Not My Storyat Artword Theatre

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Artword Theatre, 75 Portland St
October 28 to November 14, 2004

April Productions presents
Not My Story
by Silvija Jestrovica,
directed by Dragana Varagic
Cast:
Cynthia Ashperger, Hume Baugh,
Jason Jazrawy, Rena Polley,
Gregory Thomas, Dragana Varagic.
Set and lighting: Trevor Schwellnus
Costumes: Robin Fisher
Stage manager: Sandi Becker

Tues to Sat at 8 pm:
Sunday at 2:30 pm:
Tickets: Previews $10;
Tuesday - Thursday $18;
Friday - Saturday $25;
Sunday matinee Pay-what-you-can;
Student Discount: Tues- Thurs $10.

Not My Story, a thought-provoking new Canadian play, is a comedy of 'six characters in search of identity'. The play is about the exilic experience in the 'virtual reality' of contemporary Western culture, where personal stories are lost and regained and where life turns into a perpetual game of make believe. Not My Story asks whether we have all become protagonists in an endless reality show, and whether it is still possible to look one's own story in the eye.

Not My Story originated at the Tarragon Playwrights' Unit where it received its first public reading under the title Happiness Channel. A one-hour version of the play was produced by April Productions for the Toronto Fringe 2000. The production generated such an interest among various communities that the show instantly became the hit of the Festival. Most importantly, the production attracted a culturally and ethnically diverse spectatorship including both regular and first-time theatergoers, many of whom were delighted to discover that local theatre could speak to them. Following its Fringe success, April Productions conducted two workshops and now April Productions is taking this project to the next level - a full-length professional production.

Hundreds of immigrants from all over the world enter Canada every year and among them are more and more artists. Struggling between providing the bare essentials for themselves and the need to keep their art alive, they face a specific kind of identity crisis. Not My Story, set in the multicultural milieu of present day Toronto, tells the story of four Eastern European artists who find themselves exiled in our contemporary Western culture.

Sonya, Lela and Nena are childhood friends now living in Toronto. A mutual friend, Sasha, visits from New York to make a documentary about them. A comedy of errors ensues as Sonya (a former Belgrade actress now a dental receptionist), Nena (a former photographer now a waitress) and Lela (a former art historian now working in a peep show) relate false tales of success and happiness to avoid public embarrassment. They try to re-invent themselves, running from their true story, only to find themselves face to face with it. Alluding to Chekhov's Three Sisters, Not My Story toys with cultural stereotypes and role-playing, while revealing the fragility of one's identity and how we are all implicit in making and unmaking each other's sense of self.

Silvija Jestrovic's stage and radio plays have been performed in the former Yugoslavia and Canada. Her most recently produced work is Noah's Ark 747 staged by Teesri Dunya Theatre (Montreal, 2002). Currently Jestrovic is developing a screenplay of Not My Story in collaboration with the Canadian Film Centre.

Dragana Varagic is the recipient of major awards in Yugoslavia and received a Dora Award nomination for her performance in The Vindication of Senyora Clito Mestres, directed by Chris Abraham. Varagic performed in numerous productions with the Belgrade National Theatre, where she was a leading actress before moving to Toronto ten years ago. Past directing credits include assistant director for Uncle Vanya (Soulpepper), Snow White and Her 7-8 Helpers (Solar Stage) and Princess T. (U of T's Graduate Drama Centre).

		Artword Theatre, 75 Portland St October 28 to November 14, 2004 April Productions presents *Not My Story* by Silvija Jestrovica, directed by Dragana Varagic Cast: Cynthia Ashperger, Hume Baugh, Jason Jazrawy, Rena Polley, Gregory Thomas, Dragana Varagic. Set and lighting: Trevor Schwellnus Costumes: Robin Fisher Stage manager: Sandi Becker Tues to Sat at 8 pm: Sunday at 2:30 pm: Tickets: Previews $10; Tuesday - Thursday $18; Friday - Saturday $25; Sunday matinee Pay-what-you-can; Student Discount: Tues- Thurs $10.

	Not My Story, a thought-provoking new Canadian play, is a comedy of 'six characters in search of identity'. The play is about the exilic experience in the 'virtual reality' of contemporary Western culture, where personal stories are lost and regained and where life turns into a perpetual game of make believe. Not My Story asks whether we have all become protagonists in an endless reality show, and whether it is still possible to look one's own story in the eye. Not My Story originated at the Tarragon Playwrights' Unit where it received its first public reading under the title Happiness Channel. A one-hour version of the play was produced by April Productions for the Toronto Fringe 2000. The production generated such an interest among various communities that the show instantly became the hit of the Festival. Most importantly, the production attracted a culturally and ethnically diverse spectatorship including both regular and first-time theatergoers, many of whom were delighted to discover that local theatre could speak to them. Following its Fringe success, April Productions conducted two workshops and now April Productions is taking this project to the next level - a full-length professional production. Hundreds of immigrants from all over the world enter Canada every year and among them are more and more artists. Struggling between providing the bare essentials for themselves and the need to keep their art alive, they face a specific kind of identity crisis. Not My Story, set in the multicultural milieu of present day Toronto, tells the story of four Eastern European artists who find themselves exiled in our contemporary Western culture. Sonya, Lela and Nena are childhood friends now living in Toronto. A mutual friend, Sasha, visits from New York to make a documentary about them. A comedy of errors ensues as Sonya (a former Belgrade actress now a dental receptionist), Nena (a former photographer now a waitress) and Lela (a former art historian now working in a peep show) relate false tales of success and happiness to avoid public embarrassment. They try to re-invent themselves, running from their true story, only to find themselves face to face with it. Alluding to Chekhov's Three Sisters, Not My Story toys with cultural stereotypes and role-playing, while revealing the fragility of one's identity and how we are all implicit in making and unmaking each other's sense of self. Silvija Jestrovic's stage and radio plays have been performed in the former Yugoslavia and Canada. Her most recently produced work is Noah's Ark 747 staged by Teesri Dunya Theatre (Montreal, 2002). Currently Jestrovic is developing a screenplay of Not My Story in collaboration with the Canadian Film Centre. Dragana Varagic is the recipient of major awards in Yugoslavia and received a Dora Award nomination for her performance in The Vindication of Senyora Clito Mestres, directed by Chris Abraham. Varagic performed in numerous productions with the Belgrade National Theatre, where she was a leading actress before moving to Toronto ten years ago. Past directing credits include assistant director for Uncle Vanya (Soulpepper), Snow White and Her 7-8 Helpers (Solar Stage) and Princess T. (U of T's Graduate Drama Centre).