Discord and Din Theatre in association with Seventh Stage Productions presents LELA & CO.

Emerging independent theatre company, Discord and Din Theatre (This is Where We Live, The SummerWorks Theatre Festival 2015 and Mine, the Next Stage Theatre Festival 2015), in association with Seventh Stage Productions (Wendy Darling, Stockholm, 9 Parts of Desire, Whale Music and more), is producing the Canadian premiere of Cordelia Lynn's searing feminist play Lela & Co. from September 21st to October 8th, 2017 at The Theatre Centre BMO Incubator. Both companies pride themselves on producing politically and socially relevant theatre to shed light on those in the dark.

First produced in 2015 at The Royal Court Theatre in London, Lela & Co. is a timely and gut-wrenching play about women's worth in a capitalist world. Based on a true story, Lela & Co. gives space for a woman to tell her story of being sex trafficked by her husband, during a time of war. Beginning with memories of her childhood, Lela dives headfirst into her haunting and harrowing story with bravery, tenacity and unexpected humour. Exploring "truth" in storytelling, who gets to tell whose story, and the resiliency of the human spirit, Lela & Co. promises to be an intimate 90-minute experience for both Lela and her audience.

Directed by Melissa-Jane Shaw, Artistic Producer of feminist theatre company Seventh Stage Productions and featuring Jenna Harris (This is Where We Live, Mine) and Graham Cuthbertson (Constellations, The Goodnight Bird), and an all-female team of designers, producers and interns. "Lela & Co. feels sadly not only relevant," says Shaw, "but necessary. With what continues to happen in our world daily, it is a political act to give women a platform to speak about their experiences, tell their stories and to take up space in this world. Bringing this play to the stage is this, a political act; it is using the tools that we have at our disposal as female-identified artists to stand up for what we believe in and work towards bringing about the change we want in the world. For me, directing this play is an act of resistance."

This production will focus on accountability and action by partnering with local and international NGOs including OneChild (onechild.ca) and [free-them] (freethem.ca) to raise awareness about human trafficking and violence against women and children both in Canada and abroad, as well as to support them in their work. We will also have a day of activities on Saturday, September 23rd to observe the International Day against Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking of Women and Children.

Lela & Co.

By Cordelia Lynn

In association with Seventh Stage Productions

September 21st-October 8th, 2017

The Theatre Centre BMO Incubator

1115 Queen Street West

Director: Melissa-Jane Shaw

Performed by: Jenna Harris & Graham Cuthbertson

Scenographer: Claire Hill

Lighting Designer: Jazz Kamal

Sound Designer: Verne Good

Associate Producer and Educational Coordinator: Brittany Kay

Preview September 21st

Opening September 22nd

Run September 23rd-October 8th

Ticket price $15-$30, PWYC Sundays (additional high school student and group pricing)

Running time 90 minutes

Box Office http://theatrecentre.org or by calling 416.538.0988

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