Blackbird takes home three Jessies

"...compelling theatre at its best - here augmented by excellent lead performances." ~ Globe and Mail

Rumble Productions is pleased to announce that Blackbird, produced by Rumble Productions and Theatre Conspiracy, received three awards at the 27th Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards Ceremony on June 15th at the Commodore Ballroom.

"It's a great honour to have received Jessie recognition for my work on Blackbird," said Norman Armour, "all the more meaningful with Jennifer and Russell also receiving a nod. It was an incredible team, a remarkable script, and a once in a lifetime opportunity that Rumble, Theatre Conspiracy and the Cultch made possible."

Norman Armour wins a Jessie award for Outstanding Direction, while Jennifer Mawhinney wins Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, and Russell Roberts wins Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role.

Blackbird, by Scottish Playwright David Harrower, is a stunning theatrical examination of the fallout from an illicit sexual relationship between a middle-aged man and underage girl, revealing complex layers of human fallibility that go far deeper than legal definitions or a psychological profile. It’s a piece that involves viewers in an unfolding disaster, and tests their morality, sense of justice and level of compassion.

Blackbird also received one of five nominations for Outstanding Production in the Small Theatre Category.  In addition, HIVE 2, an innovative production by eleven theatre companies, including Rumble, won an award for significant Artistic Achievement – Innovative Contribution to the Artistic Community.

 

A successful run at the Cultch!

Blackbird
by David Harrower

Read the Q and A with Blackbird's director, Norman Armour, published in the newest Cultch Quarterly.

a Rumble Productions / Theatre Conspiracy Co-Production, presented by the Vancouver East Cultural Centre

"...compelling theatre at its best - here augmented by excellent lead performances." ~ Globe and Mail

Ray confronts a hidden past when Una arrives suddenly at his office in David Harrower’s explosive play, Blackbird. Guilt and raw emotions turn poisonous as they recollect a passionate but disastrous affair they had 15 years earlier. As tensions rise, we are left to question: where is the line between love and abuse? And can we ever break free from the shackles of the past?

One of the most talked-about plays to come out of London in years, David Harrower’s award-winning play has been featured on many London and New York critics’ top 10 lists.

Winner of the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Play

"Blackbird will be recognised as one of the greatest of modern dramas."
Daniel Schlusser, Realtime Magazine

Written by David Harrower | Directed by Norman Armour | Featuring Russell Roberts and Jennifer Mawhinney

Sound by Candelario Andrade | Costumes by Barbara Clayden | Set by Barbara Clayden and John Webber | Lighting by John Webber

Technical Direction by James Foy | Assistant Direction by Camille Gingras | Stage Management by Joanne PB Smith 


IN THE WORKS:

Cozy Catastrophe
created by Theatre Melee and Rumble Productions

Horrific events are overwhelming the entirety of human civilization. Four strangers must decide what to do with what could be their final hours.  Should they pray?  Fight back?  Repopulate the earth?  Or just get to know each other a little better? Cozy Catastrophe is a dark comedy about ordinary folks bound together by extraordinary circumstance.

After a week long creation workshop at the Caravan Farm Theatre in May of 2008 and the performance of a small portion of the piece at HIVE 2 in June 2008, a work in progress showing was presented at Toronto’s SummerWorks Theatre Festival in August 2008. The full production will premier at Rumble’s TREMORS Festival in the spring of 2010.

"unabashedly, hilariously gross" - Alison Broverman, Plank Magazine

“Graphic blood and endless poop jokes…this is a comedy for a traumatized world.” - Ann McDougall, Plank Magazine

Directed by Craig Hall and Courtenay Dobbie | Featuring Andrew McNee, Juno Ruddell, Erin Mathews and Michael Rinaldi

Dramaturgy by Andrew Templeton | Fight Choreography by Kevin James | Sound Design by Michael Rinaldi


 


Lucky
by Rick Dobran

DETAILS COMING SOON


How to Disappear Completely
created by Candelario Andrade, Itai Erdal, Craig Hall, Tanya Marquardt, Yota Kobayashi, and Adrienne Wong
  
In 2002, Itai Erdal was called home to Israel to become his mother’s primary care giver as she slowly succumbed to cancer. While taking care of his mother as she went through chemotherapy, Itai shot over 34 hours of video footage and took hundreds of stills. Years later, encouraged by family and colleagues, Itai approached Rumble to help bring his mother’s story to the stage.

Joining Itai in the development of this work will be Actor/Choreographer Tanya Marquardt, Filmmaker Candelario Andrade, Actor/Dramaturg Adrienne Wong, Composer Yota Kobayashi and Director Craig Hall. The final product will be a unique multimedia performance that will both reveal the artfulness of life and attempt to release us from our bondage to fears of diseases like cancer and the varied superstitions pertaining to them.
Photo: Mery Erdal, by Itai Erdal




Hard Core Logo: LIVE
adaptation by Michael Scholar, Jr. 

Meet Joe Dick, the fast talking, hard rocking, gutter punk idealist who had his moment of glory fronting the legendary but now defunct Vancouver band Hard Core Logo.  Living somewhere between East Hastings and a dream, Joe decides it’s time to drag the band back together for one last, ill-fated tour.

Michael Scholar, Jr. adapts the cult classic book by Michael Turner, the film by Bruce McDonald, and the screenplay by Noel Bamer into a punk-ass piece of music theatre, featuring original music by D.O.A.’s Joe “Shithead” Keithley. A co-production with Touchstone Theatre, November Theatre and Edmonton's Theatre Network, Hard Core Logo: LIVE will premier in Rumble’s 09/10 season.