The Listening Stage
Common Boots Theatre in Partnership with BALANCE for Blind Adults presents
The Listening Stage
The Listening Stage was a digital initiative of performances, workshops, and readings developed in partnership with BALANCE for Blind Adults
Writing for Life
Writing Workshops – – 12 members of BALANCE for Blind Adults community participated in a series of 4 writing workshops led by Alex Bulmer.
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Lone Island Lovers
by Mic Robertson, Directed by Margaret Rose
Common Boots continues it’s partnership with BALANCE For Blind Adults. On February 23 we will co-host a workshop of this new play.
Tuesday February 23, 2021, 7:30PM, ZOOM
A reading followed by conversation with the audience and artists. Participation is limited, registration is required.
From the team that brought you “Eurydice”, comes a workshop performance of “Lone Island Lovers”, a brand new play by Mick (Micaela) Robertson. How do you find love if you don’t know what you want? Set in a world where everyone lives on their own island, this work in progress explores relationship dynamics, gender roles, and sexuality with a touch of humour.
“Lone Island Lovers” is being created as much for the ears as for the eyes, and imagines people who are blind or have low vision as part of the audience.
Mentorship and dramaturgy provided by Alex Bulmer
Writer – Mick (Micaela) Robertson
Director – Margaret Rose
Mentor – Alex Bulmer
Cast – Durae McFarlane, Eiléanór O’Halloran, Frosina Pejcinovska, Jacob Kay and Marjorie Campbell
Producers- Jacob Kay, Mick (Micaela) Robertson, Margaret Rose
Communications – William Dao
Composer – Dante Camarda
Blind Imaginings: A Celebration of Writing
The Listening Stage presents; Blind Imaginings: A Celebration of New Writing!
Please join us! Tuesday April 20, 2021, 7:15 – 8:45pm
Blind Imaginings: a celebration of writing
Hosted by Amy Amantea
Introduced by Deborah Gold, Executive Director, BALANCE for Blind Adults
Featuring new writing by Anthony Coulter, Cat Peever and Karoline Bourdeau
Readers: Kelly MacDonald, Joelle Peters and Rosie Tremblay-Johnston
Technical and access support by Kesta Graham and Troy Taylor
The evening will feature select pieces created by participants of WRITING FOR LIFE; a series of workshops hosted by BALANCE read by professional actors, and an audio- described sneak peak screening of POSTCARDS FROM MY BALCONY a short film written by Alex Bulmer, instructor of the workshops and Artistic Director of Common Boots Theatre.
This gathering is a chance to come together, celebrate creativity, and enjoy good conversation. Bring your headphones for the best listening experience.
The event will open at 7:15 for a relaxed meet and greet, followed by readings, a screening, and a talk around with the artists.
The event will take place via Zoom. An email address is required in order to register, however, participation may be online or by phone. If you require assistance in the registration process, please contact BALANCE at (416) 236 1796.
For more information please visit www.commonbootstheatre.ca
Please note:
Access to this event is available exclusively by invitation and to the blind and low vision community. It is not required to be a client of BALANCE to participate, nor is it limited to residents of Toronto.
*The blind and low vision community is defined as those who are blind or have low vision, their immediate support network and staff who support them.
May I take your arm?
Join The Listening Stage to launch your May I take your arm? experience
- June 15th at 7PM Join us to start your experience with a streaming of the audio of the original 2018 production
- Hosted by Artistic Producer, Kesta Graham
- June 14 – 26 Explore the site and new content at your own pace www.mayitakeyourarm.com
- June 22nd at 7PM Join us to stream additional May I take your arm? audio elements followed by a talk around with the artists at 8PM Hosted by Kesta Graham
The Listening Stage events are free, however, pre-registration is required. The June 15th and 22nd events will take place via Zoom. An email address is required in order to register, however, participation may be online or by phone. If you require assistance in the registration process, please contact BALANCE at (416) 236-1796.
But wait! There’s more!
A series of 200 limited edition accordion books designed by Anna Camilleri, which will be mailed, are a tactile accompaniment to experience the show. To ensure you receive a book on time, please be certain to request your copy as soon as possible. Books are available for a Pay-What-You-Can-Afford price of $5, $25 or $50.
For more information about May I Take Your Arm? Click Here.
When it rains, I know where I am
Common Boots would like to acknowledge the support of the Ontario Arts Council, Arts Response Initiative for When it rains, I know where I am.
Four accomplished sound artists, create a three-minute audio response to the prompt “When it rains, I know where I am” offered by blind theatre artist, Alex Bulmer.
On June 25th Alex will hear their original creations for the first time.
Please join Alex, the artists and our moderator Dr. Moynan King for an audio laboratory exploring imagination, process, creation and the simple question “What do I hear?”.
Friday, June 25, 2021, 2PM on Zoom
Free! Registration is required
THE ARTISTS
Mitchell Akiyama is a scholar, composer and artist. His eclectic body of work includes writings about sound, metaphors, animals, and media technologies; scores for film and dance; and objects and installations that trouble received ideas about history, perception, and sensory experience. He is currently Assistant Professor of Visual Studies in the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto.
Deanna H. Choi is a composer and sound designer who writes original music for film, television, plays, dance, and multimedia installations. She is an award winning classically trained violinist and is the second sound designer to win the prestigious Pauline McGibbon Award for Theatrical Design. In 2021 she was selected as one of six composers-in-residence to attend the Slaight Music Residency at the Canadian Film Centre.
Megan Johnson is a performance scholar, dramaturg, arts administrator, and contemporary singer based in Halifax. She is the co-founder of Sesquisharp Productions. Megan is the co-editor (with Moynan King) of the Canadian Theatre Review Issue 184: Sound and Performance. Currently she is pursuing her PhD in Theatre & Performance Studies at York University with a focus on disability performance, infrastructural politics, and inclusive dramaturgy.
Peter Thillaye is a pioneer in the field of multi-channel sound design and binaural recording. Peter and his company Thillaye Productions have experimented with and developed some leading-edge audio technologies for IMAX film, including PSE, mixing techniques for IMAX six-channel, IMAX Ride experiences, as well as numerous successful attempts to more-accurately record astronauts and NASA communications.
