Nightwood Theatre presentes Pencil Kit Productions’ I love the smell of gasoline with support from Aluna Theatre. Overhead projection meets performative research essay meets personal narrative as Creator-Performer Claren Grosz attempts to reconcile her Alberta oil-industry roots with the current environmental emergency.

I love the smell of gasoline was born of a frustration with divisive Canadian politics, rampant hypocrisy, and a lack of team spirit when facing impending doom. What does it really mean to sacrifice and to survive? How can we harness our agency and responsibility in a global crisis?

I met Claren last Fall when the show took part of Aluna Theatre’s RUTAS International Arts Festival. She spoke about the reasons behind writing this show, working with overhead projections, as well as preparing for this longer, updated production premiering this week.

I am definitely looking forward to this latest production of I love the smell of gasoline which will take place at Aki Studio from March 8–19, 2023. For more details about showtimes and tickets, please click here.

Photo cover by Fran Chudnoff.