After sold-out performances last month in Calgary, Canmore, and Antigonish, The Shoe Project in association with PEN Canada returns to Toronto with Finding Home for two shows Sunday, March 31 at 2 pm and Tuesday, April 2 at 7.30 pm at the George Ignatieff Theatre,15 Devonshire Place, University of Toronto.
The Shoe Projects’ Finding Home features 12 immigrant women from South Sudan, Turkey, Cuba, Colombia, China, Macedonia, South Ossetia, Uruguay, Syria and Venezuela. They have spent the past four months juggling work and families to write and rehearse their own often heart-wrenching stories in a language new to many of them, about coming to Canada in search of a better life.
“Shoes accompany us on all our journeys. They speak to who we are, where we came from and where we are going.” The not-for-profit The Shoe Project was founded in 2011 by acclaimed novelist and multi-award winning author Katherine Govier. It w incubated at The Bata Shoe Museum. The program offers immigrant and refugee women a creative writing and vocal coaching program with veteran theatre professionals and writers. There are now six Shoe Project chapters in cities across Canada with plans for more in the near future. The roster of more than 175 alumnae meet regularly and some continue to present their stories at conferences and festivals.
Mentors for the Toronto production are The Shoe Project founder Katherine Govier. She is joined by Leah Cherniak, a well-known performance coach and resident artist at Soulpepper Theatre, and Kate Lynch, award winning actress, coach and theatre director at the Shaw Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille and the Blyth Festival.
“At its core, The Shoe Project is about newcomers being the authors and gatekeepers of their own stories and having the ability to bring these into the mainstream,” says founder Katherine Govier. “Our productions in theatres, libraries, festivals and community centres provide audiences an opportunity to hear how these individuals come to Canada and begin a new life here. Brave, personal voices make for a powerful show bringing laughter and tears.” The Shoe Project is grateful to The Toronto Arts Council for its continued support, along with The Bata Shoe Museum and The Sonor Foundation.
Tickets for the two Toronto performances are now available at Eventbrite.com. You can find the link to purchase tickets on our website.
www.theshoeproject.online
Email: shoeprojecttoronto@gmail.com