What is there left to do when you have one bullet, one granola bar, and one zombie blocking the only exit? That's the dilemma facing these two survivors of the zombie apocalypse. Having narrowly escaped certain death it appears their luck has finally run out.
With the zombie slowly nearing, they contemplate survival, fear, humanness, and their relationship with each other. Unique in its use of narrow staging and single setting to convey the feeling of claustrophobia and impending doom, DEAD END follows in the suspenseful and darkly comedic tradition of playwrights such as Martin McDonagh and David Ives.
Written by JONNY SUN (Author, Playwright, @jonnysun) and directed by MICHAEL ORLANDO (You Can Sleep When You're Dead), DEAD END features a powerhouse cast and crew, starring CHRISTIAN SMITH (Showlo, Hatchlings Show), CHRIS WILSON (Peter N' Chris, 3-time Canadian Comedy Award winner) and CERIDWEN KINGSTONE (Inch of Your Life, Patron's Pick, Toronto Fringe 2016) and, lighting design by MELISSA JOAKIM (2016 Dora Awards nominee, Outstanding Lighting Design, The Whole Shebang 2015:Taken By Night), sound design by JASON O'BRIEN, special effects design by MEGAN FRASER. and costumes by ROSELIE WILLIAMSON.
"I think at heart, it's a meditation on the idea of the Other," says playwright Jonny Sun, whose irreverent and hilarious Twitter persona @jonnysun has amassed over 175,000 followers. "I was drawn to writing it too because it's essentially made up of all the elements I love about intimate theatre: it's about the space and about being trapped there with these characters, which is an experience that only theater can truly encapsulate... I think [the audience will] like it because it's funny and dark and sad and sharp and entertaining."
Adds director Michael Orlando, "This story and our production has many points of access for the audience member." Theatre Lab staged readings of Dead End earlier in 2016 to packed houses, who connected with the show that is, at once, very dark and screamingly funny. "Someone may find themselves being initially drawn in by a certain element, but become more deeply engaged because of another I have often briefly described it to friends as hilarious and heartbreaking, equal part railway engine and stunned silence."
Why are they excited about this show? Put simply by Orlando - "I'm most excited to be able to tell this story. As a theatre artist, I consider myself primarily a storyteller, and Jonny has given me/us an incredible one to tell. Working on a new show is very much an act of faith, and working within such a strong and talented mix of both previous and new collaborators is thrilling and very fulfilling."
DEAD END presented by THEATRE LAB premieres this October at Factory Studio Theatre: funny as hell and just as dark.
The production preview on OCTOBER 5 -and opens OCTOBER 6 and runs through OCTOBER 23.
To buy tickets call 416-504-9971 or visit the box office or online at www.theatrelab.ca
The Theatre Lab is an artist-driven theatre company. We search for, explore, sponsor and create new works that are meaningful to us. The Theatre Lab is particularly concerned with providing access to the 'means of production' to artists that are committed to challenging themselves, and the public, with engaging material. The Theatre Lab is dedicated to new experimental work, original Canadian plays and the creation of new devised pieces in our own aesthetic.
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