SCENE AND HEARD

The Scene and Heard reading series showcases works-in-development at Theatre Direct in the form of a public reading. Each new work receives one reading in whole or in part as well as a panel discussion with subject matter or issue specialists, educators, or artists that explores an aesthetic or content-based aspect of that particular work. Audiences for Seen and Heard will be a mixture of artists, general public, and members of communities linked to the content-based aspect of the work being explored.

Our first Scene and Heard of the 2008-2009 season is
WHO IS SÉBASTIEN HARRISSON?

Find out at an evening of readings and discussion with the playwright!

October 6th, 2008 at 7:00pm

Join Theatre Direct in welcoming one of Québec’s leading young playwrights, Sébastien Harrisson, to Toronto as he shares two of his acclaimed plays for young audiences with our audiences and artists. Theatre Direct is also thrilled to welcome Serge Marois, Artistic Director of L’Arrièrre-scène, one of French-Canada’s leading theatre’s for young people who originally produced Sébastien’s play Stanislas Walter LeGrand in 2007.

This presentation of new translations for young audiences offers insight into a new voice and new approaches in the genre.

Readings will be followed by a Q&A with the playwright.

Since You Left (D’Alaska) Translated by Leanna Brodie

(First produced at Théâtre Bluff, for secondary school audiences and general public, translation commissioned by Theatre Direct)

Since You Left featuring Ann Holloway and Aaron Stern

A summer night. A house. MISS, 70 years old, has been taken hostage by TODAY who has skateboarded into her living room. As time passes and their friendship gently grows, each struggles with the sorrow of abandonment while discovering a new relationship together.

Alexander Leon Grand Translated by Shelley Tepperman

(First produced at L’Arrière-scène, ages 8 to 12, translation commissioned by L’Arrièrre-scène)

Alexander Leon Grand featuring Aaron Stern, Anousha Alamian and Solly Levy.

Alexander has moved to a country ravaged by war in the company of a sad old man. He did not choose this new home and refuses to make friends with anyone. He prefers instead to toss his ball against a brick wall. One day, a mysterious voice comes from the wall that claims to be the memory of centuries past. As the play progresses, the voice in the wall and Alexander relate their memories and their potential future to each other.

WHEN?
October 6th, 2008
5:00pm - 7pm.

WHERE?
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Tallulah's Cabaret

COST?
Donations welcomed at the door

Sébastien Harrisson graduated from the playwriting program of the National Theatre School of Canada. He writes for stage, radio and television. He is one of the most unique and innovative voices among young Québec playwrights, as revealed in his plays Floes and Titanica, which premiered in Montréal in 2001 and France in 2004. His work has been translated into English, Flemish, Spanish and German. D’Alaska was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award.

Since You Left (D’Alaska) Translation by Leanna Brodie

Leanna is an actor and writer whose plays include For Home and Country and The Vic (both published by Talonbooks Ltd.), as well as the CBC radio dramas Invisible City and The Seeds of Our Destruction. She was the first Canadian invited to attend the prestigious ACT/Hedgebrook Women Playwrights’ Festival in Seattle; has twice been Playwright-in-Residence at the 4th Line Theatre; and has made NOW Magazine’s list of Top 10 Toronto Theatre Artists. In 2005, she was part of PWM’s bilingual playwrights’ unit led by Suzanne Lebeau, as well as CEAD’s annual International Translation Residency. Schoolhouse -- a play about a young teacher connecting with a mysterious boy in a rural school – premiered at the Blyth Festival in 2006, and was produced at the 4th Line Theatre in 2007.

Stanislas Walter LeGrand Translation by Shelley Tepperman

Shelley is a Toronto-born, Montreal-based writer, dramaturge and translator. Working from French, Spanish and Italian, she has brought more than 25 plays into English, including Serge Boucher’s Natures Mortes and Les Bonbons qui sauvent la vie. Shelley’s translations have been produced at CBC radio and on stages from coast to coast, and she was twice nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award in translation. From 1994–1998 she worked for CBC Radio developing, adapting and producing radio dramas for broadcast. Shelley also writes, story-edits and directs for documentary film and television.

Sébastien Harrisson