2007/2008 Season: Dualities

Our 2008/2009 Season!

Welcome to a season full of new beginnings for Third Wall Theatre. With new vision and a new partnership we are truly taking our place as the contemporary voice for classic theatre in Ottawa. This is our first full season as Associate Studio Theatre Company at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre (IGTC) and also the first season we have programmed together as Artistic Associates.

Our vision is two-fold: to engage in the present through the classics and to enshrine all our relationships in the principle of exchange.

The first artistic exchange is between the two of us, the second with Ottawa’s theatre community and the third and most important exchange is with you: our audience.

Each of these three plays reflects our place in the world - not just as Canadians but as human beings. Highlights include the return of the director of our award-winning production of Greek, a new adaptation of a fantastical classic and the first Shakespeare on the IGTC mainstage.

This season we continue to bring you the quality Third Wall has become famous for - but with new vitality and a sense of now! As always, together we promise you A Good Night Out!

James Richardson & Charles McFarland,
Artistic Associates

Congratulations Third Wall Theatre Company!

Last night at Ottawa’s first annual Rideau Awards, Third Wall artists were recognized for their talent and dedication to theatre in the capital city. 4 out of 7 awards were given to Third Wall productions - and the company couldn’t be happier!

TOP GIRLS
Kristina Watt was awarded Best Performance - Female for her amazing performances in Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls, directed by Charles McFarland earlier this season. Kristina wowed Ottawa audiences with her portrayal of three different characters (including world traveller Isabella Bird), all asking that big question: Can women have it all? Kristina has been featured in several Third Wall productions over the years, most notably in Dangerous Liaisons and The Real Inspector Hound.

Rebecca Miller received the award for Best Design for her gorgeous lighting on Third Wall’s production of Top Girls. Aside from her wonderful work with Third Wall, Rebecca is also a familiar face with the National Arts Centre, the Shaw Festival, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, the Alberta Scene, the Quebec Scene, and Opera Lyra Ottawa.

GREEK
Kevin Orr was awarded Best Director for his innovative work on Steven Berkoff’s Greek, originally performed with Third Wall in 2005 (revived by Repercussion Theatre in 2007). Kevin has directed readings of new plays for the Great Canadian Theatre Co., for the Magnetic North Festival, Festival Zone Théâtrale and Théâtre la Catapulte. Kevin brush with fame came when he directed the wonderful children’s musical trio: Sharon Lois and Bram. He has also directed with the University of Ottawa, Ottawa Lunchbox Theatre, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, Factory Theatre, and le Théâtre français de Toronto.

Greek also received the award for Best Production - and not for the first time, either! In 2007, the Capital Critics Circle awarded Greek with Best Professional Production because of its unforgettable script, ingenious directing, and astounding performances by Chuck Herriott, Teri Rata Loretto, Margo MacDonald, and Stewart Matthews. Congratulations to the entire team for creating such a wonderful piece of theatre a second time around!

The name chosen for the awards reflects Ottawa’s geography, language, and heritage, and is especially relevant to the theatre world since it is the French word for “curtain”. The final selection was suggested by Great Canadian Theatre Company’s artistic director, Lise Ann Johnson.

24 professional theatre productions were juried by a team of 11 local arts professionals during the 2007 calendar year. Nominations were submitted by secret ballot and tallied by local accountant, Chong Pelot.

The Rideau Theatre Awards initiative was undertaken in late 2006 as a result of discussion at an open meeting of the regional Canadian Actor’s Equity Association. The program aims to raise the profile of locally-produced professional theatre by celebrating its successes. 2007 was the first year of operation for the program, which was driven by committee members Pierre Brault, Janet Irwin, Kris Joseph, Margo MacDonald, Alix Sideris, Maureen Smith, and Christie Watson.

Tartuffe

We could not be more ecstatic about the partnership with the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. As this is our Emerging Artist production, we are honoured to feature the graduating class of their pre-professional program in their final production. These emerging professionals will join with veterans of the Ottawa stage in a truly electrifying collaboration with a sharp new local translation. Tartuffe runs May 27th to June 7th, 2008 at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre. More info!