Meow Films specializes in all aspects of event coordination such as: location scouting, catering, programming entertainment, graphic design, electronic press kit creation, marketing and public relations. We are dedicated to creating events which are successful, socially conscious and fun.
Theatre Archipelago proudly presents
The world premiere of Edwige Jean-Pierre's
*Our Lady of Spills*
OPENING April 28th
RUNNING April 24-May 10 2009
Papermill Theatre - TORONTO
Theatre Archipelago embarks on their 5th anniversary season with *Our Lady of Spills*, a play by Francophone Canadian (of Haitian and Congolese descent) actor and playwright, Edwige Jean-Pierre that tells the story of two women of different generations, experiences and means with hidden prejudices and intolerance.
In this two hander, Lillian Holt, an elderly Canadian woman, suffers from memory loss and is now committed to Shady Lane Manor, a home for the aged. In her state of dementia, we see all her prejudices manifesting itself on her nurse Sandrine, a Haitian immigrant. During the course of the play, both Sandrine and Lillian triangulate their existence between present day Canada, the home for the aged and the home they miss and yearn for.
Theatre Archipelago was founded in 2004 and is a not-for-profit theatre organization with charitable status. Their mission is to bring Pan-Caribbean theatre to the Toronto public through performances of old and new creations, workshops and staged productions of plays originating from or inspired by the Caribbean and its diaspora.
Watch the *Our Lady of Spills* video on youtube
Drawing on and inspired by the many Caribbean talents, Theatre Archipelago has presented works from Trinidad, Jamaica and Dominica. Their plays have received critical acclaim and two productions; Fallen Angel and the Devil Concubine, staged in 2006, and Twilight Café, staged in 2007, have received Dora Award nominations.
Directed by Rhoma Spencer
Produced by Gurbeen Bhasin
Starring Edwige Jean-Pierre and Lorna Wilson
Theatre Address
Papermill Theatre - 67 Pottery Road, Toronto
Event Schedule
Previews: April 24, 25, 26
2:00pm Matinee Performances: April 26, May 3, 9, 10
8:00pm Evening Performances: April 28 (Opening Night - Invitation Only), 29, 30, May 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 ,9
Blakka Ellis, Rhoma Spencer and Marc Trinidad headline Caribbean Comedy Fest Benefit
Toronto.(November 3, 2008) RS Entertainment -- in collaboration with Theatre Archipelago -- will present Allyuh, Unnu and Wunnu, a Caribbean Comedy Fest Benefit, on November 23 at the William Doo Auditorium, New College, University of Toronto.
Part proceeds of this laugh fest will benefit Emerita Emerencia, a leading Toronto solo performer who has been hospitalized in St. Michael's Hospital since February of this year. "Emerita Emerencia has made an invaluable contribution to the arts and education community," said Susan Habkirk, Executive Director of Prologue to the Performing Arts, to which Emerita was a rostered arts educator. "Her passion for sharing her stories and her love of children were so clearly evident in her work in schools across the province."
Allyuh, Unnu and Wunnu are the many ways the phrase "You all, or all of you" is said in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados. "I wanted to create an evening of comedy with comedians from these islands in the Diaspora while raising funds for a dear artist colleague, and for my own arts in education residency with the Arts in Action company in Trinidad and Tobago," explains Rhoma Spencer, founding Artistic Director of Theatre Archipelago and creator of the Allyuh, Unnu and Wunnu- Caribbean Comedy Fest.
Spencer has joined forces with the best in the business to present a memorable evening of hysteria. Representing Jamaica is Owen "Blakka" Ellis, while Joyann Tonge represents Antigua/Canada, with Rhoma Spencer and Marc Trinidad from Trinidad and Tobago. Other guests include Idil Mussa, and humorous Calypsoes courtesy Roger Gibbs, representing Barbados. Ballet Creole will spice up the audience with its infectious dance form and rhythm.
Theatre Archipelago is a Toronto-based professional Caribbean Theatre Company which is committed to presenting theatre from the wider Caribbean and its Diaspora, while RS Entertainment is a production company interested in presenting Caribbean arts and entertainment throughout the GTA.
WHAT: Allyuh, Unnu and Wunnu- A Caribbean Comedy Fest
WHEN: Sunday November 23, 2008
WHERE: William Doo Auditorium, New College. U of T.
45 Willcocks Street, at Spadina
d'bi.young AnitAFRIKA - DubPoet Inna Di Wardrobe. Directed by Rhoma Spencer. Written by Deidre D-Lishus Walton
DETAILS:
Inna Di Wardrobe is the first play by Deidre D-Lishus Walton and has been developed with generous assistance from the Ontario Arts Council's theatre reserve program. The play tells the story of a young Jamaican-Canadian woman who comes out to her family as a lesbian. Inna Di Wardrobe is their sometimes funny, sometimes tragic journey of coming to terms with her coming out.
