It’s that time of year again, The Next Stage Theatre Festival is almost upon us. Now in its seventh year, Next Stage showcases local and national independent theatre artists ready to take their performances to the next stage of development.

The Next Stage Theatre Festival launched in 2008. Held at the Factory Theatre, Next Stage was created to encourage artists who have previously participated in any Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals member festivals to move beyond the summer production model and showcase their work to a wider audience, including discerning artistic decision makers who could be interested in programming their shows on main stages across the country.

Continue reading Preview: The Next Stage Theatre Festival →

The Washing Machine is a play about culture clashes. It’s currently playing as part of Toronto’s Next Stage Theatre Festival.

It’s the story about “Isabelle”, played by Cydney Penner. She is a woman raised in England who returns to India and presides over a coconut farm. Continue reading 2012 Next Stage Theatre Festival Review: The Washing Machine (Red Betty Theatre) →

I listened to Frank Sinatra on a crowded streetcar on the way to Factory Theatre to see Loving the Stranger or How to Recognize an Invert. I didn’t feel unwelcome but I did feel out of place.

A visit the McAuslan Heated Beer Tent before the play reminded me that I was amongst warm, friendly people. The Next Stage Theatre Festival is a vibrant community. A visit is always a rewarding journey, more than “just” a play. Continue reading 2012 Next Stage Theatre Festival Review: Loving the Stranger or How to Recognize an Invert (Ecce Homo Theatre) →

I was a little concerned about watching two shows, two days in a row, containing the word ‘love’ in the title, but I have to say they couldn’t be more different from each other while being equally fun. Well not equally, I really enjoyed Modern Love a lot more.

The show is about Trish, a girl with 660 friends of Facebook, but none in real life. Written and performed by Jessica Moss this show is smart and funny and the references are current, at least for the twenty-something generation.  Continue reading 2012 Next Stage Theatre Festival Review: Modern Love →

I’d like to see Soup Can Theatre’s Love is a Poverty You Can Sell done in a proper cabaret set up.  I mean, it’s meant to be an old-style cabaret, so it would be nice to see it in that kind of a setting (I didn’t get to see it when it was at the now-defunct Bread and Circus).  During Next Stage it’s in the “Ante-Chamber” otherwise known as the small bar at Factory Theatre.
Continue reading 2012 Next Stage Theatre Festival Review: Love is a Poverty You Can Sell (Soup Can Theatre) →