The Pat Donnelly Award: The Golden Boot

The Montreal infringement Festival has created its first award!

In collaboration with the Indie Theatre Times & Review, we are pleased to announce the first annual Pat Donnelly Golden Boot Award, to be awarded June 25th, 2006 at the closing ceremonies of the 3rd annual festival.

This trophy goes to the infringement act most likely to have been kicked out of any other festival, especially for generating reflection, heated debate and political controversy, especially by artistically exposing and challenging oppressive structures, systems, and discourses.

The award is named after former Gazette (Can-West Global) theatre critic Pat Donnelly, who is responsible for booting the only show in the history of “Fringe” theatre out of a festival.

Abusing a conflict-of-interest position that included both critic and corporate sponsor, in 2001 Ms. Donnelly demanded that “Fringe” organizers boot the play CAR STORIES after it refused to give her a free ticket and then critiqued her performance at the box office.

By canceling reviews of “Fringe” performances and threatening to withdraw financial sponsorship, Ms. Donnelly succeeded in demonstrating corporate power over the “Fringe” agenda and artists’ autonomy. On June 19th, 2001, CAR STORIES was kicked out of the Montreal “Fringe” Festival. It remains the only show ever to have been booted from any “Fringe” across the globe.

While Ms. Donnelly is no longer with us as a theatre critic, her name lives on in the form of the Golden Boot Award – a glowing reminder to artists that instead of bowing down to abusive power-structures, we should celebrate creative resistance to oppression, monoculture, and hegemony.

The 21st Century heralds a new way of doing the arts – by reclaiming our authority as autonomous creators freed from corporate influence, we begin the long process of reclaiming our culture. The Pat Donnelly Golden Boot Award acknowledges this fact and reminds us to keep vigilant, while simultaneously celebrating and highlighting excellence in critical artistry.

The Pat Donnelly Golden Boot Award is on display at infringement headquarters BAR MIAMI (3831 St. Laurent), where it will be presented to a deserving artist or collective on June 25th, 2006.

OTL's Sinking Neptune premiers at first Anarchis Theatre Festival

SINKING NEPTUNE
facilitated by Optative Theatrical Laboratories
launches @ first-ever Montréal Anarchist Theatre Festival
May 8, 7:30pm, La Sala Rossa, 4848 St-Laurent

SINKING NEPTUNE will premier at the first-ever, Montréal Anarchist Theatre Festival, Monday, May 8, at the Sala Rossa, 4848 boul St-Laurent, 7:30pm. Tickets are $5/$10 and include 5 activist plays!

SINKING NEPTUNE is a theatrical subversion of the "first play" ever written and produced in the so-called "New World": Marc Lescarcot's The Theatre of Neptune in New France. Written in 1606, and scheduled for re-enactment on November 14th, 2006, this play is extremely racist against First Nations Peoples. This project is a call to action to challenge the play and re-enactment by deconstructing and re-performing The Theatre of Neptune in New France from a critical and postcolonial perspective. A short version is being presented.

The Montréal Anarchist Theatre Festival - a North American first - runs May 8 -9, 2006, at the Sala Rossa, 4848 boul St-Laurent, 7:30pm, and May 24-25, 7:30pm, at UQAM ( J-M400, Foyer studio théâtre Alfred-Laliberté, Judith-Jasmin 405, rue Sainte-Catherine Est).

The bilingual festival will feature ten plays from Canada and the USA involving about 50 actors, including the internationally renowned Bread and Puppet Theatre from Vermont. (See Schedule below)

The four nights of readings and productions range in length, theme, and style, but all are either written by anarchist writers, or with anarchist content. Each will present either anti-State, anti-capitalist, anti-sexist, anti-Empire, or anti-authoritarian positions.

The theatre festival is part of Montreal's annual 'Festival of Anarchy' that leads up to the city's 7th annual Anarchist Bookfair, May 20 and 21, 2006 - the largest anarchist event on the continent.
.
Info: 514-859-9090
Email: anarchistfestival@yahoo.ca

http://anarchistbookfair.taktic.org/
For more on this project, please log onto www.optative.net/neptune

*****************************************************************************
MONTREAL ANARCHIST THEATRE FESTIVAL 2006 SCHEDULE

LUNDI 8 MAI / MON MAY 8
La Sala Rossa, 4848 boul St-Laurent 19H30 / 7:30pm
Lacrymos : Avez-vous déjà pleuré pour des raisons politique? par Francis Dupuis-DériThe Human Juicer by Ross PetersonIn Conversation with Crows by Audrey FinkelsteinSinking Neptune by the Optative Theatrical LaboratoriesCantastoria by Bread & Puppet Theatre

