“There are some things one remembers even though they may never have happened, but as I recall them, so they take place.”
When it comes to our memories, what is real, and what is imagined? And what is the truth inside all of that? That’s essentially the question at the heart of Harold Pinter’s drama Old Times, which Soulpepper Theatre brings to their stage from August 6 to September 7.
“OLD TIMES is one of the great classics of modern drama and an incredibly entertaining and rewarding play,” says Soulpepper Artistic Director Weyni Mengesha in a statement.
“While challenging the audience to contemplate how reality is in large part, perception, the play unravels like a twisting, sexy thriller. This production harkens back to Soulpepper’s roots and in Peter’s hands I know it is going to be a captivating and haunting experience for our audiences.”
Directed by Peter Pasyk, the production features Anita Majumdar (Boys with Cars/YPT), Christopher Morris (The Runner/Human Cargo), and Jenny Young (The Lake/Amazon).
The Story
Kate and Deeley are a married couple waiting on the arrival of Kate’s old friend Anna as the play opens. What begins as a reunion of old friends devolves into a thriller that explores the nature of memory, desire, and power dynamics.
As differing memories of what happened years ago emerge, the characters struggle for dominance, and the truth becomes more and more obscure.
Is the truth left to interpretation? Is it up for a debate? A situation that begins as quite ordinary reveals much deeper truths.
The play’s minimalism and plot carry a degree of ambiguity, and is open to multiple interpretations. Its theme of looking for the truth resonates as much now as it did on the play’s debut in 1971.
Personnel
Director Peter Pasyk has worked with theatre companies that include the Stratford Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Tarragon Theatre, and Canadian Stage, among others. He directed the highly regarded production of Hamlet at Stratford Festival in 2023. Peter has directed a number of world premiere productions, including Jordan Tannahill’s Late Company at the Theatre Centre. He’s been involved in several Dora-nominated productions, including The Nether, Killer Joe, Dying City, When the World Was Green and The Jones Boy. He recently directed The Seafarer starring Paul Gross at Alberta Theatre Projects.
The creative team is rounded out by lighting designer Imogen Wilson, sound designer Jacob Lin, and set and costume designer Snezana Pesic.
Canadian actress and playwright Anita Majumdar is probably best known for her role in the CBC TV film Murder Unveiled, which won her the Best Actress award at the 2005 Asian Festival of First Films in Singapore. Anita graduated from the University of British Columbia with degrees in English, Theatre and South Asian Languages. She subsequently attended and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada. She has also studied dance and choreographed contemporary hybrids of Kathak, Odissi and Bharatanatyam. Her acting credits include productions at Theatre Passe Muraille, Stratford Festival, the Pasadena Playhouse, and the Museum Theatre in Chennai, India. As playwright, Anita was awarded Canada’s Governor General’s Protégé Prize in playwriting.
Canadian Christopher Morris has acted both on stage and on screen, and is also known as a writer, director, and the artistic director of Toronto-based theatre company Human Cargo. Theatre credits include The Runner (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Magnus Theatre); Measure for Measure, Much Ado About Nothing, Hedda Gabler, Botticelli in the Fire (Canadian Stage); A Doll’s House, Noises Off (Soulpepper); Oedipus Rex, Diary of Anne Frank (Stratford Festival). TV credits include appearances in the shows Orphan Black, Frankie Drake, The Girlfriend Experience, Murdoch Mysteries, In Contempt, and Netflix’s Painkiller.
BC-born actor Jenny Young has performed in leading roles at The Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, ATP in Calgary, the Tarragon Theatre, Necessary Angel, Theatre Columbus, Canadian Stage and Factory Theatre in Toronto, the Electric Company in Vancouver and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company in the UK. Recently, she played a recurring role on The Lake on Amazon Prime, and the acclaimed mini-series Station Eleven/AppleTV. She has been nominated for a Dora Award three times, and has won both a Jessie Richardson award and a Betty Mitchell award.
- Find tickets and performance details for Old Times [HERE].
Are you looking to promote an event? Have a news tip? Need to know the best events happening this weekend? Send us a note.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.