Theatre Gargantua

Theatre Gargantua is a Toronto-based theatre company founded by Artistic Director Jacquie P.A. Thomas in 1992.[1] The company emphasizes artist collaboration,[2] both within Canada and globally, combining a range of artistic disciplines to create new work. The defining experimental style of Theatre Gargantua's productions are a hybrid of Thomas' studies in Europe, which include creation as an artistic collective, an extended development phase, imagistic production elements, original composition often performed live and choreographed physicality of performers.[1] The topics of exploration in Gargantua's past shows have been grounded in social issues, creating compelling work that is presented through highly physical performances.

Theatre Gargantua
Formation1992
TypeTheatre group
Location
Artistic director(s)
Jacquie P.A. Thomas
Websitetheatregargantua.ca

The Company

The company consists of a permanent Artistic and Associate Artistic Director[3] along with core members and associate artists who work regularly with the company on a project basis. Production staff are hired on a project-by-project basis or as needed.[3]

The company works as a collective to generate each project through exploration and discovery of social issues relevant to our society.[4] Starting with an idea or social issue, artists are asked to research or create work using the idea as inspiration. From there, the idea begins to seed and grow into characters and plot.[5] Production elements are designed to invoke metaphoric meaning and experiment with various visual and physical components.

Core Artistic Members
  • Jacquie Thomas - Founder and Artistic Director[1][4]
  • Michael Spence - Associate Artistic Director[1][4]
  • Joel Benson - Core performance member
  • Diane Niec - Core performance member

Technique and Style

The Theatre Gargantua style of performance is as much physical as textual, with productions being built by the company from the ground up over a period of years. The technique is quite different than presenting a traditional script.[6] Theatre Gargantua's productions blend live music, acrobatics and imagery. Their performance style has been compared to Montreal's avant-garde.[7] The company's theatre works are diverse in terms of subject, writing and performance styles, but are connected in how each work melds daring physicality with striking designs, underpinned by original live music and the innovative use of technology.[8] The company's production of e-DENTITY, could be categorized as a form of mediatized theatre, and was described as "a world where live and mediatized bodies perform together."[9]

Mainstage Cycle

Theatre Gargantua’s productions are developed over a two-year cycle consisting of the creation, development and performance of work.[3] New projects are developed over the annual spring and summer season of first year, with fully produced public performances of the work in development in the fall. In the second year of a cycle, the work is re-examined and explored throughout the spring and summer seasons sometimes resulting in a radically different production, which receives its premiere in the fall of the second year.[3] The remounting of shows from completed cycles may occur for tours or festivals.

SideStream

Theatre Gargantua’s SideStream project is developed by core and associate artists,[10] designed with touring in mind. The first SideStream Cycle, Shrapnel, was created by core member Joel Benson in 2013.

Current Season

Reflector

Still in development, Reflector had its first year production in November 2016, and its premiere in November 2017 at Theatre Passe Muraille.[11] [12]

Past Productions

Mainstage Productions

Avaricious (2014-2015)

  • Written by Michael Spence and the ensemble (contributions by Kat Sandler), directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas

The Sacrifice Zone (2012-2013)

Imprints (2010-2011)

  • Written by Michael Spence, directed by Jaquie P.A. Thomas[4]
  • Premiered at the Factory Theatre in Toronto[4]

fIBBER (2007-2008)

  • Written by Michael Spence, directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas
  • Premiered at The Theatre Centre in Toronto

e-DENTITY (2005-2006)

  • Written by Michael Spence, directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas
  • Remounted as part of Mirvish Productions 2007 season[1]

(nod) (2003-2004)

  • Written by Rick Roberts, directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas
  • Premiered at Factory Theatre in 2003

Phantom Limb (2001-2002)

  • Co-production with Welsh company 20:21 Performance
  • Written by Spencer Hazel with text from Jane Siberry & Michael Timmins, directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas
  • Premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, England
  • Made its Canadian debut in spring 2002

