EVENTS
Every season, TOE hosts a series of curated events where established and emerging writers, actors, and musicians perform a piece of their choice in front of an audience. Vulnerability is a source of inspirational theatre, and at TOE we encourage everyone to share new work and take a risk with the support of their collaborators and their community. TOE believes in equitable access to the arts, so we have installed a "Pay What You Want"system for attending the shows.
During the pandemic, TOE has remained resilient with the continued support of our members. We offered our events online, mainly through Facebook Live.
During the pandemic, TOE has remained resilient with the continued support of our members. We offered our events online, mainly through Facebook Live.
Past TOE Productions, Events, and Collaborations
The Covenant
Theatre Ouest End was proud to present the world premiere of The Covenant, winner of the prestigious 2017 Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition at the Segal Centre last Fall. Written by Alice Abracen and directed by Murdoch Schon, and joined by a stellar cast and creative team, we were thrilled for the opportunity to share this powerful story with Montreal audiences at last.
Inspired by a true story, The Covenant is set in June, 1944 at Theresienstadt. Red Cross dignitaries are invited to marvel at this lively town which appears to be a haven for Jewish people in the heart of Czechoslovakia. Little do they know that this paradise is a ghetto and concentration camp, elaborately staged in order to conceal Nazi crimes against humanity. Forced to participate in the terrible charade, the ambitious politician Peter and the dedicated doctor Hilde find their idealism, their faith, and their love put to a terrible test. Timely and timeless,
Recommended for age 12+ (grade 7+)
Warning: Mature themes
Recommended for age 12+ (grade 7+)
Warning: Mature themes
Directed by Murdoch Schon
By Alice Abracen With Holly Gauthier-Frankel, Laura Mitchell, Romi Shraiter, Jonathan Silver and Brett Watson Production Manager & Technical Director Morgandy McKinnell & Lee Tucker Stage Manager Elyse Quesnel Set Designer Diana Uribe Costume & Lighting Designer Zoe Roux Sound Designer Joey Zaurrini Set Build Shopdogs MTL Fight Choreographer Shawn Baichoo Publicist Janis Krishner Poster Design Amelie LaFlamme & Anissah Vanhorn Printing Henry Roth at CORE Business Centre First developed at the National Theatre School of Canada With Dramaturgy by Sarah Elkashef Theatre Ouest End Producing Team Ayesha Hasan, Ann Lambert, Laura Mitchell, Anissah Vanhorn *Artist biographies are available here |
Reviews
After he attended the staged reading at the Segal Centre in 2018, Martin Duckworth, a celebrated Canadian cinematographer and film maker wrote:
“Your play struck me with the force of a Tolstoy novel, combining as it did a polished historical scholarship, a sophisticated awareness of the tension between politics and morality, a great sensitivity to the contradictions of human emotions, an extraordinary skill at dramatic structure, plus something that Tolstoy lacked, a sense of humour which helped immensely in grounding the story. I would feel very privileged if I could have the pleasure of re-reading your script. As of now, it feels like one of those special works of art that has the quality of having leapt to life inevitably, the role of the artist being simply to reveal it to the world as received. Works that have an endless life. Please make sure it gets seen by people of all religious and political leanings.”
- Martin Duckworth
World Premiere Public Launch: Still Got Something to Say: 6 Plays on Age
Last Fall, Theatre Ouest End presented the world premiere public launch of Still Got Something to Say: 6 Plays on Age. This event included the projection of the show on a large screen and a talkback with the cast and crew of Still Got Something to Say: 6 Plays on Age. Program for Still Got Something to Say: 6 Plays on Age.
Hidden Twins: A New Play Reading (Fall 2021), inspired by the true story of Vera and Nadia Debnar. Written by Alice Abracen and directed by Ellen David, featuring a stunning cast of talent, Hidden Twins was read live at the Segal Centre.
More information on the past event is available on here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1254374368352867/?active_tab=discussion |
Past Virtual Events
The launch of Still Got Something to Say: 6 Plays on Age was a tremendous success! With support from the Digital Now! grant given by the Canada Council for the arts, TOE commissioned 6 highly esteemed and seasoned Canadian playwrights to write a short play exploring the theme of age and ageing. We began this process asking: What does “old” mean? How does growing older often mean becoming the “other”? How then does ageism intersect with racialization, genderism, ableism, and social and economic marginalization?
We didn’t know the answers to all these questions, but we wanted to create an opportunity for our playwrights to explore the challenges of navigating an ageist world. These amazing playwrights are: Jane Gilchrist, Debra Kirshenbaum, Ann Lambert, Kent Stetson, Judith Thompson, and Rahul Varma. They were joined by a team of wonderful theatre artists. |
Mask/Masque: A Virtual Soirée (Fall 2020), a night of readings and music by established and emerging Montreal writers and performers.
A Facebook Live recording of “Mask/Masque: A Virtual Soirée” is available on our Facebook page: fb.watch/4zcH0KzDAb/ |
Past In-Person Events
Scene Solstice (Spring 2020), a night of readings and music by established and emerging Montreal writers and performers.
A Facebook Live recording of “Scene Solstice” is available on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/events/370352717267563/?active_tab=discussion Suffering from the winter blues? Théâtre Ouest End presents An Evening of LOVE (Winter 2020) —readings eclectically and playfully interpreted by some of Montreal’s established and emerging writers and performers.