MARDI 9 MAI / TUES MAY 9
La Sala Rossa, 19H30 / 7:30pm
Overdale by Norman NawrockiYa rien là par WeNousThe Works by Joseph ShraggeHaymarket by L.M. Bogad

MERCREDI ET JEUDI. 24 ET 25 MAI / WED & THURS, MAY 24 & 25
UQAM, 19H30 / 7:30pm
(J-M400, Foyer studio théâtre Alfred-Laliberté, Judith-Jasmin 405 Sainte-Catherine Est)

The Red-Emma Project/ LE PROJET RED EMMA par WeNous, based on a play by Howard Zinn
*** Please FWD and re-post

Telling His Own Story: Gary Corbin's "....four one-legged men!" by JC McLean

Gary Corbin thought that once he had survived cancer, people would be fair with him and he could continue to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Unfortunately, he found out that the world of stage and screen just wasn’t ready for a one-legged man.

“I believed in the American Dream, that everybody has an opportunity,” he said in a telephone interview from New York, “but people said that it’s just not true in my case.”

Having lost his right leg to bone cancer (osteogenic sarcoma) in 1975, Corbin found that he wasn’t getting any scripts or auditions and eventually realized that he wasn’t going to get any work as an actor by waiting around for it.

He was walking down a street in Harlem one day when it hit him. If he wanted work as an actor, he’d have to make a show for himself.

This led to the creation of his critically-acclaimed one-man show “….four one-legged men!” which premiered at last year’s Buffalo infringement Festival.

In a series of short pieces, Corbin plays four different characters, each with one leg, in four different time periods.

“We’re people with the same types of trials,” he says of the characters in his show and physically unique people in general, “this show is about the universal human spirit in all of us.”

Looking for a place to perform it was the next step. The Franklin Furnace Foundation let him know about the Buffalo infringement Festival and he applied.

He credits the fest with helping him dust off the demons that were torturing him at the time: the loss of his grandmother and the loss of love. He tried sex and religion but realized that what really works is performing

“I wasn’t rejected,” Corbin remembers, “I was supported; they helped me put it up there. It let me know that I could probably produce it myself in New York City.”

The show has received rave reviews, both in Buffalo and later when it played The Producers Club in the heart of Manhattan’s Theatre District. Corbin was able to produce the show himself with support from just about every source available to individual artists including: The Franklin Furnace and Jerome Foundations, The New York State Council on the Arts, and The New York Foundation for the Arts.

Corbin is now considered an “emerging artist” who is on the verge of contributing something major to the world of theater and performance art.

He feels his show offers a service that can open doors so more physically unique people can get their stories told. Corbin argues that while many people in the theatre world say they support and show diversity, there is a resistance to presenting physically disabled characters in a rounded way.

“I show people with disabilities as multi-dimensional,” Corbin comments, “theatre needs a facelift, we need new ideas.”

Those new ideas will be presented this June as “….four one-legged men!” comes to the Montreal infringement Festival.

Corbin has never been to Montreal and is very excited about coming to play.

“People who go out of the country come back more rounded, with a broader perspective on life” he observes, “I’m looking forward to performing again.”

And judging by the buzz already building on message boards and through word of mouth, Montrealers are excited about Corbin’s show, too.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

For date, time and venue information of “….four one-legged men!” at the Montreal infringement Festival, keep checking: www.infringementfestival.com/montreal

People can send tax-exempt donations through the New York Foundation for the Arts: www.nyfa.org

For more on Gary Corbin, including pics, please log onto: www.garycorbinactor.com

Communiqué 03/15/2006

(francais suit)

infringement Montréal Communiqué
March 15th, 2006

March infringeAGAIN: Rachel’s Words

Canadian artists are reacting to a theatrical controversy that has been brewing in London and New York City. An Off Broadway production of My Name Is Rachel Corrie, an acclaimed solo show about an American demonstrator killed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to stop the destruction of a Palestinian home, has been censored (“indefinitely postponed”).

On Thursday, March 16th, the anniversary of Rachel’s murder, a broad spectrum of groups and individuals around the world will perform in staged readings and theatrical actions so Rachel’s words and her message of human rights and justice can be heard. Optative Theatrical Laboratories invites you to come hear Rachel’s Words …
(read more)


infringement Ministry of Culture-Jamming to take part in anti-war march

Optative Theatrical Laboratories and the infringement Festival Ministry of Culture-Jamming are organizing a theatrical demonstration to help protest the three year anniversary of the Iraq war. It will be part of the March that will take place on St-Catherine Street March 18th.

