Toronto, ON - Atrium Players will present the English Language premiere of Biography, a Game, Max Frisch’s most recent play - first staged in Germany in 1968. Max Frisch, who can be compared to Harold Pinter in the English-speaking world, edited Biography, A Game in 1984 and the new version is reduced to 5 characters, instead of 33.

The theme of Biography, has dominated much of Frisch’s later work - to what extent are we free to "write our own biographies"; to plot each move in our lives, unhampered by the logic of the decisions we have taken? The play is presented in a striking theatrical form: the main character experiments with different episodes in his life - to see if they could have been played differently. The catalyst for the action is the breakdown in his marriage. Frisch brings it so far that it becomes a disaster. He examines the disaster with lucidity, wit and subtle moral concern. The questions Frisch asks are always important ones and he never gives an easy answer. Frisch’s best known plays include Andorra (1961) and Biedermann und die Brandstifter (1958).

The play is translated for the first time into the English language and offers a unique opportunity for the Toronto audience to explore the playwright, well known in Europe.

Newly established Atrium Players Theatre Company intends to create international cultural bridges through learning about various cultures, sharing different experiences and improving connections between diverse artists and audiences. The Company’s mission statement refers to productions from a variety of theatrical traditions and focus exclusively on the complete style, system and technique from around the world.

Atrium Theatre’s Artistic Director Tatiana Chouljenko uses the Michael Chekhov technique. Often considered the finest actor from Russia, Michael, nephew of Anton Chekhov, was one of the best students of Konstantin Stanislavsky. Living in the United States, Chekhov founded his own school in Hollywood and coached such actors as Anthony Quinn, Gary Cooper, Gregory Peck, Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe, Elia Kazan, and Yul Brynner, to name just a few.

Biography, a Game gives actors possibilities to explore their psyche by unlocking their creative individuality using fantasy and intuition. It involves accessing and expanding the imagination so that actors can reveal their images to the audience through the use of mind-body technique that requires real physical flexibility. It allows actors to be stimulated by physical movement, by image and by perception.

Toronto Tickets:
Previews and Sunday Matinee - PWYC, Tuesdays to Saturdays - $20