Magnetic North Theatre Festival Unveils 2013 Programme: 'CANADA, ON STAGE' Ottawa June 7 - 15

Nine Days of Premiere Plays, Parties and Parleys. A Smorgasbord of the Best in Canadian Theatre. Theatre aficionados and arts leaders gathered at the National Arts Centre's Fourth Stage today for the much anticipated unveiling of the 2013 Magnetic North Theatre Festival programme.  The annual festival, which alternates between its home base in Ottawa and other Canadian cities every other year, is back in Canada’s Capital and will run June 7-15 at the National Arts Centre, University of Ottawa Academic Hall and Arts Court. Magnetic North Artistic DirectorBrenda Leadlay proudly unveiled the programming for the 2013 Festival. "We’re thrilled to be bringing Canada’s top theatre home to Canada’s Capital.  You're invited to immerse yourself in nine days of premiere plays, parties and parleys - a smorgasbord of the best in Canadian theatre," she said.  Theatre-goers will enjoy fabulous performances and exciting social events and encounters with festival artists.  "It’s tantalizing theatre, to share and take-away." The 2013 festival will feature familial stories to savour:  Ravi Jain and his mother Asha, debating the prospect of an arranged marriage whilst sharing warm samosas in A Brimful of Asha; renowned actors Lorne Cardinaland Margo Kane starring in theWestern Canada Theatre Productionof For thePleasure of Seeing Her Again,  acclaimed playwrightMichel Tremblay's homage to his Métis mother; and Peter Reder and ValerieBuhagiar inviting you to their home to share a cup of tea, and revelations about their family history, in Peter and Valerie. Also on the menu are battles won and lost:  VideoCabaret'sThe War of 1812 - The History of the Village of the Small Huts 1812-15, directed by Michael Hollingsworth, set Stratford on fire last summer and is currently slaying capacity audiences in Toronto;  Winners and Losers, created and performed byMarcus YoussefandJames Longtests the bounds and bonds of friendship in a battle of unlike minds; and recording artist Hawksley Workman stars in  The God That Comes, a rock 'n roll cabaret 2b theatre companyproductiondirected byChristian Barry, which is a retelling of Euripides’ The Bacchae - a rebellious revolution fuelled by wine, ritual madness and ecstasy. And for further indulgence, what better just desserts than SubDevision, a sampler of 10 short site-specific shows staged in Arts Court around the Club SAW FESTival Bar by a collective of independent Ontario theatre companies? National Arts Centre President and CEO Peter Herrndorf said "The National Arts Centre is proud to co-present the Magnetic North Theatre Festival in the Capital and other cities across Canada.  This touring festival of first-class Canadian theatre brings Canadians together to share our stories.  It’s theatre that moves.  And that moves us." National Capital Commission ChairRussell Mills said "It’s wonderful to have the Magnetic North Theatre Festival back in Canada’s Capital Region this summer.  It’s a special opportunity for visitors and residents to come together to experience ‘Canada, On Stage'." Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said "Magnetic North pulls artists, audiences and presenters together and opens doors for premiere productions to tour across Canada and the world.  I'm especially excited about the theatre industry pitches and 'speed-dating' that foster cultural collaboration, investment and access to new markets." Magnetic North Theatre Festival gratefully acknowledged their co-presenter National Arts Centre English Theatre; public funders Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Arts Council, and Employment Ontario; venue partners the National Arts Centre, University of Ottawa Department of Theatre,  Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery; and private supporters Community Foundation of Ottawa, Danbe Foundation, Downtown Rideau BIA, Fifty Strategy and Creative, Andrew Alexander Photography, Clocktower Brew Pub, Palatine Hills Estate Winery, Bridgehead and Embassy Hotel and Suites. Celebrating its second decade of touring and advancing Canadian theatre, the Magnetic North Theatre Festival is produced by the Canadian Theatre Festival Society and co-presented by the National Arts Centre English Theatre.