The Exit Room (1999-2000)

  • Written by Michael Spence, directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas

Love not Love (1997-1998)

  • Written by Michael Spence, conceived and directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas
  • Toured to Montreal in December 1998

Raging Dreams - Into the Visceral (1995-1996)

  • Written by Meryn Cadell and Jacquie P.A. Thomas, conceived and directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas
  • Premiered as part of Theatre Passe Muraille season in 1996
  • Performed at the Theatre la Chapelle in Montreal in 1998
  • Headlined the Portland Oregon Performing Arts Festival in 2000
  • Remounted in winter 2008
  • Remounted in spring 2017 at the Harbourfront Centre[15]

The Trials: Fortune’s Desire (1992-1994)

  • Directed by Jacquie P.A. Thomas
  • Performed in historic St. Stephens in the Fields Church, Toronto[16]

SideStream Productions

Leaving Still (2016)

  • Conceived and performed by Michelle Polok as part of 401 Richmond's Built For Art: A Secret Garden series for Nuite Blanche 2016.[17]
  • Co-produced with The Sephine Collective.

The Hum (2015)

  • Created by Jenny Aplin, Julia Aplin, John Gzpwski, Michael Spence, and Jacquie P.A. Thomas
  • Co-produced with the GZAP Collective

Trace (2014)

  • Conceived and directed by Bruce Barton with Vertical City Performance
  • Presented by the 2014 SummerWorks Performance Festival in Toronto[10]

Shrapnel (2013)

  • Written by Joel Benson, directed by Michael Spence

Theatre Gargantua and Education

Theatre Gargantua is committed to fostering a deep engagement in the arts. The company is highly respected among university and high school educator, offering student matinees at discounted rates, as well as some of the most specialized and enriching workshops in physical theatre and the integration of arts and technology available.

The company offers an annual Master Class in Dynamic Creation for professional artists, and artistic and management internships for emerging artists.[5]

Student programs include physical theatre workshops which allow students to learn alongside company members resulting in the performance of physical theatre integrated with technology.[3]

References
  1. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, The Grid TO, Toronto, 9 November 2011. Retrieved on 5 August 2014. Archived 11 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Rehearsals for THE SACRIFICE ZONE Begin at Theatre Gargantua, Broadwayworld.com, Toronto, 11 October 2013. Retrieved on 5 August 2014.
  3. Theatre Gargantua Inc., Canada Helps, Toronto, n.d. Retrieved on 5 August 2014.
  4. Imprints is a harrowing trip down the rabbit hole, The Globe and Mail, Toronto, November 14, 2011. Retrieved on 27 August 2014.
  5. Interview with interdisciplinary artist Ciara Adams, PraxisTheatre.com, Toronto, 22 November 2012. Retrieved on 27 August 2014. Archived 11 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "In the Blood". Now Magazine. November 11, 2011.
  7. ProQuest 4333335361, Donnelly, P. 1998, Nov 27
  8. "About Theatre Gargantua | Theatre Gargantua".
  9. Papoutsis, Natalie (2006). "Intimate Acts With Obsolete Bodies: Theatre Gargantua's e-DENTITY And Mediatized Theatre". Canadian Theatre Review. 127: 18–23.
  10. Trace, Bruce Barton: Vertical City Performance, Toronto, n.d. Retrieved on 5 August 2014.
  11. "Reflector". NOW Toronto. July 11, 2017.
  12. "Reflector". Theatre Gargantua. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  13. The Sacrifice Zone: Review, Toronto Star, 16 November 2013. Retrieved on 27 July 2016.
  14. Congrats to the winners of 2014 Dora Mavor Moore Awards., The Canada Council for the Arts. Toronto, n.d. Retrieved on 5 August 2014.
  15. , Harbourfront Centre, 11 July 2017.
  16. Setterington, Joanne. Save St. Stephen's Concert Announced!, Urban Toronto News, 9 September 2005. Retrieved on 7 August 2014.
  17. , 401 Richmond
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