We will be meeting at the Bifteck (3702 St-Laurent) every Monday leading until the jam at 7:30 P.M. to plan the details. For more information please call Jay at 515-FEST (3378) (read more)


infringement Community Meetings starting up soon

As the festival approaches, we will begin holding regular meetings for all members of the infringement Community: artists, volunteers, organizers and supporters.

This is a chance for all of us to get together, discuss the fest and our plans for it and collaborate. More details will come soon.


The infringement circuit is expanding

This year, in addition to Montreal, there will be an infringement Festival in Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina and New York City, with hopefully more cities joining.

All Montreal infringement artists are invited to tour the circuit. Please apply to each festival you’d like to play individually, their contact information can be found here and their dates are posted here.

If you’d like to collaborate with other touring acts and possibly share resources, or to get listed as touring act on the infringement International website, please contact JC (514) 583-3378 or infringementfestival@yahoo.ca once you know which fests outside of Montreal you’ll be playing.


Car Stories looking for players

Optative Theatrical Laboratories is currently seeking actors, writers and organizers for Car Stories this summer in Montreal and for our tour to Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina and New York City.

Set in real alleyways, streets, cars, bars and parking lots, Car Stories is a guided tour through the urban wonderland for three spectators at a time. This highly interactive combination of theatre and street performance is also Montreal’s longest-running theatrical experiment.

We’re looking for people who can play a bold character that can fit into loose dramatic guidelines and people that have a 10-15 minute story that can be played in a car (or would be willing to write one). We’re also looking for people to help us behind the scenes with organization, sponsorship or by lending us their car so we can make it a star.

If you’d like to hop on board or would like more information, please call (514) 915-0674, e-mail optativelabs@yahoo.ca or log onto www.optative.net/carstories (includes videos).


Reminders

If you haven’t already done so, there’s still time to submit an act to Montreal’s infringement Festival or volunteer as an iF Agent. Please call (514) 583-FEST (3378) to submit an act, or (514) 513-0420 to volunteer, or reach us by e-mail at infringementmontreal@yahoo.ca. More information, including our application form, can be found online at www.infringementfestival.com/montreal/join.html

To get your event listed as an infringement Community Event, to propose making your event an infringeAGAIN, or to look for players in the infringement Community Classifieds, please contact infringementfestival@yahoo.ca

To get on this list, or to have your address removed, please contact infringementmontreal@yahoo.ca


Thank you,
Montréal’s infringement team
www.infringementfestival.com/montreal

*** Please FWD and re-post

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Communiqué du festival infringement de Montréal
le 15 mars, 2006

infringeENCORE de Mars: Rachel’s Words

Les artistes canadiens réagissent à une controverse théâtrale qui a brassé à Londres et la Ville de New York. La production de Broadway My Name is Rachel Corrie, un spectacle solo acclamé d'une activiste américain tué par un bulldozer Israelien pendant qu'elle essayait d'arrêter la destruction d'une maison palestinienne, a été censuré (“indéfiniment remis”).

Jeudi le 16 mars, l'anniversaire de la meurtre de Rachel, des groupes et des individus autour du monde exécutera des lectures sur scène et des actions théâtrales pour que les mots de Rachel et son message de droits et la justice humains peuvent être entendus. Les Laboratoires Théâtraux Optatif vous invitent à venir entendre Rachel’s Words…
(lire plus)


La Ministère de Brouillage Culturelle du festival prendra partie dans un démonstration anti-guerre

Les Laboratoires Théâtraux Optatif et la Ministère de Brouillage Culturel du Festival infringement organisent une démonstration théâtrale pour aider la protestation contre la troixième anniversaire de la guerre en Iraq. Notre action fera partie de la marche qu'aura lieu sur la rue St-Catherine le 18 mars.

Nous rencontrerons au Bifteck (3702 St-Laurent) chaque lundi a 19h30 pour planifier les détails. Pour plus de renseignements, SVP appeler Jay à (514) 515 FEST (3378)
(lire plus)


Les réunions de la communauté infringement commençeront bientôt

Plus proche au festival, nos reunions communautaire infringement régulières commençeront de nouveau pour tous membres de la communauté infringement: les artistes, les volontaires, les organisateurs et les supporters.

