Toronto Premiere
World-renowned visual artist Stan Douglas and acclaimed screenwriter Chris Haddock collaborate to create a production that is at the frontier of new media use in performance.
Inspired by post-war film noir, Helen Lawrence intertwines theatre, visual art, live-action filming and computer-generated simulations in this beautifully crafted suspense-filled tale. As Vancouver struggles to reorganize itself after World War II, forces diverge as to who should really hold the power.
World-renowned visual artist Stan Douglas and acclaimed screenwriter Chris Haddock collaborate to create a production that is at the frontier of new media use in performance.
Inspired by post-war film noir, Helen Lawrence intertwines theatre, visual art, live-action filming and computer-generated simulations in this beautifully crafted suspense-filled tale. As Vancouver struggles to reorganize itself after World War II, forces diverge as to who should really hold the power.
"A groundbreaking piece of theatre" "Stellar high-tech play"
- THE GLOBE AND MAIL
"Sleek, stylish and entertaining" "The cast throughout are, in a word, perfect"
- TORONTO STAR
- Bluma Appel Theatre
- 95 minutes
- No intermission
PRODUCTION SPONSOR
Video and Photos
Pre-Show Chats
Friday, October 17
6:15 - 6:45 pm
Stan Douglas, acclaimed Canadian visual artist and creator/director of Helen Lawrence, discusses this work with Canadian Stage’s Artistic and General Director, Matthew Jocelyn.
6:15 - 6:45 pm
Stan Douglas, acclaimed Canadian visual artist and creator/director of Helen Lawrence, discusses this work with Canadian Stage’s Artistic and General Director, Matthew Jocelyn.
Friday, October 24
6:15 - 6:45 pm
Understand the influences of film noir within this new media masterpiece. Charlie Keil is a professor at the Cinema Studies Institute and the Department of History at the University of Toronto. He teaches a wide range of courses, including a seminar on film noir. His books include works on American silent cinema, humour and animation, and Hollywood craft specializations; he has also published an essay on film's indebtedness to theatricality.
6:15 - 6:45 pm
Understand the influences of film noir within this new media masterpiece. Charlie Keil is a professor at the Cinema Studies Institute and the Department of History at the University of Toronto. He teaches a wide range of courses, including a seminar on film noir. His books include works on American silent cinema, humour and animation, and Hollywood craft specializations; he has also published an essay on film's indebtedness to theatricality.
Friday, October 31
6:15 - 6:45 pm
Helen Lawrence brings the lost landmarks of postwar Vancouver back to life through the use of cutting-edge computer generated imagery (CGI) technology while its whodunit mystery brings to light realities of the politics and tension in Vancouver’s east end following World War II. The theatrical experience raises questions about the climate of Toronto in that time. Join one of Toronto’s favourite historians, Bruce Bell (www.brucebelltours.ca), to gain more insight into this important period in our own city’s history.
6:15 - 6:45 pm
Helen Lawrence brings the lost landmarks of postwar Vancouver back to life through the use of cutting-edge computer generated imagery (CGI) technology while its whodunit mystery brings to light realities of the politics and tension in Vancouver’s east end following World War II. The theatrical experience raises questions about the climate of Toronto in that time. Join one of Toronto’s favourite historians, Bruce Bell (www.brucebelltours.ca), to gain more insight into this important period in our own city’s history.
Pre-Show Chats are located in the Bluma Upstairs Lobby and are free with a ticket to that evening's performance.
Post-Show Talkbacks
Wednesday, October 22
Following the matinee for 15 minutes
Thursday, October 23
Following the performance for 15 minutes
Wednesday, October 29
Following the matinee for 15 minutes
Thursday, October 30
Following the performance for 15 minutes
Following the matinee for 15 minutes
Thursday, October 23
Following the performance for 15 minutes
Wednesday, October 29
Following the matinee for 15 minutes
Thursday, October 30
Following the performance for 15 minutes
You Might Also Enjoy
Stan Douglas: Mise en scène
Stan Douglas, director and co-creator of Helen Lawrence, is one of today's most important visual artists. This volume features images from Douglas's most recent large-scale photographic series, including Helen Lawrence.
Click here to order
Stan Douglas, director and co-creator of Helen Lawrence, is one of today's most important visual artists. This volume features images from Douglas's most recent large-scale photographic series, including Helen Lawrence.
Click here to order
Excellent
Good
LimitedInfo
RUN TIME
95 minutes
no intermission
PRODUCED BY
A co-production with Canadian Stage, Arts Club Theatre Company, Vancouver, The Banff Centre, Stan Douglas Inc and Canada's National Arts Centre, with contributions from Arts Partners in Creative Development, Presentation House Gallery, BC Arts Council, and Canada Council for the Arts
Credits
DIRECTED BY
Stan Douglas
WRITTEN BY
Chris Haddock
STORY BY
Stan Douglas and Chris Haddock
STARRING
Crystal Balint
AS MARY JACKSON
Greg Ellwand
AS INSPECTOR LEONARD PERKINS
Ryan Hollyman
AS CHIEF JAMES MULDOON
Sterling Jarvis
AS HENRY WILLIAMS
Nicholas Lea
AS PERCY WALKER
Allan Louis
AS BUDDY BLACK
Ava Jane Markus
AS EVA BANKS
Hrothgar Mathews
AS HARRY MITCHELL
Haley McGee
AS JULIE WINTERS
Emily Piggford
AS ROSE GEORGE
Lisa Ryder
AS HELEN LAWRENCE
Adam Kenneth Wilson
AS EDWARD BANKS
Media
REVIEWS
- NOW Magazine: "film noir like you’ve never seen it" NNNN
- The Globe and Mail (October 2014): "Stellar, high-tech play"
- Toronto Star: "Sleek, stylish and entertaining" " The cast throughout are, in a word, perfect"
- The Globe and Mail (March 2014): "A groundbreaking piece of theatre"
- PostCity.com: "entertaining and impressive"
- Mooney On Theatre: "Helen Lawrence is a visually stunning hybrid of theatre, film and visual art."
- The Province: "A dazzling style piece"
- Vancouver Presents: "A visual masterpiece"
- Lords of Dogwood: "Helen Lawrence is not only clever but actually revolutionary"
ARTICLES
- The Toronto Star: Lisa Ryder takes another ride in 'imaginary rodeo' with Helen Lawrence
- The Globe and Mail: It’s a 3-D movie. It’s a film-noir play. It’s a great big, fingers-crossed experiment
-
Space.ca: InnerSpace (video)
- Vancouver Sun: Helen Lawrence a Vancouver-flavoured stage Noir
- The Province: Helen Lawrence at the Arts Club
- Straight.com: Helen Lawrence's dream team helms high-tech history
- Mittelbayerische Zeitung (Munich): “A metaphor for our times”
- EdinburghGuide.com: “a technical triumph supporting some fine acting.”
- The Toronto Star: "In Toronto, Culture Days are followed by arts frenzy"
