Five for Twenty (Or Less)
Scripts, narratives, monologues, manifestos – theatre is literature. Behind many a great performance piece there is a great writer sitting at a desk covered in old coffee mugs. This week we see a number of opportunities to explore theatre’s literary side. All the shows below focus on the text itself, the crafted word – and its performativity.
Effeuilletage – Script Tease In French (Productions Nemesis/Les Improbables). Short theatrical texts by local French playwrights are performed by improvisers. Apr 19 at 7 pm. $15. Tranzac, 292 Brunswick. productionsnemesis.org.
Slate One Screenplay Festival (We Make Movies Canada). Staged readings of semifinalist scripts with three winners to be chosen by audience votes. Opens Apr 16 and runs to Apr 23. Free. Scotland Yard Pub, 56 the Esplanade. wemakemoviescanada.com/slate_one.
The Blancmange: A Reading Series (Strange Journey). Staged reading of Freedom Chevalier’s play Blue Plate Special, about a traumatized police officer. Apr 21 at 3 pm. $5. Black Swan, 2nd floor, 154 Danforth. strange-journey.com.
Toronto Monologue Slam. A night of unpredictable narratives with actors performing incredible solo manifestos. April 14 at 6pm. $5 advance, $10 at door. Drake Hotel Underground, 1150 Queen W. toslam.com.
Write Club Toronto brings together eight writers to battle it out on stage in the name of charity. Featuring Sandra Shamas, Robert Dayton and more. April 16 at 8 pm. $10. The Garrison, 1197 Dundas W. writeclubtoronto.com.