Ceci est une chance pour nous tous se rencontrer, discuter le festival et nos projets et collaborer. Plus de détails viendra bientôt.


Le circuit infringement agrandisse

Cette année, en plus de Montréal, il y aura un festival infringement à Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina et New York, et peut-être d’autres villes.

Toutes les artistes infringement de Montréal sont invités à faire la tournée du circuit. Si vous voulez, SVP proposer votre spectacle à chaque festival individuellement. Leurs details de contacte sont en ligne ici et leurs dates sont ici.

Pour collaborer avec les autres actes qui font la tournée (peut-être partagent des resources), ou pour vous lister comme acte de tournée sur notre site web, SVP contacter JC (514) 583-3378 ou infringementfestival@yahoo.ca une fois vous savez quels autres festivals vous jouerez.


Car Stories cherchent des joueurs

Les Laboratoires Théâtraux Optatif cherchent presentment des acteurs, des écrivains et des organisateurs pour Car Stories cet été en Montréal et pour notre tournée à Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina et New York.

Le spectacle déroule dans les vraies rues, ruelles autos et bars du monde des merveillles urbaine. Cette combinaison extrêmement interactive de théâtre et théâtre dans la rue est aussi l'experiment théâtrale la plus longue-durant de Montréal.

Nous cherchons des personnes qui peuvent jouer un caractère grand dans des indications dramatiques détachés et des personnes qui ont écrit (ou qui peuvent écrire) une scène de 10-15 minutes qui peuvent être jouée dans une voiture. Nous cherchons aussi des gens pour nous aider avec l'organisation, le sponsorat ou pour nous preter leurs voiture, qu'on va transformer en vedette.

Si vous aimeriez sauter à bord ou aimeriez plus d'information, s'il vous plaît appeler (514) 915-0674, envoyer un courriel à optativelabs@yahoo.ca ou consultez www.optative.net/carstories (inclut des vidéos).

Rappels

Si vous n'avez pas fait déjà si, il reste du temps pour proposer un spéctacle au festival infringement de Montréal ou devenir un agent iF (bénévole du festival). Appeler (514) 583-FEST (3378) pour proposer un spéctacle ou (514) 513-0420 pour devenir bénévole, ou nous contacter par courriel: infringementmontreal@yahoo.ca

Pour lister votre évenemment comme évennement communautaire infringement, proposer votre spectacle comme infringeENCORE ou chercher des joueurs dans nos annonces classés communautaire infringement, contacter infringementfestival@yahoo.ca

Pour y joindre cette liste ou enlever votre adresse courriel de la liste, SVP contacter infringementfestival@yahoo.ca
*** SVP envoyer ou re-afficher

L'équipe infringement de Montréal
www.infringementfestival.com/montreal

Communiqué 03/15/2006

(francais suit)

infringement Montréal Communiqué
March 15th, 2006

March infringeAGAIN: Rachel’s Words

Canadian artists are reacting to a theatrical controversy that has been brewing in London and New York City. An Off Broadway production of My Name Is Rachel Corrie, an acclaimed solo show about an American demonstrator killed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to stop the destruction of a Palestinian home, has been censored (“indefinitely postponed”).

On Thursday, March 16th, the anniversary of Rachel’s murder, a broad spectrum of groups and individuals around the world will perform in staged readings and theatrical actions so Rachel’s words and her message of human rights and justice can be heard. Optative Theatrical Laboratories invites you to come hear Rachel’s Words …
(read more)


infringement Ministry of Culture-Jamming to take part in anti-war march

Optative Theatrical Laboratories and the infringement Festival Ministry of Culture-Jamming are organizing a theatrical demonstration to help protest the three year anniversary of the Iraq war. It will be part of the March that will take place on St-Catherine Street March 18th.

We will be meeting at the Bifteck (3702 St-Laurent) every Monday leading until the jam at 7:30 P.M. to plan the details. For more information please call Jay at 515-FEST (3378) (read more)


infringement Community Meetings starting up soon

As the festival approaches, we will begin holding regular meetings for all members of the infringement Community: artists, volunteers, organizers and supporters.

This is a chance for all of us to get together, discuss the fest and our plans for it and collaborate. More details will come soon.


The infringement circuit is expanding

This year, in addition to Montreal, there will be an infringement Festival in Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina and New York City, with hopefully more cities joining.

All Montreal infringement artists are invited to tour the circuit. Please apply to each festival you’d like to play individually, their contact information can be found here and their dates are posted here.

