As part of our InterMISSION Artist Residency program, the Playhouse is currently hosting artist in residence, Alyssa Martin, artistic director of the Toronto-based dance company Rock Bottom Movement. Alyssa founded Rock Bottom Movement in 2012 to further her creative endeavors in the world of dance and theatre, aiming to create tender dance pieces with an absurdist twist. Since then, Rock Bottom Movement has researched, created, and presented work throughout Canada (including favourites hollow mountain, DINO, Sex Dalmatian and KID SISTER). They have created in residence at numerous arts centres throughout the country including the Banff Centre for Creativity, Canadian Stage, and The Stratford Festival LAB.
The InterMISSION program was designed to provide artists a space to experiment and develop a given piece with the mentorship and support of our staff and facilities. We can’t wait to see how the Rock Bottom team makes use of their stay here. We will be hosting Alyssa and her team at the Playhouse from September 16th to September 21st as they develop an upcoming dance/theatre piece.
While in Fredericton working through her InterMISSION residency, Alyssa is leading a workshop in collaboration with Solo Chicken Productions, in partnership with the Playhouse and Black Box Productions. Creative Lozenge is a two-hour class that will leave students feeling creatively invigorated and ready to approach artistic projects with a greater sense of enthusiasm and playfulness. The workshop is designed to help you discover the tools you need to access your creative muscle when inspiration may be running low.
Creative Lozenge takes place from 6:00-8:00 pm on Monday, September 16th at the Black Box Theatre on St. Thomas University campus. The workshop is offered through a Pay What You Wish payment option, with a suggested price of $25.
Register for Creative Lozenge here.
After joining Alyssa for her workshop, be sure to check out the piece she’ll be perfecting over the course of her residency. Big Time Miss will be showcased on the Playhouse stage on September 21st, marking the culmination of months of hard work and development. The performance of this wildly creative and tongue-in-cheek show is no deviation from the mission statement of Rock Bottom Movement: to create innovative dance pieces infused with punchy comedic beats. Revolving around themes of self-reckoning and battling fate, Big Time Miss follows dancers as they explore alternate realities and reflect on the choices they’ve made.
Martin described her newest piece as, “…a modern-day tale that deliberates on imaginative coping mechanisms. I alleviate collective gloom by celebrating people's idiosyncrasies. I use laughter as a key to open the heart, to create a proverbial bouncy castle for audiences to cry in.” For her, humour is an essential coping mechanism to help people navigate through their lives. Hilarity, elation, grief, and doubt all keep each other company in Big Time Miss.
The show takes place on Saturday, September 21st at 7:00pm and admission is completely free. Seating is general admission. The performance will be followed by a talk-back with the creative team behind the production.
Read more about our staging of Big Time Miss here.