Imago Theatre Stages IF WE WERE BIRDS, Now thru Oct 19

How do you move on, move through, move past inflicted heinous violations? Can vengeance lead to hope? Imago Theatre is honoured to present Erin Shield's If We Were Birds, winner of the 2011 Governor General's Award for Drama, from tonight, October 9-19 at Centaur Theatre. This moving, funny and unsettling play, with an all-star Montreal cast directed by Micheline Chevrier, gives voice to women forced into silence through violence. Continuing their mandate to encourage dialogue, the company will hold a talkback after each performance.

If We Were Birds springs from the deep bond between two young sisters, characterized by their playfulness, romantic innocence and budding sexuality. An ingenious adaptation of the myth of Tereus, Procne and Philomela from Ovid's Metamorphoses, the play features a diverse chorus of contemporary women, each a survivor of a 20th century conflict. The text draws on testimonials of survivors from Nanking (1937), Berlin (1945), Bangladesh (1971), Bosnia-Herzegovina (1992-95) and Rwanda (1994). The play is a strong indictment against the culture of war and its cycle of violence.

The well-known company of actors includes Lauryn Allman as Procne, Chip Chuipka as Pandion, Nico Racicot as Tereus, and Amelia Sargisson as Philomela. Playing the chorus of ravaged women who have been transformed into birds are: Deena Aziz, Stefanie Buxton, Shiong-En Chan, Clare Schapiro and Warona Setshwaelo.

If We Were Birds, an Imago Theatre production, Centaur Theatre's Brave New Looks selection for 2013 at Centaur Theatre, October 9-19 453 St. François-Xavier, Wednesday to Saturday at 8:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2:30pm. There will be a talkback after each performance. Tickets for the preview, Wed. Oct. 9, are $15. All matinees, October 12, 13 and 19, are pay-what-you-can (Suggested donation $10). Tickets: $25, $18 (students/seniors/Centaur subscribers/artists). Box Office: 514 288-3161 or online: http://www.centaurtheatre.com/tickets.php

For more information, visit www.imagotheatre.ca.

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