Continuing with my suggestions at this year’s SummerWorks Performance Festival, I have narrowed down more selections from the Music Series and the National Series. I am also adding one other show to the list, for good measure.

Lido Pimienta/Natasha GreenBlatt – The Secret Garden Of Lido Pimienta
Lower Ossington Theatre Mainspace – Aug 13th, 9pm

Summary: This is an “immersive installation and performance of electronic and experimental pop by Lido Pimienta”. Audiences will sample new, unreleased music from Lido’s latest album La Papessa and artwork and projections by multidisciplinary artist Gustavo Cerquera Benjumea.

My thoughts: I have come to know Lido’s music over the past year and a bit, and I like her style. Taking risks with her music by incorporating installation art is something I am curious about. Lido is also Latina, so of course, I will be there to support.

Brendan Canning/Brendan Healy – One Night, Two Brendans
The Theatre Centre Mainspace – Aug 8th, 9pm

Summary: Brendan Canning (Broken Social Scene) and Brendan Healy (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre) will “transport you into a haunting, psychedelic dreamscape of music and video, mashing up Canning’s trademark layered sounds with spectacular live video art”.

My thoughts: I am new to the work of the Two Brendans, so I say, why not check this out too? Sounds like fun.

Against Gravity
Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace – Aug 7 to Aug 16

Summary: This show is “a shadow theatre performance that plays at the intersection of visual arts, clowning and live music. Unlike a traditional shadow puppet show, the two performers are both visible throughout the show – one projects colourful imagery using an overhead projector while the other creates a live soundtrack with guitar loops, beat-boxing and help from the audience”.

My thoughts: They had me at puppets… The summary above sounds rather cryptic, but if you take a look at the video below, you’ll understand why I am suggesting this performance as well.

 

Écoute Pour Voir 
Friday Aug 15, 6:00pm – Trinity Bellwood’s Park- 155 Crawford Street
Saturday Aug 16, 6:00pm – Around Theatre Passe Muraille
Sunday Aug 17, 8:30pm – The Theatre Centre

Summary: This performance consists of a variety of solos, scattered throughout the space and performed simultaneously. Equipped with headphones attached to an iPod, dancers and viewers share a choreography face-to-face over the course of the music. Audience members are free to wander from one dancer to the next and observe the subtle intricacies of dance up close, as well as the moving, colourful whole from a distance.

My thoughts: Not for the shy-type. I like the idea of challenging yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone. This immersive experience will hopefully demistify some of the ideas of what modern dance is. This reminds me of another immersive performance from last year’s SummerWorks, and I totally enjoyed it. I will certainly aim to partake in this one, too.

ÉCOUTE POUR VOIR from Danse Carpe Diem/Emmanuel Jouthe on Vimeo.

Rielle Ritchie & Sarah Irankhah – The Devil You Know Photo: SummerWorks

Youth Programming: The Devil You Know
Scotiabank Studio Theatre – Aug 7-10

Summary: The Devil You Know was selected at the Toronto Regional Showcase (Hart House Theatre) of the Sears Ontario Drama Festival to perform at SummerWorks. You will forget you are watching high school students as these young actors take you through this heartbreaking story of an incest survivor and is trying to come to terms with the abuse she suffered at the hands of her older brother.

My thoughts: Although this piece deals with serious and mature content, I think it is important to support young talent. Theatre is also another medium which can be used to have discussions about sensitive topics.

SummerWorks begins Thursday, August 7th and runs until August 17th at various venues across Toronto. Tickets are available online, by phone, and in-person at the festival’s box office. For information on box office hours, venues, and show schedule visit summerworks.ca.