From Press Release
Nightwood Theatre announces The Directors Summit and Joy Rides as part of its milestone 4×4 Festival: An Off-Road Event of Women Directors taking place from October 26 to November 22, 2009.
The Directors Summit hosts a landmark gathering of theatre professionals in a provocative exchange with audiences on the art of direction. Featured theatre luminaries include Quebec director Brigitte Haentjens, Newfoundland’s Jillian Keiley, Alberta Theatre Projects Artistic Director Vanessa Porteous, U.K. director/actor Josette Bushell-Mingo, Shaw Festival AD Jackie Maxwell, rising American stage director and native South African Liesl Tommy, celebrated Mexican playwright/director Sabina Berman, renowned South African playwright/director Yael Farber, eminent German director Johanna Schall and acclaimed Toronto directors Nina Aquino, Eda Holmes, Weyni Mengesha, Yvette Nolan and Jennifer Tarver.
The Summit consists of provocative public dialogues, showcase events and exciting master classes. Selected highlights include: ‘Staging Africa’ – Yael Farber and Liesl Tommy discuss bringing issues of Africa to the world stage, ‘Broadway Bound’ – multi-award winning American actor Brian Dennehy and Canada’s rising star director Jennifer Tarver discuss their working relationship in the hit production of Krapp’s Last Tape at The Stratford Festival, and ‘The Penelopiad Directors’ Showcase’ a presentation where 10 exciting directors stage their distinct vision of Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad featuring an ensemble of actors courtesy of the Shaw Festival.
The 4×4 Joy Rides are a series of public events fashioned for all the hard working women of the world, including crash courses and forums led by distinguished speakers such as Ilse Treurnicht (CEO, MaRS Centre), Judith Humphrey (The Humphrey Group) and celebrated Canadian actor Sonja Smits. The public will get to try their hand at playwriting workshops, sit in on a rehearsal of THAT FACE and participate in rousing forums about social change, leadership and the commercialization of innovation.
The 4×4 Festival grew from the idea of an examination of the director’s practice as well as an in-depth look at gender equity in Canadian Theatre and beyond. The four productions featured in the festival are: THAT FACE, YELLOWMAN, NO EXIT and SERIOUS MONEY.
ABOUT NIGHTWOOD THEATRE
Nightwood Theatre – Artistic Director Kelly Thornton, Producer Monica Esteves, Chair Susan Quinn.
As Canada’s national women’s theatre since 1979, Nightwood has launched the careers of many of the
leading theatre artists in the country. We have won Canada’s highest literary and performing arts awards and more than ever our success proves the need for theatre that gives voice to women and celebrates the diversity of Canadian society. We remain actively engaged in mentoring young women and promoting women’s place on the local, national and international stage.