Empty Room Theatre Collective to Present JOURNEY'S END, Nov 7-24

On the cusp of the hundred-year anniversary of the start of the Great War, The Empty Room theatre Collective presents the First World War drama Journey's End by R.C. Sherriff, November 7th-24th at the Artisan Factory (116 Geary Ave.), as a living memorial to the sacrifice of those fallen during conflict.

To honour this season of remembrance, there will be a special Benefit Performance on November 10th, 2013 in association with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344: The Queen's Own Rifles, where all ticket sale proceeds go directly to the Poppy Appeal.

This rarely-staged work, presented by a mix of emerging and seasoned actors, tells the story of a group of allied soldiers in the front-line trenches of Northern France in 1918, mere days before the last big German offensive. Written in 1928, the play is a wry reflection of Sherriff's own experiences as a young man, having served in the British Army until he was wounded in the battle of Passchendaele, and a detailed account of the strain of life at war. Last seen in Canada at The Shaw Festival in 2005, Journey's End was revived on Broadway in 2007, and won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.

Our production stars up and coming actor Andrew Petker (Theatre by the Bay's Nine Mile Portage, Single Thread's The Loyalists) as Stanhope, alongside veteran performer Robert Tsonos (TPM's Ditch, Hong Kong Arts Centre's Macbeth, Playwright: William & James) as Osborne, and Error! Reference source not found. (Hart House's Equus, The SantaLand Diaries at Videofag) as Raleigh. Richard Beaune, Tayves Fiddis, Kelly Hoare, Joshua Stodart & Jonathan Silver round out this robust cast.

Directed by Empty Room Artistic Director Edward Hillier (DirecTor Campbell House Haunting, Under Milk Wood) the Production Team includes Props, Costume and Set design by Chris Penna (Beacon Theatre's Crookback, 2nd Asst. Art Director Saving Hope), Lighting design by CJ Astronomo (Asst. LD Stratford's Blithe Spirit, 42nd Street), sound design by Kai Masaoka (BergARTS' Mute), with technical direction from Evan Bonnah-Hawkes (Toronto New Theatre's My Second Smile).

The production will be mounted in a converted industrial space at the Artisan Factory at 116 Geary Avenue just North of Bloorcourt Village. This venue is wheelchair accessible.

Tickets are $20 ($15 for Arts Workers, Students and Seniors.) To purchase/reserve tickets go to https://journeysend.eventbrite.ca or call 437-887-3514.

SHOWTIMES at The Artisan Factory (116 Geary Ave. Toronto):
Thursday Nov 7th to Sunday Nov 24th 2013 (Press Opening 8PM Nov 8th)
8pm Wednesday-Saturday
2pm Matinees Saturdays and Sundays. (No Matinee Saturday Nov. 9th)
Poppy Drive Benefit Performance Sunday Nov 10th at 2pm, all Benefit tickets are $20.

Check out a promotional trailer below!

Pictured (right): Jesse Nerenberg (Right) and Richard Beaune (Left). Photo by Ben Rayner.

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