Directed by: Rhoma Spencer
Produced by: Gurbeen Bhasin, Meow Films
Cast: Camille Walker, Meghan Swaby, Yvette Martin, Idill Mussa, David Smith
DEIDRE D-LISHUS:
Deidre D-lishus: poet mother fire goddess diva storyteller, dispensing words of wisdom, laced with dub and framed by womanly hips, hard hitting political sistah, telling it like it is and why a spade should never be called a spade feminist dyke warrioress fighting hate with words and poetry and starting love-fires everywhere spinning it and spitting it to educate the yoots breaking the bonds of mental bondage with my word[s]word.
d'bi.young:
d'bi.young anitAFRIKA: is an Afrikan-Jamaican-Canadian visionary, who believes in life, love, and revolushun, an award-winning dubpoet, writer, and theatre practitioner, d'bi.young has performed, published, and lectured internationally. she is the author of two dubpoetry collections put out by women's press: art on black (2006) and rivers and other blackness between us (2007) and the playwright of the double dora award-winning show BLOOD CLAAT (Playwrights Canada Press, 2006). BLOOD CLAAT is presently on tour in Canada and is the opening production at magnetic north theatre festival in June 2008. d'bi.young recently launched her new arts initiative -- anitAFRIKA! dub theatre -- founded on seven principles of dubpoetry/dubtheatre and aimed at relocating storytelling within an afrikan-diasporic-herstorical-pro-text of critical analyses; promoting the ideas of accountability and responsibility between storyteller and community. the storytelling company's first conference is the storytellers' talking circle groundings in September 2008; the theme is: the storytellers' integrity. Presently, d'bi.young is being professionally mentored by dubb aatist ahdri zhina while she completes her first theoretical publication on dubpoetry. She is the 2007 recipient of the Toronto arts council emerging artist award. www.dbiyoung.net
The Toronto Festival of Storytelling Launch
GOAL: The Festival required a multi-media event that would include many artistic forms of storytelling that showcased musicians, filmmakers, spoken word artists, and traditional storytellers.
RESULT: The launch event was sold out, leaving standing room only and generated many new audiences for the Festival. The audience members commented on how pleased they were to experience such unique artist talent and diversity.
TESTIMONIAL: "Gurbeen Bhasin and her team, demonstrated amazing organizational skills and versatility when producing the 2008 Toronto Festival of Storytelling. They were always able to deal with the inevitable problems of organizing a large event before they became too difficult to handle and administer the events of the Festival with grace and panache. It is a pleasure to recommend their work." ~ Brian Hetherington, Artistic Director, Toronto Festival of Storytelling (2007-2008)
~Night At The Indies~
GOAL: ~Night at the Indies~ was created to build a supportive and collaborative community for independent artists. It is a monthly, multi-media event, curated to showcase filmmakers, musicians, spoken word and visual artist.
RESULT: In November, ~Night at the Indies~ will be celebrating its second year anniversary, having hosted twenty-four hugely successful events. Due to its success in Toronto, ~Night at the Indies~ will be launching in Vancouver.
TESTIMONIALS: "Over the past couple of years I've had the pleasure of presenting my films and attending events organized by Meow Films. Gurbeen Bhasin (and her team) have been great to work with and demonstrated tremendous community event organizing and promotional skills. I've been especially impressed with Gurbeen's approach to programming, which has resulted in ~Night at the Indies~ becoming a meeting ground for independent directors, community based activists, performance and spoken work artists - a place to connect both with peers and to meet new audiences. I most highly recommend their work and celebrate their achievements." ~ Nancy Nicol. Independent documentary producer/director Time Based Art Head, Visual Arts Dept., York University www.yorku.ca/nnicol/documentary
"I was honoured to be a part of co-presenting on behalf of Vtape. I thought that the event was terrific, entertaining and so very successful. Moreover, I had a great time, loved everyone's work which was very thoughtfully integrated, happy to have the book and very happy to have seen the premiere with such a responsive audience. Working with Meow Films was a pleasure. Gurbeen was an informed and entertaining host. They obviously skillfully evaluated their publicity strategy as the event was packed to over full!" ~ Wanda vanderStoop, Distribution Director, Vtape
"The event was really well attended, and the audience seemed just primed to have a good a time. They were warm and receptive, which made it real easy to be the evening's entertainment. Kudos to the organizers!" ~ Deidre Walton, also known as 'd-lishus'
FUNKASIA
GOAL: To create a multi-media event for Pride Toronto 2008 that showcased the talent of powerful and renowned local artists.
RESULT: This performance attracted thousands of people making it the best attended Friday Night Stage in the history of Pride Toronto.
TESTIMONIAL: "Meow films brought resources, skill, energy and great enthusiasm to this year's Funkasia production at PRIDE! Thanks MEOW!" ~ Zahra Dhinani - President, Funkasia
Meow Films is happy to market and promote artistic events across Toronto:
Female Eye Film Festival
TESTIMONIAL: "Meow was great to work with - they ensured my client was promoted to an extensive list of people passionate about arts and culture here in Toronto." ~ Joey Gill, Owner, Hi Concept Productions hiconcept.ca
The Love Show at Gallery 1313
"Thanks Meow films for directing our ad amongst target audiences-we look forward to working with you again!". ~ Li Koo, Director, The Love Show
Mpenzi: International Black Women's Film & Video Festival
SuiteLife Arts for Youth
To promote your event or advertise in our e-newsletter please contact Gurbeen@meowfilms.com or call 416-519-9800
Theatre Archipelago proudly presents
FUNKASIA
"Meow was great to work with - they ensured my client was promoted to an extensive list of people passionate about arts and culture here in Toronto."
The Love Show at Gallery 1313