If you’d like to collaborate with other touring acts and possibly share resources, or to get listed as touring act on the infringement International website, please contact JC (514) 583-3378 or infringementfestival@yahoo.ca once you know which fests outside of Montreal you’ll be playing.


Car Stories looking for players

Optative Theatrical Laboratories is currently seeking actors, writers and organizers for Car Stories this summer in Montreal and for our tour to Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina and New York City.

Set in real alleyways, streets, cars, bars and parking lots, Car Stories is a guided tour through the urban wonderland for three spectators at a time. This highly interactive combination of theatre and street performance is also Montreal’s longest-running theatrical experiment.

We’re looking for people who can play a bold character that can fit into loose dramatic guidelines and people that have a 10-15 minute story that can be played in a car (or would be willing to write one). We’re also looking for people to help us behind the scenes with organization, sponsorship or by lending us their car so we can make it a star.

If you’d like to hop on board or would like more information, please call (514) 915-0674, e-mail optativelabs@yahoo.ca or log onto www.optative.net/carstories (includes videos).


Reminders

If you haven’t already done so, there’s still time to submit an act to Montreal’s infringement Festival or volunteer as an iF Agent. Please call (514) 583-FEST (3378) to submit an act, or (514) 513-0420 to volunteer, or reach us by e-mail at infringementmontreal@yahoo.ca. More information, including our application form, can be found online at www.infringementfestival.com/montreal/join.html

To get your event listed as an infringement Community Event, to propose making your event an infringeAGAIN, or to look for players in the infringement Community Classifieds, please contact infringementfestival@yahoo.ca

To get on this list, or to have your address removed, please contact infringementmontreal@yahoo.ca


Thank you,
Montréal’s infringement team
www.infringementfestival.com/montreal

*** Please FWD and re-post

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Communiqué du festival infringement de Montréal
le 15 mars, 2006

infringeENCORE de Mars: Rachel’s Words

Les artistes canadiens réagissent à une controverse théâtrale qui a brassé à Londres et la Ville de New York. La production de Broadway My Name is Rachel Corrie, un spectacle solo acclamé d'une activiste américain tué par un bulldozer Israelien pendant qu'elle essayait d'arrêter la destruction d'une maison palestinienne, a été censuré (“indéfiniment remis”).

Jeudi le 16 mars, l'anniversaire de la meurtre de Rachel, des groupes et des individus autour du monde exécutera des lectures sur scène et des actions théâtrales pour que les mots de Rachel et son message de droits et la justice humains peuvent être entendus. Les Laboratoires Théâtraux Optatif vous invitent à venir entendre Rachel’s Words…
(lire plus)


La Ministère de Brouillage Culturelle du festival prendra partie dans un démonstration anti-guerre

Les Laboratoires Théâtraux Optatif et la Ministère de Brouillage Culturel du Festival infringement organisent une démonstration théâtrale pour aider la protestation contre la troixième anniversaire de la guerre en Iraq. Notre action fera partie de la marche qu'aura lieu sur la rue St-Catherine le 18 mars.

Nous rencontrerons au Bifteck (3702 St-Laurent) chaque lundi a 19h30 pour planifier les détails. Pour plus de renseignements, SVP appeler Jay à (514) 515 FEST (3378)
(lire plus)


Les réunions de la communauté infringement commençeront bientôt

Plus proche au festival, nos reunions communautaire infringement régulières commençeront de nouveau pour tous membres de la communauté infringement: les artistes, les volontaires, les organisateurs et les supporters.

Ceci est une chance pour nous tous se rencontrer, discuter le festival et nos projets et collaborer. Plus de détails viendra bientôt.


Le circuit infringement agrandisse

Cette année, en plus de Montréal, il y aura un festival infringement à Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina et New York, et peut-être d’autres villes.

Toutes les artistes infringement de Montréal sont invités à faire la tournée du circuit. Si vous voulez, SVP proposer votre spectacle à chaque festival individuellement. Leurs details de contacte sont en ligne ici et leurs dates sont ici.

Pour collaborer avec les autres actes qui font la tournée (peut-être partagent des resources), ou pour vous lister comme acte de tournée sur notre site web, SVP contacter JC (514) 583-3378 ou infringementfestival@yahoo.ca une fois vous savez quels autres festivals vous jouerez.


Car Stories cherchent des joueurs

Les Laboratoires Théâtraux Optatif cherchent presentment des acteurs, des écrivains et des organisateurs pour Car Stories cet été en Montréal et pour notre tournée à Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina et New York.

