Absence: A performance about humans' life in modern society

Want to make some theatre together?

Do you want to be part of ‘laboratory’ theatre where we create work with artists from different cultures?

Do you like to explore theatre as a social tool?

Are you looking for a space to share your unique perspective and engage with other’s perspectives?

If yes, you should join us!

I am Saeid Asgarian, director and MFA Candidate at UCalgary and I will be making a performance with ten participant actors as part of my research to analyze theatre’s role as a social tool for integration of new immigrants. The project has been approved by UCalgary Ethics (Project REB22-1810).

WE NEED YOU!

Half of our group members will be Drama students from UCalgary, and the other half will be immigrant artists living in Calgary. Both groups will work together in a month’s long process to create an original performance in catwalk form. No formal acting experience is necessary.

Each participant performer will be paid a $100 honorarium at the conclusion of the production.

Questions will be answered, and more details provided on the audition day.

Hope to see you at the audition!!

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Audition Information:

May 10 from 3pm to 9pm.

Doolittle Studio, Craigie Hall F206, University of Calgary.

Please prepare a 1 min movement piece, and bring your favorite poem to share in any language. (No need to perform it or theatricalize it, simply sharing it aloud is just fine)

Click here to grab your audition spot.

Rehearsal Information:

June 11 to June 29 (Saturdays to Wednesdays) from 16:00 to 19:00.

September 11 to September 13 from 14:00 to 19:00. 

Doolittle Studio, Craigie Hall F206, University of Calgary.

Performance Information:

September 14 to September 17 (Show times TBD)

Matthews Theatre, F101 Craigie Hall, University of Calgary.

Director Info:

Saeid Asgarian is a professional director with his first master’s degree in theatre directing from the University of Tehran. In his current Theatre Studies graduate work here at UCalgary, he is analyzing the role of theatre as a social tool for integration. Saeid has directed, written, dramaturged, acted, and stage designed dozens of professional productions including Room No. 3 (2022), Life (2021), 60 Minutes Minus One (2019), A Memory of Two Mondays by Arthur Miller (2019), Winter by Jon Fosse (2018), A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh (2018), Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov (2017), etc. His current artistic approach includes participatory and laboratory theatre to create his shows and understand better what theatre can do for society and humans.

Best regards,

Saeid