Chico and the Man

REVIEW: GCTC’s Beowulf in Afghanistan blends legend and modern heroism

Beowulf in Afghanistan, directed by Kate Smith, goes beyond simple plot in its exploration of what makes a hero, as well as the aftermath of violence.

What can Toronto theatre learn from Yellowknife?

Growing up in Toronto, the Northwest Territories were always a distant idea, a place I knew only from colouring in elementary school maps. But over the summer, I came to see Yellowknife in a different light.

REVIEW: YPT’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is appropriately sweet

Director Thom Allison’s production embraces Charlie’s many incarnations and tones in a slick rendition that’s both fun sugar high and candy overload.

Factory Theatre welcomes new audiences with shows that explore human connection

“I feel like I’m really looking to theatre for joy right now,” says artistic director Mel Hague. “I don’t mean works that are specifically funny or happy. I’m talking about something deeper where you can feel connected to the art on stage, the space that’s hosting it, the other people in the audience, and yourself.”

REVIEW: The Lion King offers audiences a cat’s-eye view of sensory delights

Twenty years after The Lion King’s last open-ended Toronto run, Julie Taymor’s directorial and design concepts remain Pride Rock-solid, spilling out from the stage into aisles, balconies, and above the crowd.

REVIEW: A Case for the Existence of God makes meaning of platonic intimacy

The play’s urgency and strength come from the gentle way it presents male vulnerability and platonic intimacy — for lack of which men may burn themselves, or the rest of us, to the ground.