Public Readings – Three Down, One To Go

Over the course of one month, I have had the opportunity to read my work in public three times, with one more chance coming up.

A photo of author A.M. Matte at a Toronto Public Library podium, reading a short story excerpt .
A.M. Matte, reading an excerpt of A Treat, at the TOWC Voices 2013 book launch.

I’ve read an excerpt of my short story Where Pigeons Roost, with fave author Terry Fallis in attendance. I’ve read an excerpt of my MIL Dread monologue at a CityVoices Monologue Salon. (Click here for a YouTube excerpt of the monologue performed by actress Audrey Ferron.) And I’ve read an excerpt of my short story A Treat at the launch of the Toronto Writers Cooperative’s Voices anthology (only $10 each).

An image of the Voices 2013 anthology book cover, itself a blurred image of light coming through a window on a brownish background.
The Voices 2013 anthology.

I immensely enjoyed reading my pieces at those events and I’m thrilled to have one more opportunity to share at the Who You Calling Crazy? reading by emerging authors at Toronto’s Free Times Café on Thursday, October 3rd, starting at 7:30 p.m.

I’ll be practicing reading my excerpts until then.

Reprise de La lettre à la Fête de la culture

Suite à son succès au Festival Fringe de Toronto cet été, le spectacle d’improvisation interactif La lettre sera en reprise à Toronto en septembre, dans le cadre de la Fête de la culture, grâce à un appui de la Bibliothèque publique de Toronto. Au plaisir de vous y voir!

Fete de la culture 2013 YO

Upcoming Public Readings

I confess: I’m one of those writers who loves to read her stuff out loud. Preferably when other people are around to listen, absorb, critique, discuss.

That’s why I’m very fortunate to have three opportunities to read excerpts of my short stories in the next few months.

On September 5, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., thanks to the Toronto Writers’ Cooperative, I get to read an excerpt of my short story Where Pigeons Roost at a literary event starring award-winning Canadian author Terry Fallis.

Then, on September 15, 2013, at 1:45 p.m., the Toronto Writers’ Cooperative is once again providing a reading opportunity, thanks to the launch of its Voices 2013 anthology, a perfect-bound anthology of co-op members’ work, in a range of genres.

Both events are held at the Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium on the first floor of the Toronto Reference Library, and are free.

Finally, on October 3, 2013, at 7:30 p.m., another conglomerate of writers will gather to share a range of work – from short fiction to creative non-fiction to poetry – under the theme Who You Calling Crazy? While this event, held at the Free Times Café in Toronto, is free of charge, donations to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health will be gladly accepted.

I’ve been practicing and timing (and even editing) the excerpts I plan to read, and am excited about these opportunities to share my writing live. If you happen to be in town, come on by and let me know what you think of my performance.

Exchanging Notes and A Reading in September

I’m excited to be reading as part of the Toronto Writers’ Co-operative literary evening, called Exchanging Notes, next month. On September 5th, 2013, the TOWC has invited award-winning author (and my one-time mentor) Terry Fallis to chat at the Toronto Reference Library.

Prior to the interview with Terry, two TOWC members will read their work – yours truly is one of them. It all goes down at the Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. I’ll be reading an excerpt of my short story Where Pigeons Roost, about a woman who becomes obsessed with the underground game of pigeon-thwacking.

See you there!

Exchanging Notes: the interviews
with Terry Fallis
Host John Miller converses about the writer’s life and craft with Terry Fallis.  Terry is the author of The Best Laid Plans (Leacock Medal for Humour, 2008) and The High Road.  In 2011, The High Road won CBC Canada Reads as the “essential Canadian novel of the decade.”  TBLP is currently in development as a CBC-Television mini-series.  Terry’s continuing publisher, McClelland and Stewart, published Up and Down in 2011.  It debuted on the G&M bestsellers list.  Terry’s 4th novel, No Relation, will be published in May, 2014.  His 5th novel is currently underway.
Terry has extensive experience in provincial and federal politics, and communications consultation with the agency he co-founded, Thornley Fallis.
A.M. Matte and John Warren of the T.O. Writers’ Co-op will read from their work.

 

Exchanging Notes: the interviews
with Terry Fallis
6:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street
Info: towc@live.com

A Look Back at The Letter at the Toronto Fringe Festival

Productions Nemesis’ The Letter was a great success at the Toronto Fringe Festival this summer.

We met all of our artistic goals: we presented all ten shows, in spite of torrential rains and oppressive heat, and we had terrific, participating audiences that provided us with over 75 letters on which we based our improv sketches.

Samples of letters received from the audience of The Letter at the 2013 Toronto Fringe Festival
Samples of letters received from the audience of The Letter at the 2013 Toronto Fringe Festival

Here are some comments from the audience:

« Wonderful Impro’s.  Creative acting.  Perfect MC’ing.  Great weather start.  Lousy weather finish.
Very well written Monologue.  Well acted, as well. » – Erik H.
« J’étais impressionnée par les talents des comédiennes. » – Merle H.
« The Letter [is] awesome! » – Sophie T.
« J’ai adoré! » – Suzie B.