Le spectacle déroule dans les vraies rues, ruelles autos et bars du monde des merveillles urbaine. Cette combinaison extrêmement interactive de théâtre et théâtre dans la rue est aussi l'experiment théâtrale la plus longue-durant de Montréal.

Nous cherchons des personnes qui peuvent jouer un caractère grand dans des indications dramatiques détachés et des personnes qui ont écrit (ou qui peuvent écrire) une scène de 10-15 minutes qui peuvent être jouée dans une voiture. Nous cherchons aussi des gens pour nous aider avec l'organisation, le sponsorat ou pour nous preter leurs voiture, qu'on va transformer en vedette.

Si vous aimeriez sauter à bord ou aimeriez plus d'information, s'il vous plaît appeler (514) 915-0674, envoyer un courriel à optativelabs@yahoo.ca ou consultez www.optative.net/carstories (inclut des vidéos).

Rappels

Si vous n'avez pas fait déjà si, il reste du temps pour proposer un spéctacle au festival infringement de Montréal ou devenir un agent iF (bénévole du festival). Appeler (514) 583-FEST (3378) pour proposer un spéctacle ou (514) 513-0420 pour devenir bénévole, ou nous contacter par courriel: infringementmontreal@yahoo.ca

Pour lister votre évenemment comme évennement communautaire infringement, proposer votre spectacle comme infringeENCORE ou chercher des joueurs dans nos annonces classés communautaire infringement, contacter infringementfestival@yahoo.ca

Pour y joindre cette liste ou enlever votre adresse courriel de la liste, SVP contacter infringementfestival@yahoo.ca
*** SVP envoyer ou re-afficher

L'équipe infringement de Montréal
www.infringementfestival.com/montreal

Play postponed for political content in NYC

Interesting story out of NYC...

-----

Rickman slams 'censorship' of play about US Gaza activist
Julian Borger in Washington, Tuesday February 28, 2006, The Guardian
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1719693,00.html

A New York theatre company has put off plans to stage a play about an American activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza because of the current "political climate" - a decision the play's British director, Alan Rickman, denounced yesterday as "censorship".

James Nicola, the artistic director of the New York Theatre Workshop, said it had never formally announced it would be staging the play, My Name is Rachel Corrie, but it had been considering staging it in March.

"In our pre-production planning and our talking around and listening in our communities in New York, what we heard was that after Ariel Sharon's illness and the election of Hamas, we had a very edgy situation," Mr Nicola said.

"We found that our plan to present a work of art would be seen as us taking a stand in a political conflict, that we didn't want to take."

He said he had suggested a postponement until next year.

Mr Rickman, best known for his film acting roles in Love, Actually and the Harry Potter series and who directed the play at London's Royal Court Theatre, denounced the decision.

"I can only guess at the pressures of funding an independent theatre company in New York, but calling this production "postponed" does not disguise the fact that it has been cancelled," Mr Rickman said in a statement.

"This is censorship born out of fear, and the New York Theatre Workshop, the Royal Court, New York audiences - all of us are the losers."

Rachel Corrie was a 23-year-old activist from Washington state crushed in March 2003 when she put herself between an Israeli army bulldozer and a Palestinian home it was about to demolish in Rafah, on the Egyptian border.

The International Solidarity Movement, of which she was a member, claimed the bulldozer driver ran her over deliberately. The Israeli Defence Forces said it was an accident, and that she was killed by falling debris.

The Israeli government said the demolitions were aimed at creating a "security zone" along the border. The Palestinians say they are a form of collective punishment.

"Rachel Corrie lived in nobody's pocket but her own. Whether one is sympathetic with her or not, her voice is like a clarion in the fog and should be heard," Mr Rickman said.

My Name is Rachel Corrie consists of her diary entries and emails home, edited by Mr Rickman and Katharine Viner, features editor of The Guardian. It won the best new play prize at this year's Theatregoers' Choice Awards in London.

-----

Play About Demonstrator's Death Is Delayed
February 28, By Jesse McKinleay, New York Times, February 28, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/28/theater/newsandfeatures/28thea.html?ex=1141794000&en=6510458956b6ccfc&ei=5070&emc=eta1

A potential Off Broadway production of "My Name Is Rachel Corrie," an acclaimed solo show about an American demonstrator killed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to stop the destruction of a Palestinian home, has been postponed because of concerns about the show's political content.

The production, a hit at the Royal Court Theater in London last year, had been tentatively scheduled to start performances at the New York Theater Workshop in the East Village on March 22. But yesterday, James C. Nicola, the artistic director of the workshop, said he had decided to postpone the show after polling local Jewish religious and community leaders as to their feelings about the work.

"The uniform answer we got was that the fantasy that we could present the work of this writer simply as a work of art without appearing to take a position was just that, a fantasy," he said.
In particular, the recent electoral upset by Hamas, the militant Palestinian group, and the sickness of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, had made "this community very defensive and very edgy," Mr. Nicola said, "and that seemed reasonable to me."

The play, which received strong reviews in London, follows the story of Rachel Corrie, an idealistic American demonstrator and Palestinian-rights activist who was crushed to death in March 2003 in the Gaza Strip.

The play was written by the actor Alan Rickman, who directed the piece, and Katherine Viner, a journalist at The Guardian newspaper in London, who pieced together snippets of Ms. Corrie's journals and e-mail messages to create the script. And while the show had not been formally announced, Ms. Viner said yesterday that she and Mr. Rickman had already bought plane tickets to see the production at the workshop.

"I was devastated and really surprised," Ms. Viner said in a telephone interview from London. "And in my view, I think they're misjudging the New York audience. It's a piece of art, not a piece of agitprop."

But Mr. Nicola said he was less worried about those who saw the show than those who simply heard about it.

"I don't think we were worried about the audience," he said. "I think we were more worried that those who had never encountered her writing, never encountered the piece, would be using this as an opportunity to position their arguments."

Mr. Nicola said that he still hoped to produce the play during the 2006-7 season but that he hadn't heard back from the Royal Court yet. A call for comment to the Royal Court's general manager, Diane Borger, was not returned.

"It seemed as though if we proceeded, we would be taking a stand we didn't want to take," he said.

infringing this weekend...part two

infringing this weekend...

Some interesting stuff to check out...

Anti-Hallmark Valentine's Day party!

This Valentine’s Day, Head & Hands wants to invite you to come celebrate love in all of its forms.
The evening will feature Montreal DJs DJ Maus and Julie D alongside rockout act Kill the Lights, and punk band Tundra. Andrew Johnston, who has a side project from The gentlemen's Club called The Hearts In Transit will also be part of the show. In addition we will have a theatre performance by The Dead Doll Dancers.

The evening will also act as the launch party to Head & Hands’ 2006 Save Our Sex Ed (SOS) campaign which aims to raise funds for Head & Hands sex education programs. Unlike other diseases, STIs and AIDS are completely preventable and education is the key to protection. Support Head and Hands in the SOS campaign and help us make sure that Montreal youth get the sex education they deserve.

8pm at El Salon, 4388 Blvd. St. Laurent. $10 in advance or $12 the door. Tickets are available at Head & Hands, 5833 Sherbrooke W, 481-0277.

Something infringers might be interested in...

WANTED: ANARCHIST PLAYS FOR MONTREAL'S 1ST ANARCHIST THEATRE FESTIVAL

Montreal's newly created 'Anarchist Theatre Festival' is now seeking submissions of anarchist theatre pieces to be staged May 8 & 9, 2006. This will be North America's first ever festival of anarchist theatre.

The festival is part of Montreal's annual 'Festival of Anarchy' that leads up to the city's
7th annual 'Anarchist Bookfair,' May 20 & 21st, the largest anarchist event in North America.

We are looking for theatre pieces about anarchists, anarchist ideas, history, or any subject related to anarchism. We will consider plays or monologues that are original new work, or that have already been performed, or that have been written by anarchists (historical or contemporary). The pieces can be either full productions or staged readings in either French or English.

We are looking for work that is anti-State, anti-capitalist, non-sexist,
non-homophobic, anti-Empire, anti-authoritarian, etc. We want anarchist content written by either anarchist playwrights or writers who are sympathetic to anarchism. ( Please see the 'Principles' section of the web site of the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair for a more detailed description of appropriate guidelines for 'anarchist' content. http://anarchistbookfair.taktic.org )
We ask all potential participants to explain why they believe their proposal would fit in this Festival. This is an all-volunteer event, thus, without any remuneration. The Festival will provide publicity, an appropriate indoor venue, and a guaranteed interested audience. (All proceeds from sale of tickets will cover Festival expenses and be used for staging future festivals.) If interested, please send either an outline of your proposal, or a few sample pages from your work NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 22, 2006 to either anarchistfestival@yahoo.ca or

@ Theatre Festival
c/o S. Laplage
6797 rue de Normanville
Montréal, Quebec
H2S 2C2

If you submit anything by snail mail, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Report from Christiania (January 10th)

infringement performance activist Donovan King is in The Free City of Christiania, in the middle of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is reporting daily on the resitiance to attempts by the Danish government to shut the city down...

