THE UGLY ONE – OUTREACH & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
In October 2011, Theatre Smash proudly presents the Toronto premiere of German playwright Marius von Mayenburg’s The Ugly One. A razor sharp black comedy about getting ahead in today’s image-driven and consumer-based culture, The Ugly One will both challenge and engage your students through narrative and form.
Attending a Student Matinee of The Ugly One, your students will be introduced to a cutting-edge Canadian production of one of Germany’s hottest new plays. A complete experience, the performance is enhanced through pre- and post-performance workshops with cast members and industry professionals; the opportunity to find out more through a question and answer session with cast and crew; and a wealth of resources with which to start (and continue) the discussion in your classrooms. Join us!
Dates and Times: Wednesday, Oct 5 & 12 at 1pm
Location: Tarragon Extra Space, 30 Bridgman Avenue
Cost: $15 per student; teachers attend for free
Duration: 55 minutes
Suits: Grades 9-12
Reservations Contact: Melissa Farmer, Education Associate – melissa@theatresmash.com
Curriculum Links: Drama (Role and Character; Dramatic Forms; Elements, Principles and Techniques; Creating & Presenting), English (Oral Communication; Reading & Literature Studies), Health and Physical Education (Health for Life: Mental Health), Art (Reflecting, Responding and Analysing)
Resources:
- Pre and post-show workshops (at Tarragon Theatre, or at your school, you pick!) led by professional Artist Educators. These workshops will focus on the themes of the play: identity, consumerism, self worth. Specifics of the workshops will be tailor-made for each school, but will involve theatre-making techniques such as mask work, improvisation and collective creation.
- Our study guide is written by a professional educator and links directly to high school curriculum, offering both pre and post show classroom based activities.
- A question and answer session with cast and crew will immediately follow the education matinee, allowing your students to connect directly to some of Canada’s most prominent professional artists. (Actors: Hardee T. Lineham, David Jansen, Patrick Costello and Naomi Wright. Designers: Camellia Koo, Jason Hall, John Gzowski. Director: Ashlie Corcoran)
Plot: Lette is a successful engineer who is also unspeakably ugly. His boss and wife confirm it: his face is “unacceptable.” His plastic surgeon is reluctant to operate – Lette’s face is so ugly it will have to be rebuilt from scratch. The surgeon’s efforts are rewarded when Lette emerges from the operation an Adonis. His life changes overnight: his wife finds him irresistible, he becomes an overnight star at his company, and he is fawned upon wherever he goes. But this dream life soon becomes a nightmare, as Lette’s surgeon begins to offer his face to anyone who can pay. Four actors play eight parts, with no variation of costume, makeup or even character names. The piece has been produced all over the world, including Europe, Australia, and America.
“A delectable black comedy…I have not seen a more imaginative, inventive or disturbing theatrical vision.” – Evening Standard (UK)
We hope you’ll join us for this exciting production in the Fall! For more information, or to book tickets, email Melissa Farmer, Education Associate: melissa@theatresmash.com
P.S: We love theatre and want to offer as many students as possible access to our productions. We are aware that many teachers cannot bring their students to productions because of the costs involved. This year, with the help of TD Canada Trust, we are able to offer a limited number of performances and workshops to schools and who qualify for our access program. Email Melissa Farmer for more information: melissa@theatresmash.com. Theatre Smash is grateful to our major sponsor, TD Canada Trust, for their significant contribution to this initiative.