Out and About
The Gay Heritage Project – Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria
The Dora-nominated smash-hit and audience favourite, The Gay Heritage Project, returns to Buddies for an extended engagement January 6 to 31st, before embarking on a nation-wide tour. Nominated for two Dora Mavor Awards (Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Performance – Ensemble), The Gay Heritage Project deftly blends its creators personal narratives with uncovered pieces of history, and discovers the ties that bind them together.
The Gay Heritage Project is created and performed by Damien Atkins (Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, Angels in America), Paul Dunn (Outside, Memorial) and Andrew Kushnir (Cock, Passion Play), directed by Ashlie Corcoran (Artistic Director of The Thousand Islands Playhouse) and features designs by Kimberly Purtell, Thomas Ryder Payne, and Cameron Davis.
NATIONAL TOUR SHARES THOUGHT-PROVOKING HIT WITH CANADA
After centuries of queer life being hidden in the closet and the loss of almost an entire generation of gay men to HIV/AIDS, The Gay Heritage Project is an important step in the excavation, preservation, and promotion of a community’s cultural history. The tour brings an essential conversation about history and identity from the world’s largest queer theatre to cities across Canada. In this way The Gay Heritage Project acts as an important catalyst for a national discussion on contemporary queer life.
Working closely with historian J. Paul Halferty, the three creators behind The Gay Heritage Project spent hours researching the ancient anecdotes, secret correspondences, and overlooked footnotes that currently comprise queer history. What they discovered was an array of heroes and stories that inspire, comfort, challenge, and empower. Atkins, Dunn, and Kushnir bring these people and stories to life on stage in rapid-fire succession using a highly physical, comedic, and fast-paced performance style. They offer an eclectic mix of historical characters and reenactments that shed light on the forgotten champions and occurrences that created our community. In doing so, they educate us about our past and inspire us to further unearth an expansive but overlooked part of our history.
THREE TORONTO’S TOP CREATORS REUNITE
The Gay Heritage Project tour reunites Atkins, Dunn, and Kushnir in a laudable production that showcases their talents as playwrights and performers. The tour offers Canadian audiences a chance to catch these intrepid artists at the height of their careers. Atkins, Dunn, and Kushnir, each of them strong individual creators, come together to create an indomitable creative force. All three creators have seen major success in their field since The Gay Heritage Project premiere two years ago. Each has exciting projects on the horizon: Atkins is currently researching material for We Are Not Alone, a piece on UFOs commissioned by Crow’s Theatre, Dunn’s powerful anti-homophobia and bullying piece, Outside, will soon be touring communities throughout Ontario with Roseneath Theatre and Kushnir\s exploration of Ukraine\s political history, Wormwood, is on now at Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace.
Gay Heritage Project
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto ON
Preview: January 6 – Opening Night: January 7 | Closes January 31
Runs Weds-Sat 8pm, Sat & Sun 2:30pm.
Tickets: PWYC – $25 until January 5 | Regular Price PWYC – $37
Box Office 416-975-8555 or online
TOURING INFO
Citadel Theatre | Edmonton, AB – February 10 – 27, 2016
The Cultch | Vancouver, BC – Mar 2 – 19, 2016, 2016
Belfry | Victoria, BC – March 22 – 27 2016
About the Author
Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca