Bridge of One Hair April 26, 2007

The World Premiere of Bridge of One Hair brings cultures together at Harbourfront Centre

Harbourfront Centre’s Fresh Ground new works commission and New World Stage International Performance are pleased to introduce the World Premiere of installation/performance Bridge of One Hair by Toronto’s own Jumblies Theatre. A cast of over 100 performers of diverse ages, cultures and disciplines will present the piece April 26 through 29, at Harbourfront Centre’s Brigantine Room. For tickets and information call 416-973-4000 or visit www.harbourfrontcentre.com/nws

Conceived by Ruth Howard, Artistic Director of Jumblies Theatre, and driven by an original score by renowned Chinese-Canadian composer Alice Ping Yee Ho, Bridge of One Hair uses the rituals and objects of tea drinking as a context for story-sharing and image-expressing, while juxtaposing the life story of Hawa Jibril, an elderly Somali poet, alongside a poem written by Duke Redbird as well as a revisited Celtic fairy tale. Under the direction of Faye Dupras, Bridge of One Hair combines elements of oral history, storytelling, written and spoken text, projected visual imagery, movement, music, domestic ritual and community engagement practices.

Bridge of One Hair is the result of a three year residency in central Etobicoke, in partnership with Montgomery’s Inn, Toronto Community Housing (TCH) and other local organizations, building links between the residential communities throughout Mabelle, a TCH high-rise complex, and the neighbouring Village of Islington.

Bridge of One Hair World Premiere Thursday, April 26 7:00 p.m. Brigantine Room, York Quay Centre
235 Queens Quay West For all other show times and to purchase tickets, please call Harbourfront Centre Box Office at 416-973-4000 or visit www.harbourfrontcentre.com/nws

Fresh Ground new works commissions are made possible by the generosity of several individual donors who have actively assisted in the creation of new Canadian art works—Peter Allen, Robert & Anne Marie Canning, Lionel F. Conacher & Joan Dea, Margaret & James Fleck, John G. Harkness, Michael & Sonja Koerner, Judy & Wil Matthews, George E. Myhal, Sandra & Jim Pitblado, Gretchen & Donald Ross, Anonymous - and by a grant from Imperial Tobacco Canada Arts Fund.

Harbourfront Centre’s New World Stage International Performance is a dynamic, world-class, signature programme presenting a new, contemporary format featuring 17 productions that encompass multiple performance disciplines including theatre, dance, music, cabaret and more. The performance series runs January 24 through June 10, 2007.

This edition of New World Stage at Harbourfront Centre converges with Luminato, Toronto’s Festival of Arts and Creativity, June 1-10 with a number of leading edge international performances including Risk Everything (TR Warszawa), Back Home (Urban Theatre Projects) and Shen Wei Dance Arts (China/USA). As a finale for New World Stage and the welcoming social hub for Luminato, the Spiegel Show takes over the Spiegeltent’ntavern. Luminato, Toronto’s inaugural multidisciplinary arts festival, connects the creative spirit to every corner of the city for 10 inspiring days with more than 90 events in venues and locations citywide.

Westin Harbour Castle is the official host hotel of New World Stage.
New World Stage is supported by Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity 2007, Canadian Heritage, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.

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Jumblies Theatre/Bridge of One Hair Media Contact:
Zsusza Kelemen
[email protected]
416-203-0188

Harbourfront Centre Media Contact:
Bill Bobek
[email protected]
416-973-4428

-or-

Cary Mignault
[email protected]
416-973-4655

Official Website: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com