Modern Times Stage Company, one of the most physically and emotionally charged theatre companies in Toronto

Media Centre - Waiting for Godot

Press Release download a pdf version

For immediate release February 11, 2008, please include in all listings and announcements

Media Contact: Sue Balint 416.214.1428

sue@moderntimesstage.com

From the gifted vision of Siminovitch-nominated Director Soheil Parsa comes an innovative interpretation of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot.

Modern Times Stage Company presents

WAITING FOR GODOT directed by Soheil Parsa

at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Distillery District

March 5^th – 22^nd, 2008

Featuring Stewart Arnott, Peter Batakliev, Peter Farbridge, Darrel Gamotin and John Ng

Designers Andrea Lundy (lighting), Trevor Schwellnus (set), Angela Thomas (costumes), lindi g. papoff (stage manager), Doug Morum (production manager), Thomas Jones (assistant director)

Media & Opening Night March 5^th at 8pm

Preview performances March 1^st, 3^rd & 4^th at 8pm

Runs Mondays – Saturdays through March 22^nd at 8pm, Saturday matinees at 2pm

Tickets $15-$25, previews & Mondays $10

Young Centre Box office (416) 866-8666   www.youngcentre.ca

This March, Soheil Parsa leads a dynamic cast and creative team of long time collaborators in an evocative new production of Waiting for Godot.

Drawn to plays of mythic inspiration, Modern Times returns to familiar territory with Waiting for Godot, exploring the universal themes of Beckett’s groundbreaking work - the mysteries of existence, the search for happiness and the individual’s right to liberty.

Parsa’s singular insight and visually evocative style brings these themes to life, embodied by the persistence and vulnerability of Beckett’s iconic duo, Vladimir and Estragon.

An exploration of the rhythm and physicality of this multi-layered text brings a fresh, honest and accessible interpretation of the universal essence and relevance of Beckett’s masterpiece. With an awareness of the influences of Godot’s historical context - from the despair of World War II to the comedic style of the vaudeville tradition – the production traverses the illusive balance between tragedy and comedy inherent to the human condition.

Parsa directs a culturally-diverse cast and creative team dedicated to collaborative exploration. Featured in the production are Dora award-winning artist and Modern Times co-founder PETER FARBRIDGE and Montreal MECCA award-winner PETER BATAKLIEV as Vladimir and Estragon. Also featured are STEWART ARNOTT as Pozzo, DARREL GAMOTIN as the Boy and JOHN NG as Lucky.



Godot’s lighting designer ANDREA LUNDY, set designer TREVOR SCHWELLNUS and costume designer ANGELA THOMAS have all received Dora nominations and awards for their previous collaborations with Modern Times.

Modern Times Stage Company is proud to present Soheil Parsa’s vision of Waiting for Godot, a play that echoes the way we look at the world and transforms the way we look at theatre.

Media inquiries and bookings:

Sue Balint 416-214-1428     sue@moderntimesstage.com

Complete media kit and high resolution photos available at www.moderntimesstage.com

Listing/PSA brief

WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett

Acclaimed for its innovative interpretations of modern classics, Modern Times Stage Company presents Waiting for Godot, the quintessential 20th century drama as seen through the fascinating directorial lens of Soheil Parsa. Capturing the elusive balance of comedy and tragedy in the iconic duo of Vladimir and Estragon (Peter Farbridge and Peter Batakliev), this visually evocative interpretation will surprise Beckett fans and fascinate new audiences.

Background

Modern Times Stage Company is an artistic collaborative dedicated to offering culturally-inclusive alternative theatre experiences that are beautiful in their simplicity and truthful in their exploration of the human spirit. Acclaimed for its unique interpretations of the classics, Modern Times has received 35 Dora Awards and Nominations over its 19 year history. The company’s previous work on a Theatre of the Absurd text, Eugene Ionesco’s The Chairs, received seven Dora nominations in 2002.

Cast and Crew Bios

Cast	Production Team
Stewart Arnott - Pozzo	Soheil Parsa - Director
Peter Batakliev - Estragon	lindi g. papoff - Stage Manager
Peter Farbridge - Vladimir	Thomas Morgan Jones - Assistant Director
Darrel Gamotin - The Boy	Douglas Morum - Production Manager
John Ng - Lucky	Andrea Lundy - Light Design
	Trevor Schwellnus - Set Design
	Angela Thomas - Costume Design