A handful of local directors cross-pollinating with four Canadian playwrights working on three plays makes a mixture brimming with creativity.
Its a recipe Gateway Theatre is trying for the first time with its eighth annual SceneFirst series, usually a three-day event now stretched out to six days this year.
Its more about work-shopping a play and working with other local actors and directors, said Amy Strilchuk, Gateways artistic associate.
The annual plays-in-progress event typically accepts three submissions and has the writers read through their play in front of audiences for one night.
The goal is to read new work from Canadian playwrights and find works were interested in producing, said Strilchuk, adding that being accepted by SceneFirst usually increases the likelihood of production. We also want to gauge audience response and see whats the best fit for our audiences.
This year, the playwrights have been working with directors since Monday, turning the process into more of a collaboration, before reading in front of audiences this Thursday to Saturday.
The week offers a unique opportunity for playwrights to work with actors and directors during the preliminary stages of the writing process something usually reserved until after the play has been written.
Im excited about this process, said Stacey Kaser, first-time playwright, but long-time television scriptwriter. Im usually lucky if we get an hour to read through, so its great to collaborate with the directors and actors.
Kaser co-wrote Conversations with My Mother with Alison Kelly. In their comedy, two sisters are haunted by their dead mother, prompting them to drag out old skeletons.
It was a fun process and the topic is fertile ground for a play, said Kaser, a mother herself, who based the play on her own mother. These conversations are something we can all relate to.
While Kaser hopes the play doesnt undergo too much change throughout the week, Guillermo Verdecchia is seeking a radical transformation for Galicia.
His one-man play about globalization began as a performance lecture for his theatre studies class at the University of Toronto.
Now, Verdecchia is hoping that after working with four different directors this week, they can change it into something more theatrical.
The play is a journey about self-discovery and rediscovery of ones real place in the world, he said.
As cities blend and time warps, Verdecchias character always finds himself confronted by Starbucks, posing questions about identity and belonging.
Its more personal, you have a more intimate connection to the audience, he said about the one-man format.
Kicking off the series on Thursday is Michael P. Northeys Falling to Pieces about a mans unraveling as he lacks the proper means to treat his mental illness.
The fast-paced narrative is comparable to a mystery or a Tarantino film.
For more information, visit www.gatewaytheatre.com.