The people of Christiania do not live a subsistence living - the area is probably too small to grow food for all its inhabitants, and they do move into and out of Copenhagen whenever they like.

At the same time, the Sunshine Bakery makes delicious breads and treats (the Danes loves to eat sweet breads at breakfast).

At the moment, I am in an area (Christianshavn) that has been cordonned off by the POLITI (police) - apparently due to a bomb threat.

I was going to get some milk for the coffee, and had to pass under a police tape. On my return, the POLITI said I was not allowed back to where I am staying.

Luckily, I managed to convince them, otherwise I'd be standing on a cold street corner with a carton of milk while my associates wondered what happened to me.

Apparently the Danish citizens are concerned that they are "next" on the terrorist hit-list, not unfeasible given the Danish participation in the Iraq war, and the ongoing Bush bootlicking carried out by the right-wing government.

Nowadays, I am told, there is an atmosphere of danger and any unattended bag is suspect. Anyways, I am personally hoping that this bomb threat has no substance, otherwise, I could be in serious shit if the thing goes off.

There are actually trucks outside that send TV-robots into sewers, so maybe the threat is under ground.

*** LATER ***

Well, it seems the bomb threat was a false alarm.

Apparently as white car was viewed as suspcious for some reason, and was eventually towed away by POLITI.

On the 5 o'clock news the anchor was asking the reporter if the threat was tied to Christiania. She said "no", rolling her eyes at such speculation.

Tonight I am going to movie night at the operaren...

- Donovan King (in Christiania)

Report from Christiania (January 9th)

infringement performance activist Donovan King is in The Free City of Christiania, in the middle of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is reporting daily on the resitiance to attempts by the Danish government to shut the city down...

I just returned from Christiania and Monday nights are pretty dead there. I was hoping to attend another meeting, but alas, there was none to be found.

The police patrol until midnight I am told, and I witnessed two cops harassing a young woman. I moved in a bit closer to see what was going on, and saw a cop intimidating here, saying something in Danish with the word HASH at the end of the sentence.

Translated, I imagine it would have sounded something like "Hey, what were you smoking? Where is your HASH?????".

Christiania TV is now loaning out video cameras to document police harassment and brutality. There are also 2 weekly papers (in Danish only) that discuss these issues and show photos. Tomorrow night is the Christiania TV screening night, so that should be interesting.

I have also spent a bit of time wandering around Copenhagen. Apparently some rich dude, Maersk, forked over tons of money for an opera house, but only if he could build it right next to a historic castle.

Sure enough, there it is spoiling a beautiful historic view by being situated right at the end of an important historic street. It is a monstrosity of architecture.

- Donovan King (in Christiania)

Report from Christiania (January 8th)

infringement performance activist Donovan King is in The Free City of Christiania, in the middle of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is reporting daily on the resitiance to attempts by the Danish government to shut the city down...

I just came back from the Blues Jam at the Operaren, and met a fellow named David from New Orleans. He was playing the trumpet with passion and pizazz amidst the improvised jazz ensemble (which plays 4 - 9 pm every Sunday, free of charge).

I have met a few Americans here, many dating back from decades ago. Many of them are similar to the current War Resisters in Canada - they came to escape oppressive US policies.

Discussing Katrina with David was enlightening - as a black person he had a lot to say against the US government and Bush.

I also met an older woman, a single mother whose daughters are now grown into adults, who told me of a horrifying encounter with the police where they beat the shit out of her. Apparently this is a common practice with Chistianites, and reportedly Amnesty International mentions it every time they report on the Danish government's conduct.

A lot of the people here are extremely pissed with their right-wing government, and the lasy I mentioned described it as "the most racist government in the world today".

Apparently they are tightening up and already extremely tight immigration policy, with new "tests".

The police also paid a visit to Christiania today with a massive bulldozer. Surely an intimidation sign, they demanded to bulldoze a snowfort which they claimed was a "security risk". And bulldoze they did.

Not a single snowman made by kids hands or wall within the playful fort remained following this sad spectacle.

A lot of it was actually made by Greenlanders, or the equivalent of First Nations in Canada.

There is a real atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Christiania.

On an entirely different note, I had dinner with a new media artist internet-named "FRIGG" who has a beautiful girl named Penny (1 1/2 years old). She told me that she is planning an electronic defense of Christiania.

- Donovan King (in Christiania)