Forever setting the stage for inclusion and important reflection, Geordie offers Montreal teens and their families a chance to catch this fiercely relevant award­-winning contemporary Canadian masterpiece

BOYS WITH CARS

Without a question, Geordie’s first public offering of the season is the company’s boldest to date. A play for teens, Boys With Cars examines the increasingly current and everyday topics of female empowerment, unchecked male privilege and the critical discussions of rape culture and consent.

“Why didn’t I fight harder?Why didn’t my face…my face looked like nothing! Like I was just watching this school­-assembly dance like it was nothing! Like nothing was happening!”–Naz

Written, choreographed and performed by the electrifying Anita Majumdar the play tells the story of teens in a small Canadian town high school, told through the persona of two diametrically opposed female characters, both performed by Majumdar who recently won two of Toronto’s Dora Theatre Awards –one of Canada’s most highly regarded peer-assessed awards ­- for her original text and performance. “I keep waiting for Boys With Cars to become irrelevant. Every year, I think, ‘This is it’”, says Majumdar, who has been touring the show across the country to critical praise.“I use Indian dance as a kind of scaffolding that lets me tell stories about young women learning about patriarchy and privilege through the microcosm of high school” says Majumdar. “write stories like these because I’m tired of seeing young
men and women fear the word ‘feminism’ like it’s the new f-word.”

Also read: Interview with Anita Majumdar about her show, Boys With Cars
Also see: ‘Boys With Cars’ – A Play by Anita Majumdar presented by Geordie Productions in Montreal

Commissioned by Nightswimming Theatre, in conjunction with Young People’s Theatre, Toronto and The Banff Centre, the production raises the stakes, weaved together with traditional Indian, Bollywood and hip-hop dancing. Director Brian Quirt says “Boys with Cars truly is a tour de force by Anita featuring dance, music, humour and great stories. Beyond the issues of consent, empowerment, gender and coming of age that it addresses so beautifully, it also speaks powerfully to the cultural dynamics of our country.”

Set in British Columbian high school where cultures collide, women struggle for status, and dancing raises the temperature of every moment, the piece tells the story of Naznin, a classically trained Indo-Canadian
dancer who struggles to balance her traditional heritage, her tumultuous relationships with boys, and realizing her dreams of leaving her small town for the bright lights of the city while dealing with her nemesis Candice, the local sweet heart. It is a coming-of-­age piece with tremendous comic flourish and potent dances, that is at once bold and innovative while being wildly funny and engaging.

“The inception of this play began 13 years ago during my time at the National Theatre School of Canada. I performed the beginning ideas for an audience at the Monument-Nationa ltheatre” reflects Majumdar, who returns to the Monument 13 years later to share the culmination of a journey. “Since then, a lot of people have assumed these stories are my story. While none of the plot lines have happened to
me, I think 13 years’ worth of thoughts, joys, rage, hair pulling frustrations – MYSTORY – is embroidered into THESE stories.”

Committed to showcasing powerful, diverse voices and telling stories seldom told, Geordie’s Artistic Director Mike Payette is honoured to have the company be the show’s ambassador here in Montreal. He says “The power of Anita’s script is intensely provocative. When I read it, the story stayed with me for many days, and that fueled the decision to give this remarkably unique production a home in Montreal. After seeing the show in Toronto at Young People’s Theatre, I knew that what I was watching was not only powerful, but also urgent in its desire to give young women a voice to explore challenging issues they face every day. I’m excited for Geordie to be bringing this ambitious show in to our repertoire, and I look forward to the discussions between young people and adults about issues that are tragically inescapable
in today’s world.”

Written, choreographed and performed by Anita Majumdar

Directed by Brian Quirt
Commissioned and produced by Nightswimming Theatre
with additional development support by Young People’s Theatre and The Banff Centre

Jackie Chau,Production Design  |  Rebecca Picherack, Lighting Design
Christopher Stanton, Sound/Projection Design

Sandy Plunkett, Stage Manager |  Brittany Ryan, Producer
Amy-­Susie Bradford, Production Manager

PERFORMANCES: November 24 – December 2, 2017 | Opening Night: November 24 at 7pm | Saturdays at 2pm, Thursday at 7pm
ASL INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE AND TALK-BACK – hosted by CTV’s Christine Long: November 25 at 2pm
VENUE: Le Monument National’s Studio Hydro-Québec | 1182 Boul. St-Laurent, Montreal,
TICKETS: $13.50 children; $15.00 teens; $17.50 students/seniors; $19.50 adults; prices subject to taxes | Group rate (10 or more): 20% Off
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Teenagers 13 and up & adults of all ages | 75 minutes plus a 15-minute post-show talkback
BOX OFFICE and INFORMATION: (514) 845-9810 or www.geordie.ca
PRODUCTION NOTE: Content advisory: explicit language (swearing and sex terminology)

About Geordie Theatre Productions

Geordie Productions is Montreal’s leading English-­language professional Theatre for Young Audiences,
entertaining and engaging the imaginations of children and their families since 1980! Geordie Productions
celebrates the art of theatre and its impact by working with emerging and established artists from various disciplines and cultural backgrounds to create theatre that is provocative, relevant and enchanting;inspiring dialogue between communities, children and parents as well as teachers and students of all ages. Geordie Productions was lauded with 13 nominations at the recent METAs
(Montreal English Theatre Awards), leading the pack in the community for the 2016/17 season.