Centaur Theatre: Going behind the Curtain

I’m excited to announce an Urban Sketching project in partnership with Centaur Theatre (453 St. François-Xavier, in old Montreal). During the month of January I’ll be following the development of “Innocence Lost” – a play by Beverly Cooper, directed by Roy Surette, and starring the National Arts Center English Theatre Acting Company.

The play deals with the disruption in a rural Ontario community following the 1959 murder of 12 year old Lynne Harper and the subsequent trial and wrongful imprisonment of 14 year old Steven Truscott, who narrowly escaped hanging and who would spend the next 15 years of his life in prison.

I’ll have a unique opportunity to go behind the curtain, sketching the cast and crew over the entire rehearsal – drawing as the characters are created in front of me. I’ve never been a part of live theatre in this way. The subject matter is quite dark – experiencing those emotions is going to be a huge change from sketching on the street. I’m excited to see what happens!

The originals will be on exhibit and for sale at the Centaur Theatre throughout the run of the show, Jan 29 to Feb 24. Of course, I’ll be posting preview sketches when I get a chance, and as we get closer I’ll let you know about plans for the opening.

But wait – there’s more! A group of our Montreal Urban Sketchers will be at Centaur’s Wildside Theatre Festival, Saturday Jan 5, after the evening performances “Poutine Masala” and “A Day in the Life of Miss Hiccup”. If you can make the shows, we’ll be at the after-party sketching the actors and the audience. Come down and meet us, and perhaps take home a drawing. Sketches will be going up for sale in the gallery as fast as we make them. A chance to take home a piece of live theatre – drawn before your very eyes. See you there!