War and Peace at the Edmonton Fringe!

       War and Peace at the Edmonton Fringe Festival!

             Skip the Book, See the Play!

Monster Theatre presents the world premiere of War and Peace, a one-man adaptation by 16 year Fringe veteran Ryan Gladstone. Join Ryan as he takes the audience on a journey through the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace, and the 632 characters it contains, as well as the life of Tolstoy himself.

War and Peace is the most written about novel of all time, and yet, its full meaning escapes us… until now! Over the course of re-enacting the story, Ryan tries to pinpoint the true meaning of the book. Bouncing between concepts like Tolstoy’s theories on the nature of history (“A king is history’s slave.”), success (“All success is a mirage.”), self-improvement (“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”), wisdom (“The only thing that we know is that we know nothing.”) and the power of love (“everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.”). In the end we realise that War and Peace’s true beauty lies in its 10 000 simple moments. Pierre sharing a potato. Andrei noticing the sky for the first time. Natasha climbing in bed with her mother to talk about a boy. Princess Marya holding her weeping father like a child.WAR_AND_PEACE_PROMO_PIC4

In the irreverent, hilarious and immaculately researched Monster Theatre style, Gladstone sucks the audience in via the promise of the ridiculous and herculean task of portraying the entirety of the 1444 page tome using nothing more than a single actor, some funny voices and handful of sound effects. Over the course of the play however he slowly unravels the deeper meanings, the profound epiphanies, the relevancies to today and finding all the parallels to the tragic and triumphant echos in Tolstoy’s own life. Monster Theatre’s version of War and Peace straddles the line between comedy and tragedy, farce and sermon, low brow stand-up and history lesson. 

Ryan Gladstone soars as a solo performer. His comfort level with the material and the spotlight allows moments of spontaneity, giving each show a lot of life.”-Laura Glowacki, CBC Manitoba 

Ryan lives and works in Vancouver and holds an MFA in Directing from UBC.  This is his sixth solo play, in addition to No Tweed Too Tight, Every Story Ever Told, The Seven Lives of Louis Riel, Napoleon’s Secret Diary (also inspired by War and Peace) and Confessions of a Class Clown (Monster Theatre). Recent Directing credits: Hunter Gatherers (Staircase Theatre), Ubu Roi (UBC) and Hell of a Girl (rEvolver Festival). Recent Writing/Directing credits include Til Death: The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Who Killed Gertrude Crump?, Assassinating Thomson, Houdini’s Last Escape (Monster Theatre).

Writer/performer Ryan Gladstone is super-skilled.”- Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Courier

Monster Theatre was founded by Ryan Gladstone in 2000 and has since created over 30 original productions, touring our award-winning works locally, regionally and nationally. The company started on the Canadian Fringe circuit, and quickly became known as one of Canada’s top Fringe companies. The focus eventually shifted towards creation & development, using the Fringe circuit to prepare the shows for main-stage productions at theatre companies & larger festivals across Canada, including Project X (Kelowna), Manitoba Theatre for Young People (Winnipeg) and Theatre SKAM (Victoria).

Edmonton Fringe Festival, August 11-21, 2016 | Dates & Times: Friday, August 12 3:30 PM, Saturday, August 13 5:15pm, Sunday, August 14 12:00pm, Monday, August 15 3:30pm, Tuesday, August 16 7:00pm, Thursday, August 18 10:30pm, Friday, August 19 8:45pm, Saturday, August 20 5:15pm, Sunday, August 21 5:45pm| Box Office: https://tickets.fringetheatre.ca/index.php

 

 

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No Tweed Too Tight returns to the Vancouver Fringe

No Tweed Too Tight: Another Grant Canyon Mystery returns to the Vancouver Fringe after back to back sold-out runs in Winnipeg and Edmonton.

Back by popular demand! The year is 1976. Grant Canyon is a perpetually inebriated insurance investigator. In his few coherent moments he leaves a wake of dead bodies, satisfied ladies, and empty bottles as he staggers toward a shocking and fiery conclusion.

***** “Brilliant!” -CBC
***** “Hilarious!” -Westender
*1/2 “Offensive!” -SEE Magazine
****1/2″An explosive drop-kick to the head!” -Edmonton Sun
****1/2 “Ryan Gladstone brings the house down!” -Winnipeg Free Press
“Hilarious.” -the Georgia Straight

18+, Coarse Language, Sexual Content, Violent Content

No Tweed Too Tight_Ryan Gladstone2_web

Playing at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island.No Tweed Too Tight_Ryan Gladstone1_web

Friday Sep 5 2014
10:25 PM
Saturday Sep 6 2014
4:45 PM
Sunday Sep 7 2014
12:30 PM
Monday Sep 8 2014
6:45 PM
Thursday Sep 11 2014
8:40 PM
Saturday Sep 13 2014
7:50 PM
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Who Killed Gertrude Crump?

GERTRUDE_Tara Travis_web

 A one-woman, murder mystery puppet show!

World famous mystery author Gertrude Crump has been murdered…mysteriously!  Can you solve the case? All the clues are there…

From the multiple-award-winning artists of Monster Theatre (Til Death, No Tweed Too Tight, Hockey Night at the Puck & Pickle Pub) comes this whodunnit of epic proportions…told with puppets.

“…the most impressive acting feat in the festival!” ★★★★★-Kevin Prokosh, Winnipeg Free Press

“A standing ovation followed Travis’ tour-de-force performance.” – ★★★★★ London Free Press Coming to a city near you this Summer! Ottawa Fringe Festival June 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival July 2014 Winnipeg Fringe Festival July 2014 Calgary Fringe Festival August 2014 Edmonton Fringe Festival August 2014 And stay tuned for a Vancouver production…

Media! Click Here for EPK!

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Now Available for Booking

Monster Theatre always has a wealth of productions at the ready, often touring several productions at once to meet all the needs, hopes, and desires of your audiences. (Or at least make them laugh. A lot.)

In addition to our brand new holiday spectacular, A Christmas Carol, here are our top touring shows, currently on the road, ready to dazzle your community or school!

Watch the short videos or click the title of each production for more information.

The Shakespeare Show, or; How an illiterate Son of a Glover Became the Greatest Playwright in the World

General Audience

Full 70 min version for your Theatre, Secondary School version available

For booking inquiries, contact Kevin Bruce Artist Management.

Mini Masterpieces

Monster Theatre For Kids- ages 5+

45 or 60 minute version for your Theatre or Elementary School

For booking inquiries, contact Kevin Bruce Artist Management.

Lavinia: A Modern Fairy Tale of Gigantic Proportions

Monster Theatre for Kids- ages 5+

A 60 minute production for Family Audiences

For booking inquiries, contact Tara Travis, Artistic Producer.

Available in 2013/14

Houdini’s Last Escape

General Audience

70 minute production

For booking inquiries, contact Tara Travis, Artistic Producer.

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