Harbourfront Centre to Launch World Stage 2016 with GERMINAL in January

Harbourfront Centre will launch World Stage 2016 with Germinal, one of the most talked-about pieces in the international performance circuit in recent years. Performing January 20 - 23 at the Fleck Dance Theatre, this unique production from France straddles the playful and the profound.

Using the theatre as a whimsical metaphor for human civilization, Germinal begins with a bare stage and four intrepid adventurers who set out to imagine how they would remake the universe from the beginning. With an approach both giddily charming and deeply philosophical, the performers construct and deconstruct the history of science, technology and societal structures in an experimental way.

"Germinal is a funny, charming, intelligent work that ingeniously holds the mirror up to us by employing the making of theatre as a metaphor for the construction of civilization," explains Artistic Director Tina Rasmussen. "With World Stage, I always want to provoke a conversation about our active role as citizens of the world and Germinal does indeed do just that."

Germinal creators Halory Goerger and Antoine Defoort are part of L'amicale de production, a French "project cooperative" established in 2010. Taking broad aim at authorship and aesthetics, they move freely between visual art, music and interactive performance, combining their varied interests to create constantly shifting visions of theatre.

Special discussions will complement these Germinal performances (free with ticket purchase):

January 20: Pre-show Tea on Opening Night with World Stage's Scholars-in-Residence from the University of Toronto, Denise Cruz and Matthew Sergi.

January 21: Post-show "Talkshow" invites the audience to connect with the artists who will answer questions about the performance.

Since its inaugural season 30 years ago in 1986, World Stage continues to present groundbreaking contemporary performances from around the world. The 2016 season, curated by Artistic Director Tina Rasmussen, includes seven international theatre, dance and multidisciplinary performances from Belgium, Canada, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Palestine.

In addition to Germinal, World Stage 2016's impressive and eclectic season includes:

The World Stage Mirror Ball: January 30, Harbourfront Centre Theatre

Badke: February 17-20, Fleck Dance Theatre

Portraits in Motion: April 13-16, Harbourfront Centre Theatre

Looking for Paul: Inez van Dam vs. the Buttplug Gnome: April 27-30, Harbourfront Centre Theatre

Steer: May 11-14, Fleck Dance Theatre

Backstage in Biscuit Land: May 25-28, Harbourfront Centre Theatre

Every Song I've Ever Written: June 9, The Power Plant & June 11, WestJet Stage

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