottawa 2044 this past May. Other recent Stage Management credits include The Supine Cobbler, The Unplugging (Great Canadian Theatre Company) and Perfect Wedding, Moving In, Buying the Farm, A Christmas Carol (Upper Canada Playhouse). Always grateful to her family: J, Q & B for their love and support.
Company
Creator/Performer
Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman
Creator/Performer
Joseph Jomo Pierre
Director
Nina Lee Aquino
Lighting Designer
Michelle Ramsay
Sound Designer
Richard Lee
Stage Manager
Jackie McCormick
NAC Production Team - Fourth Stage Team
Lead Hand
Adriaanus Vanduyvenbode
Assistant Lead Hand
Jeremy Wynnyk
Technical Director
Peter Kealey
Projectionists, Wardrobe Mistresses, Masters and Attendants are members of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 471.
The National Arts Centre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association
NAC English Theatre Team
Managing Director
David Abel
Artistic Director
Nina Lee Aquino
Senior Engagement Strategist, Community & Partnerships
Rose-Ingrid Benjamin
Learning Coordinator
Aimee Bouchard
ASL Interpreter Consultant
Carmelle Cachero
Marketing Strategist
Bar Clement
Communications Strategist
Sean Fitzpatrick
Senior Producer
Alexandra Lunney
Senior Marketing Manager
Bridget Mooney
Associate Producer, Artistic Programming and Environmental Projects
Judi Pearl
Company Manager
Samira Rose
Administrative Coordinator
Monika Seiler
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees