Factory Theatre Hosts 6 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS Panel Discussion Tonight

6 Essential Questions by Priscila Uppal challenges the belief that everyone loves their Mother, and Mothers love their children unconditionally. But is this always the case? The character of Renata grapples with these issues in 6 Essential Questions based on Priscilla Uppal's experience reuniting with her mother after 20 years. These questions and more will be discussed in a 6 Essential Questions Panel Discussion "What Makes a Mother?" on Thursday, March 20, from 6:30 to 7:30pm, followed by a performance of the show.

The Panel Discussion will feature some of Toronto's most influential women, including: Factory Theatre Co-Artistic Director Nina Lee Aquino, parenting expert Kathy Buckworth, professor Andrea O'Reilly, poet and playwright Priscila Uppal and lifestyle blogger Emma Waverman.

Nina Lee Aquino is a director, dramaturge and playwright. She was the founding Artistic Director of fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company, the former Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre Company and is currently Co-Artistic Directors of Factory Theatre. She is also the editor of Canada's first Asian-Canadian 2-volume drama anthology titled love + relasianships and the co-editor of the award winning New Essays on Canadian Theatre Volume One: Asian Canadian Theatre.

Kathy Buckworth is an award-winning writer, public speaker, spokesperson and television personality. She is the author of six books, with her latest I Am So The Boss Of You recently optioned by Warner Brothers Television. In addition to being a parenting expert appearing on Cityline, Breakfast Television, Canada AM and CTV Newschannel, she also contributes to a variety of Canadian publications.

Andrea O'Reilly, PhD, is a professor in the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies at York University; founder and director of the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement; founder and editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Motherhood Initiative; and founder and editor of Demeter Press, the first feminist press on motherhood. She is editor and author of 20 books including the first encylcopedia on Motherhood.

Priscila Uppal is a poet, novelist, and York University Professor. Among her publications are nine collections of poetry, including Ontological Necessities ($50,000 Griffin Poetry Prize shortlist) and Traumatology; and the novels The Divine Economy of Salvation and To Whom It May Concern. She was the first-ever CANFund Poet-in-Residence for the Vancouver and London Olympics. Her memoir Projection: Encounters with my Runaway Mother was a finalist for the $60,000 Hilary Weston Writers Trust Prize and the Governor General's Award. Six Essential Questions, adapted from the memoir, is her first play.

Emma Waverman is the opinionated writer behind the popular parenting blog Embrace the Chaos. Embrace the Chaos has been ranked in numerous top ten and must reading lists by Reader's Digest, Canadian Family, Today's Parent, Canadian Living and more. She is also the author of the bestselling family cookbook: Whining and Dining: Mealtime Survival for Picky Eaters and Families Who Love Them. Emma's lifestyle writing can be found in national magazines and newspapers including: Today's Parent, Canadian Living, Food and Drink and others.

A poetic, powerful carnival of theatre, 6 Essential Questions is directed by Leah Cherniak, co-founder of Theatre Columbus and well known for work with new Canadian plays and the genre of physical theatre. Mina James (Taming of the Shrew and Macbeth/Shakespeare in High Park/Canadian Stage) plays Renata, Elizabeth Saunders (In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play/Tarragon Theatre) plays her mother, Maggie Huculak (Divisadero/Necessary Angel Theatre Company; Travesties/Soulpepper) plays her grandmother, and Richard Zeppieri (Lady in the Red Dress/fu-GEN Asian-Canadian Theatre Company) plays her uncle.

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