Featuring the NAC English Theatre Company and
introducing the 50^th Anniversary English Theatre Graduating Class of the National Theatre School

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Ottawa, ON, October 13, 2010 - In a city bound by religion and caught in the struggle of civil strife, two young people are trapped by a secret love. As the fighting spills out onto the streets, Shakespeare’s most famous lovers are forced to risk everything to be together. Throughout the world, the names Romeo and Juliet are synonymous with the idea of being young and in love.

Yet this production is unique: what makes it so is a truly innovative partnership between the NAC English Theatre and the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS). The NAC English Theatre Company will be featured alongside the 2010 English Theatre graduating class of the NTS.

"We have partnered with the National Theatre School for many years now and we thought this would be a great way to present Romeo & Juliet, having the young characters (Romeo and Juliet and their contemporaries) portrayed by the graduating class of the NTS and having members of the NAC English Theatre Company depict the older characters," says NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Peter Hinton.

In addition, one Set and Costume Design and three Production graduating students from NTS are apprenticing with NAC professionals on this production.

“We are nurturing our next generation of theatre artists, bridging the gap between the training and the profession, fulfilling the dream of the School’s founders”, says Sherry Bie, Artistic Director of the English Section of the NTS. “A class of theatre students and a company of actors, from across the country, meeting onstage at the NAC to play Romeo & Juliet, a story for our times: ‘Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love.’ What more optimistic way to celebrate our 50^th anniversary…A brave leap into the next 50 years.”

Performed on the Shakespearean thrust stage in vivid period costume, inspired by Italian artist Caravaggio, the opening production of the 2010/11 season is a powerful evocation of Shakespeare’s most romantic tragedy. Romeo & Juliet is a play that places the consequences of young love in a society of old world politics and family law --with tragic implications.

Romeo & Juliet plays in the NAC Theatre October 19 – November 6, 2010.

The NAC English Theatre Company featuring NTS graduate Michael Blake, Marcel Jeannin, Karen Robinson, Laara Sadiq, Michael Spencer-Davis, Dayna Tekatch, and Joey Tremblay will be joined onstage by the 50^th Anniversary English Theatre Graduating Class of NTS, Ishan Davé, Brett Donahue, Matthew Donovan, Katy Grabstas, Curtis Henschel, Sophie Holdstock, Adrian Morningstar, Philip Nozuka, Alexandra Ordolis, Hugh Portman, Jackie Rowland, and Samantha Wan. Brett Donahue and Hugh Portman will alternate the role of Romeo and Alexandra Ordolis and Jackie Rowland will alternate the role of Juliet.

Working with Director Peter Hinton to bring this classic to the stage are Dramaturg Paula Danckert, Assistant Director Diane D’Aquila, Set & Costume Designer Christina Poddubiuk, Lighting Designer Louise Guinand, Musical Director/Composer Nick Carpenter, Fight Director Jean-François Gagnon – all NTS graduates, Choreographer Dayna Tekatch, Production Stage Manager Michael Hart, and Assistant Stage Manager Laurie Champagne. Assisting are the NTS production students: Assistant Lighting Designer Zachary Klooster, Sound Eugenio Saenz Flores and Apprentice Stage Manager Rachel Dawn Woods. Assisting Christina Poddubiuk is Jenna McCutchen, NTS Set & Costume Designer student.

PWYC:         Tuesday, October 19
Previews:    Wednesday, October 20 and Thursday, October 21
Opening:     Friday, October 22

Hinterview: Saturday, October 23 at 1 p.m. in the NAC Salon.
NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Peter Hinton will be interviewing Sherry Bie, Artistic Director of the English Section of the NTS.

Talkbacks:   Wednesday, October 27 & November 3 and Thursday, October 28 & November 4

In the NAC Theatre:  Evening performances Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
                             Saturday matinees are at 2 p.m.
                             (no performances on Sunday or Monday)

Tickets start at $38
Groups of 10+ receive great discounts! For more information contact grp@nac-cna.ca or
visit our webpage.

Tickets are available for purchase:
In person at the NAC Box Office
At all Ticketmaster outlets
By telephone from Ticketmaster, (613) 755-1111
Online through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC’s website (http://www.nac-cna.ca)
A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster

Find out more about NAC English Theatre on Facebook and YouTube. To discover some fascinating facts about Romeo & Juliet click www.nac-cna.ca/en/theatre and learn more through our new online study guides.

This production is eligible for the Live Rush program.
Full-time students age 13-29 with valid Live Rush membership may buy up to 2 tickets per performance at the discounted price of only $12 per ticket. Live Rush tickets are available from 10 a.m. on the day before the performance to 6 p.m. the day of the performance.This includes all available seats, including the best seats in the house.
Check out liverush.ca for information on the Live Rush program.

Embassy Hotel & Suites is proud to be the Official Hotel Partner for the National Arts Centre English Theatre.

 

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For any information, please call:
Sean Fitzpatrick, Communications Officer, National Arts Centre English Theatre
613-947-7000 ext. 389; e-mail: sfitzpat@nac-cna.ca
or visit the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca