World Premiere of NIGHT: A Collective Creation by Human Cargo in the NAC Studio January 4 - 12, 2010

The lives of a Toronto anthropologist and 16-year old Inuk girl intersect powerfully during 24 hours of darkness in Pond Inlet, Nunavut. Daniella is a scientist from the big city; Piuyuq is an Inuit girl with big dreams. The two cross paths, and when Piuyuq’s best friend commits suicide both find their lives are changed forever. Created over three Arctic winters in Iceland and Nunavut, this work by Toronto’s Human Cargo is presented in Inuktitut and English. The world premiere production will be presented in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Whitehorse after its NAC engagement.
Night was developed over the course of three four-week creation workshops held over a period of three years starting in 2007. Rehearsals during these creation workshops took place in the Arctic darkness of Pond Inlet, Nunavut and Akureyri, Iceland. The play has been created by five theatre artists (two Inuit, two Icelandic and one Southern Canadian) and its rehearsal process has been heavily influenced by each artist’s life experience and reactions to the Arctic winter.
Night incorporates multiple story-telling styles, languages and world-views. The play uses text, movement, video and live music to showcase a powerful, multi-cultural and socially important piece of theatre. By offering a comprehensive, engaging insight into the North’s experience of the Arctic darkness and the South’s complex relationship to it, Night will inspire its participants and audiences to re-evaluate their personal and global perspectives of the human experience in the Circumpolar World.
Last February, NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Peter Hinton and Company Dramaturg and Artistic Associate Paula Danckert had the pleasure of visiting Pond Inlet during one of the creation workshops. “We had an outstanding trip to Pond Inlet, and I can promise you that Night is sure to be a show you will remember for a long time,” said Peter Hinton. Night marks the first time a production from Pond Inlet will appear on the NAC stage, after which it will tour to the community of Inuvik (Jan 19, 2010), the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre in Yellowknife (Jan 22-23, 2010), and the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse (Jan 27-28, 2010).
Human Cargo is a multi-disciplinary theatre company based in Toronto that uses the creation of new works as a means to expose and discuss social and political issues. Through cross-cultural exchange and professional mentorship, they offer Canadian and International performance artists, and youth, a creative environment where they’ll be inspired to express themselves by transforming their life experiences into theatrical language. To learn more about Human Cargo and upcoming projects, visit www.humancargo.ca
Night is a collective creation by Human Cargo, written and directed by Christopher Morris and featuring Mike Bernier, Michelle Monteith, Abbie Ootova and Linnea Swan. Set/Costume Design by Gillian Gallow, Lighting Design by Michelle Ramsay, Sound Design by Lyon Smith. The Stage Manager is Melissa Rood, Apprentice Stage Manager Elizabeth McDermott and Production Manager/Technical Director is Doug Morum.
A Human Cargo (Toronto)/National Arts Centre coproduction in association with Nunavut, Northern Arts and Culture Centre, Yellowknife and Yukon Arts Centre, Whitehorse.
Made possible with support from the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, the National Arts Centre, First Air, Akureyri Playhouse (Iceland),the Canadian Embassy of Iceland, Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council.
Night plays in the NAC Studio January 4 – 16, 2010

Pay-What-You-Can:       Monday, January 4
Previews:               Tuesday, January 5 and Wednesday, January 6
Opening:                Thursday, January 7
Hinterview:     Saturday, January 9 at 1 p.m. in the NAC Salon.
NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Peter Hinton will be interviewing Night Director and Human Cargo Artistic Director Christopher Morris.
Talkbacks:      Wednesday, January 13 and Thursday, January 14
In the NAC Studio:      Evening performances Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m.
        Saturday matinees are at 2 p.m. (no performances on Sunday or Monday)
Adults: $36 Previews: $23
Groups of 10+ receive great discounts! For more information contact grp@nac-cna.ca or
visit our webpage.
Tickets are available for purchase:
In person at the NAC Box Office
At all Ticketmaster outlets
By telephone from Ticketmaster, (613) 755-1111
Online through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC’s website (www.nac-cna.ca)
A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster
You can find out more about NAC English Theatre! Find us on Facebook and YouTube. To discover more about Night click www.nac-cna.ca/en/theatre/0910/night.
This production is eligible for the Live Rush program.
Full-time students age 13-29 with valid Live Rush membership may buy up to 2 tickets per performance at the discounted price of only $11 per ticket. Live Rush tickets are available from 10 a.m. on the day before the performance to 6 p.m. the day of the performance.This includes all available seats, including the best seats in the house.
Check out liverush.ca for information on the Live Rush program.

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