“OH, THE PLACES WE’LL GO THEN,”
DURING THE YEAR TWENTY-TEN
SEPTEMBER
The Toronto Roald Dahl Festival
Theatre Direct, Artscape Wychwood Barns
601 Christie St (1 Block S of St Clair West)
Sat Sept 11 & Sun Sept 12
For Tickets and Schedule, click here
Roald Dahl is one of the great storytellers of our time. And his books are more popular than ever. Over the past five years alone, Hollywood has released two major films based on his classic novels: Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, directed by Tim Burton, and Wes Anderson's adaptation of The Fantastic Mr Fox. "Roald Dahl Day" is now observed all across the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. Isn’t it high time for a tribute to this international literary giant here in Canada?
Small Print Toronto presents The Toronto Roald Dahl Festival, a celebration designed to encourage readers of all ages and stripes to share their impressions of Dahl’s work. It will be held on September 11th and 12th, hosted by Theatre Direct at the Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street (1 Block S of St Clair West).
On opening night, we will host The Srumpdiddlyumptious Storyteller Soiree, featuring an exclusive North American appearance by Donald Sturrock. To launch his eagerly awaited book, The Storyteller: The Authorized Biography of Roald Dahl (McClelland & Stewart), Sturrock will discuss Dahl’s stranger-than-fiction life with Joseph Kertes, Dean of The Humber School of Creative and Performing Arts. And Don Kerr & The Muggle-Wump Orchestra, featuring stalwarts of Toronto's indie-rock scene, will accompany young tunesmiths as they perform their own songs.
On both days, leading local creators, including Natale Ghent, Lynda Hill, Don Kerr, Evan Munday, Patricia Storms, Natalie Zina Walschots, and Robert Paul Weston, will conduct a series of “Dahl-it Yourself” (DIY) workshops for young people. We will have a Saturday afternoon Roald Dahl Movie Matinee. On Sunday afternoon, Theatre Direct will throw The Great-Upside Down Family Dance Party, featuring a Dahl-inspired craft session conducted by Lisa Kelly, Artistic Director of The Centre For Art & Soul.
For more information on the DIY (Dahl-it Yourself) Workshops and The Scrumpdiddlyumptious Storyteller Soiree, visit the Events section.
Advance Tickets are now on sale at our virtual kiosk on the EVENTS page.
COMING SOON
OCTOBER
GTA Regional Glee-off
Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen St West
Thurs Oct 14; 8pm (Doors 7:30pm) $10
Which GTA High School hosts the most soulful gleeks? To celebrate the launch of Don’t Stop Believin’: The Unofficial Guide To Glee (ECW Press) by Erin Balser and Suzanne Gardner, we are staging a citywide Glee-off. Put down that slushie and start practicing your song and dance moves with between 6 and 10 mismatched friends. There will also be a solo karaoke throw-down, between the group numbers. The authors and selected musicians will act as judges. There will be prizes
Volume One Workshop & Launch
with Robert Paul Weston
Theatre Direct, Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street
Sun Oct 24; 1pm (Doors 12:30pm) $10
Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Turns out his estranged son, Henry Whelp, worries about becoming his old man. Just in time for Halloween, acclaimed author Robert Paul Weston will conduct a Volume One writing workshop based on Dark City (Penguin Group Canada), his brilliant new novel about the dark side of fairytales. Following the session, Weston will read and sign copies of Dark City.
NOVEMBER
Tot Studio: Kids Can Day
Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St West
Sat Nov 6: 10pm (Doors 9:30pm) $10
Someone may be a friend. But we rarely share the exact same interests as them. After all, everyone is unique. How do we learn to accept and ultimately embrace our differences? To celebrate two new picture books from Kids Can Press that address this weighty theme in a playful manner, Spork by Kyo Maclear & Isabelle Arsenault and Way of the Ninja by David Bruins & Hilary Leung, we will stage a morning of storytelling, songs and crafts.
NOVEMBER
Lila & Ecco’s DIY Comic Book Convention
Theatre Direct, Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street
Sun Nov 21; 12-5 $10
In celebrated illustrator-author Willow Dawson’s latest book, Lila & Ecco’s DIY Comics Club (Kids Can Press), the titular characters discover the wonder of creating their very own graphic novels. What’s next for them? Lila and Ecco will step off the page and host a gathering devoted to the burgeoning world of graphic novels for young readers. You will get a chance to interact with some of your local heroes. Dawson will conduct a DIY workshop with esteemed author Mariko Tamaki. There will be author signings, small press tables, and on-stage conversations with the some of the movers and shakers on the comics-for-kids scene.
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