Enjoy a glass of wine and a delightful evening of theatre in many forms along with a little bit of night music. Warm up from the inside on Friday, February 7 in Théâtre Ouest End's home space, Westmount Park United Church. Admission is pay-what-you-think. |
Theatre Ouest End is delighted to invite you to our Halloween Event Something Scary? (Fall 2019); a night of readings from amazing writers both emerging and established on the Montreal scene! The event is pay what you think!! Join us for the drama and the drinks, the scares and the snacks; we look forward to seeing you there! |
Media Coverage
THE COVENANT
November 11 - Global Morning News community spot: globalnews.ca/video/9271331/community-events-the-covenant/
November 8 - EMSB (English Montreal School Board) Focus by Mike Cohen: www.emsbfocus.com/2022/11/november-8-2022-edition-volume-25.html
November 7 - Canadian Jewish News interview with Alice by Ilana Zackon: thecjn.ca/arts/jewish-nomad-50/
November 6 - CHAI Montreal podcast interview with Alice by Lisa Winston and Sarah Villani
October 31 - Mononews: mononews.com/horreur-coeur-et-humour-the-covenant-du-15-nov-au-3-dec-au-studio-du-centre-segal-theatre-ouest-end/
October 30 - Canadian Multicultural News: cmnnews.ca/?p=2553
October 29 - www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/festivals-and-events/covenant-montreal
October 28 - Mountain Lake PBS events: mountainlake.org/event/the-covenant-haunting-history-with-heart-and-dark-humour/
October 27 - BizBash: www.bizbash.com/industry-buzz/article/22512510/canada-event-industry-news-for-october-27-2022
November 8 - EMSB (English Montreal School Board) Focus by Mike Cohen: www.emsbfocus.com/2022/11/november-8-2022-edition-volume-25.html
November 7 - Canadian Jewish News interview with Alice by Ilana Zackon: thecjn.ca/arts/jewish-nomad-50/
November 6 - CHAI Montreal podcast interview with Alice by Lisa Winston and Sarah Villani
- Spotify:open.spotify.com/episode/2YVdf9DUKU8df2Veg5fJHs?si=JwuTU0BrTDm4zBKIvHFKew&utm_source=copy-link
- Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-covenant-in-conversation-with-playwright/id1614657041?i=1000585328932
- Google Podcasts: podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy84MGI3YTY0NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/YTQ3NDgwNTYtMGVkNC00MzZlLThlMzMtMTkxNzA2OGM4ODM4?ep=14
- Victoria Advocate: www.victoriaadvocate.com/alice-abracen-talks-about-her-new-show-at-the-segal-centre-the-covenant/video_19b3d5f8-4329-597e-9ef5-50634320919d.html
- News-Press Now: www.newspressnow.com/multimedia/national_video/alice-abracen-talks-about-her-new-show-at-the-segal-centre-the-covenant/video_2974aa5d-3fc0-5117-b2 (reprint from The Suburban)
- The Suburban video and online interview with Alice by Mike Cohen: www.thesuburban.com/blogs/sjn/alice-abracens-the-covenant-is-inspired-by-an-incredible-true-story-from-the-theresienstadt-concentration/article_b44e9a72-5b82-11ed-b68b-ab1a21027bff.html
- The Suburban events: www.thesuburban.com/local-events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event%2F1409684-the-covenant-haunting-history-with-heart-and-dark-humour-nov-15-dec-3
- CKUT Upstage interview with Jonathan Silver by Sarah Deshaies: archives.ckut.ca/archives/128/20221103.18.00-19.00.mp3 (mentioned at minute 1:13, interview at 7:05)November 3- Westmount Magazine Fall Entertainment Events by Byron Tobin: www.westmountmag.ca/fall-entertainment-events/
- Holocaust Museum news and events: museeholocauste.ca/en/news-and-events/the-covenant/
- Holocaust Museum actualités et evenements- museeholocauste.ca/fr/actualites-et-evenements/the-covenant/
- Broadway World: www.broadwayworld.com/montreal/article/Theatre-Ouest-End-Presents-THE-COVENANT-This-Month-20221102
October 31 - Mononews: mononews.com/horreur-coeur-et-humour-the-covenant-du-15-nov-au-3-dec-au-studio-du-centre-segal-theatre-ouest-end/
October 30 - Canadian Multicultural News: cmnnews.ca/?p=2553
October 29 - www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/festivals-and-events/covenant-montreal
October 28 - Mountain Lake PBS events: mountainlake.org/event/the-covenant-haunting-history-with-heart-and-dark-humour/
October 27 - BizBash: www.bizbash.com/industry-buzz/article/22512510/canada-event-industry-news-for-october-27-2022
THEATRE OUEST END
http://www.theseniortimes.com/theatre-ouest-end-opens-its-doors-to-community-stories/
https://www.cjnews.com/culture/entertainment/theatre-ouest-end-points-to-community-inclusion
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre-ouest-end-1.5059781
https://montrealtheatrehub.com/2019/02/26/new-montreal-theatre-company-theatre-ouest-end-presents-inaugural-event-on-march-8th/
https://www.cjnews.com/culture/entertainment/theatre-ouest-end-points-to-community-inclusion
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre-ouest-end-1.5059781
https://montrealtheatrehub.com/2019/02/26/new-montreal-theatre-company-theatre-ouest-end-presents-inaugural-event-on-march-8th/