Preview: The Sheets, The...

HATCH 2012 presents THE SHEETS, THE… by Salvatore Antonio.  An Inaugural new work by The Empty Whole Group

The Empty Whole Group, a new multi-disciplinary theatre company in Toronto, launches on April 21st, 2012 at 8pm, with their first project, THE SHEETS, THE ..., as a part of Harbourfront Centre’s HATCH 2012.

THE SHEETS, THE... is written and directed by Governor General Award-nominated Salvatore Antonio. As part of the HATCH programme’s mandate of highlighting original, exciting and fresh voices in creation, Antonio offers a one-night-only experience of a new and challenging multi-disciplinary work-in-progress, that explores the expression (or lack thereof) of intimacy in all its modern day banality, disconnectedness, and solitude. Set in a hotel room, and centered around the role of the bed as witness, THE SHEETS, THE… unfolds as a revealing and unsparing foray into the depths of the physical and psychological core of the human need for emotional connection, sexual release, and simple tactile contact.

Salvatore Antonio, an established actor (Léo, Hosanna, Refugee Hotel) and writer (In Gabriel’s Kitchen, for which he was named a G.G Finalist 2007), has brought together a group of progressive performers and collaborators—both established and emerging—to breathe life into this creation that flirts with the boundaries of conventional theatre, performance art, dance and visual art. Artists include Aviva Armour-Ostroff, Greg Gale, Thomas Olajide, Jason Jazrawy, William Christopher Ellis, David Christo, Zion Forrest Lee, Amy Lee Lavoie (assistant director and dramaturge) and multi-award-winning Beth Kates (designer) have joined forces to build this charged and challenging piece.

THE SHEETS, THE... marks the first production from The Empty Whole Group. Under the artistic directorship of Antonio, The Empty Whole Group gathers like-minded artists to build around a central theme for each future production. The Empty Whole Group’s mandate is to produce  original performances that remain vital, while blurring the lines of what is considered theatre, dance, music or visual art.

HATCH 2012 runs from April 14 – May 5, 2012. Patrons can purchase a HATCH pass (includes tickets to all four productions) for $40, individual tickets for $15, or students/seniors/arts professionals $12. Visit the website here or call the box office at 416-973-4000 for more information.  Following each HATCH presentation, there is a Q&A, where the audience can engage with presenting artists.

ABOUT HATCH
Now in its ninth year, HATCH is a key initiative in Harbourfront Centre’s mission to develop local artists and their unique practices. HATCH mentorship provides resources and professional assistance to contemporary artists looking to explore a new element of their practice. By giving the space and time for this to happen, Harbourfront Centre hopes to develop and grow the best new work coming out of Toronto. This season’s guest curator is Toronto-based performance artist, Jess Dobkin.


HATCH has produced many projects which have gone on to presentations around the world and have garnered awards and professional accolades, including Hannah Moscovitch’s The Russian Play and Aluna Theatre’s Nohayquiensepa.