THEATRE SMITH-GILMOUR
In Association With Factory Theatre
GRIMM too

Toronto, ON – Theatre Smith-Gilmour, in association with Factory Theatre presents the world première of GRIMM too, a poignant and stunning piece of absurd theatre that finds its inspiration from the tall tales unearthed by the Brothers Grimm. From the creators of the internationally renowned Chekhov Cycle, the critically acclaimed Katherine Mansfield and co-writers of the Toronto hit Spent earlier this year, comes GRIMM too continuing the company’s 30^th anniversary season. Previews begin February 19 and the run continues to March 21, 2010 (media night: February 23) at the Factory Studio Theatre. For tickets and information, contact 416-504-9971 or factorytheatre.ca

“In days gone by there was a land where the nights were always dark... for the moon never rose, and no star shone in the obscurity.”
- The Brother’s Grimm

As day turns to night and darkness approaches, storytellers come out to spin their lies: beautiful lies that “stage” the invisible, giving way to a deeper reality, reminding us of who we are and what it is to be human. Faithful to the original Grimm stories, GRIMM too is a stunningly whimsical and moving piece filled with romance, tragedy, and comedy. These mythical stories speak to the violence we experience in daily life. Co-creators Michele Smith and Dean Gilmour, along with actors Adam Paolozza, Dan Watson and Pragna Desai, take audiences into the absurd world of myth where nothing is what it seems to be and life is in a constant state of change. The tour-de-force acting company is directed by Smith and Gilmour and features set and costume designs by Julia Tribe and lighting design by Kimberly Purtell.

The Brothers Grimm traveled throughout Germany and France collecting tales full of fantastical characters that had been passed on from storyteller to storyteller over the centuries, some of which can be traced back to the ancient language of Sanskrit. These characters give us insights into the divergent tendencies that define our very humanness, naivety and wonder, violence and despair. These strange, mythical stories relate to our experiences of fear, courage, love, hope, joy and wonder in our current daily lives, telling us that what is most important is freedom, tenderness and tolerance.

Said Smith and Gilmour, “As creators over the years, we have traveled through the Bible, Dante’s Inferno, Boccaccio’s The Decameron, the short stories of Julio Cortazar, Katherine Mansfield and Anton Chekhov in search of our common roots. The Grimm Tales are our next adventure”.

Occupying an essential place in the landscape of Canadian Theatre, Theatre Smith-Gilmour has been creating original theatre since 1980. Their highly esteemed body of work includes the acclaimed Chekhov Cycle, which has been performed in Toronto, across Canada, throughout Asia and at the prestigious 2007 Chekhov International Theatre Festival in Moscow. In 2007, Smith and Gilmour travelled to Shanghai, China to co-create and perform Lu Xun Blossoms with the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre. This was the first ever Sino-Canadian co-production, which honours Lu Xun’s legacy as one of the greatest Chinese literary figures of the 20^th Century. Called “both humorous and wailful” (Oriental Morning Post), Lu Xun Blossoms went on to play to sold-out houses in Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Macau. Theatre Smith-Gilmour has been nominated for 24 Dora Awards, and won 8, including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Actor (Dean Gilmour) for both Chekhov’s shorts and Chekov longs – In The Ravine.

Show Information for GRIMM too:

Venue:
The Factory Studio Theatre
125 Bathurst St.

Previews:
February 19, 20, and 21, 2010

Opens:
February 23, 2010

Closes:
March 21, 2010

Performances:
Tuesday – Saturday 8 PM;
2:30 PM Sunday Matinees

Tickets:
Tuesday – Thursday $20
Friday $25
Saturday $28
Matinees $10
$5 Student/Senior discount on all tickets
Preview $12

Tickets are available through Factory Theatre Box Office at 416-504-9971, online at www.factorytheatre.ca or www.totix.ca, in person at the T.O. TIX booth at Yonge-Dundas Square, or at the door.

For more information please visit www.theatresmithgilmour.com