The Last 15 Seconds imagines a conversation between a filmmaker and the suicide bomber who is about to kill him. (MT Space) A work created by Lebanese-Canadian Majdi Bou-Matar that imagines a dialogue between a terrorist bomber and one of his victims is one of 10 plays to be performed during this year's Magnetic North Festival.
The national festival of contemporary Canadian theatre to be held in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., in June announced its lineup on Wednesday.
Bou-Matar, who came to Canada from Lebanon in 2003, is founder of Kitchener theatre company MT Space and created The Last 15 Seconds in collaboration with his theatre troupe. It was staged in Kitchener and Burlington, Ont., last October.
The play imagines a conversation between Syrian-American filmmaker Moustapha Akkad, who produced 13 Halloween movies, and Rawad Jassem Mohammad Abed, the suicide bomber who blew up his hotel in 2005. The real Akkad and his daughter Rima died in the attack in Amman, Jordan.
The "conversation" imagined in the work touches on issues of terrorism, movie-making and the clash of values between Islam and the West. Akkad also directed The Story of Islam and Lion of the Desert, films he believed would bridge the gap between the two civilizations.
Other plays announced on Wednesday:
- Mump & Smoot Cracked: by Michael Kennard and John Turner, previously on stages in Edmonton and Manitoulin.
- Norman, a Tribute to Norman McLaren: by Michel Lemieux, Victor Pilon and Peter Trosztmer of Montreal.
- Homage, by Anthony Black and 2b theatre company of Halifax.
- Elephant Wake: a one-man show by Joey Tremblay and Globe Theatre of Regina.
- The Greatest Cities in the World: a new work commissioned by Magnetic North.
- Another Home Invasion: by Joan McLeod, in a production by Tarragon Theatre of Toronto.
- Dedicated to the Revolutions, a collaborative work by Small Wooden Shoe of Toronto that examines scientific revolution.
The National Film Board has loaned archival material for the tribute to one of its best-known animators, Norman McLaren.
Homage examines what happens when a town decides it doesn't like its public art and is based on the true story of Haydn Llewellyn Davies an artist who battled a Sarnia, Ont., college that wanted to dismantle one of his sculptures.
This year's Magnetic North Festival also has works for youth and children with Monster Makers, an interactive work by Mammalian Diving Reflex that divides the audience's adults from the children and Tough! a work for youth by Ensemble Canadian Youth Theatre of Toronto.
The festival is scheduled for June 9-19 in Kitchener and Waterloo.
Share Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
- 32 Syrian children die in artillery attack, says UN
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed the attack. more »
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Police in Nova Scotia are investigating after a woman's remains were found in a hockey bag floating on a Cape Breton river Friday night. more »
- Montreal student group says Bill 78 must be priority
- Quebec's coalition of student associations says Bill 78 must be a priority if a new round of negotiations start up with the government in the ongoing tuition conflict. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Seniors float above Montreal's Quartier Latin
- In Montreal this weekend, an unusual performance series will have seniors indulging in their favourite hobbies, but perched on chairs suspended five metres above the ground. more »
- Modern and traditional art scores at Joyner auction
- Both traditional and modern works fared well at Joyner Waddington's spring art auction in Toronto, with buyers snapping up lots by Group of Seven members as well as more contemporary artists. more »
- Prophetic Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes
- David Cronenberg says he didn't anticipate the Occupy Wall Street movement as he prepared to shoot Cosmopolis, his new film which made its world premiere Friday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. more »
- Jennifer Egan's newest story debuts on Twitter
- The latest short story from Pulitzer-winning writer Jennifer Egan is emerging 140 characters at a time via Twitter. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Tornado touchdown confirmed near Montreal
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- 32 Syrian children die in artillery attack, says UN