 

Here are articles about the show:

THE LETTER / LA LETTRE AU FRINGE: CORRESPONDANCE IMPROVISÉE

Les Productions Nemesis présente The Letter / La lettre au festival théâtral Fringe de Toronto

And I am happy to announce that we will present The Letter (La lettre) again in Toronto in September (in French), during Culture Days, thanks to the support of the Toronto Public Library. We hope to see you there! 

Bilan de La lettre au Festival Fringe de Toronto

Productions Nemesis a présenté le spectacle improvisé La lettre au Festival Fringe de Toronto cet été.

Nous avons rencontré nos objectifs artistiques en présentant chacune de nos dix représentations, malgré de grosses pluies d’une part et une grosse chaleur de l’autre. Nous avons récupéré plus de 75 lettres du public sur lesquelles notre troupe a joué des impros joviales.

Quelques échantillons de la correspondance reçue du public participant de La lettre
Quelques échantillons de la correspondance reçue du public participant de La lettre au Festival Fringe 2013

Voici quelques commentaires du public:

« Wonderful Impro’s.  Creative acting.  Perfect MC’ing.  Great weather start.  Lousy weather finish.
Very well written Monologue.  Well acted, as well. » – Erik H.
 
« J’étais impressionnée par les talents des comédiennes. » – Merle H.
 
« The Letter [is] awesome! » – Sophie T.
 
« J’ai adoré! » – Suzie B.

 

Voici où trouver des articles au sujet du spectacle:

THE LETTER / LA LETTRE AU FRINGE: CORRESPONDANCE IMPROVISÉE

Les Productions Nemesis présente The Letter / La lettre au festival théâtral Fringe de Toronto

Et j’ai le plaisir d’annoncer que La lettre sera en reprise à Toronto en septembre, dans le cadre de la Fête de la culture, grâce à un appui de la Bibliothèque publique de Toronto. Nous vous y verrons!

À une semaine du Festival Fringe de Toronto – La lettre

Répétition amusante et productive aujourd’hui pour La lettre / The Letter, qui sera au Festival Fringe de Toronto du 3 au 14 juillet.

Venez écrire des lettres avec nous!

Audrey Ferron, Sonia D'Amico, Barbara-Audrey Bergeron, Catherine Berthiaume et (assis) Frédéric Assabgui songent à la correspondance
Audrey Ferron, Sonia D’Amico, Barbara-Audrey Bergeron, Catherine Berthiaume et (assis) Frédéric Assabgui songent à la correspondance

Dans la foulée de deux spectacles d’improvisation couronnés de succès, Meurtre littéraire en septembre 2012 et Effeuilletage en avril 2013, la compagnie théâtrale bilingue Productions Nemesis est de retour avec The Letter / La lettre dans le cadre du 25e festival Fringe de Toronto, qui se tient du 3 au 14 juillet 2013.

L’une des trois pièces à contribution volontaire («pay what you can») à partager la tente extérieure du Fringe Club dans le stationnement du magasin Honest Ed’s, The Letter / La lettre invite les spectateurs à apporter des lettres qui serviront de base à un sketch d’improvisation. De la papeterie sera fournie pour celles et ceux qui désireront écrire une lettre sur place.

« Nous avons déjà fait de l’improvisation interactive, et avons eu beaucoup de plaisir avec le public », de dire Sonia D’Amico, metteure en scène. « Notre mélange de théâtre et d’improvisation constitue un défi intéressant. Ajoutez à cela le fait que nous jouerons à la fois en français et en anglais, et ça donne un spectacle convenant très bien au lieu de présentation, qui sort de l’ordinaire. »

Mettant en vedette Barbara-Audrey Bergeron, Audrey Ferron et Catherine Berthiaume, conçue par A.M. Matte et par des spectateurs et spectatrices à découvrir, The Letter / La lettre sera sur scène (ou, plus précisément, sous la tente) du 3 au 14 juillet :

Mercredi 3 juillet, 19 h

Jeudi 4 juillet, 16 h

Vendredi 5 juillet, 16 h

Samedi 6 juillet, 20 h 30

Dimanche 7 juillet, 15 h

Lundi 8 juillet, 16 h

Mardi 9 juillet, 20 h 30

Mercredi 10 juillet, 20 h 30

Vendredi 12 juillet, 16 h

Dimanche 14 juillet, 20 h 30

One Week to the Toronto Fringe Festival and The Letter!

Fun and constructive rehearsal today, for The Letter / La lettre, Productions Nemesis’ next show, at the Toronto Fringe Festival.

Come write letters with us!

Improv artists Audrey Ferron, Barbara-Audrey Bergeron and Catherine Berthiaume are awaiting your letters at the 2013 Toronto Fringe Festival
Improv artists Audrey Ferron, Barbara-Audrey Bergeron and Catherine Berthiaume are awaiting your letters at the 2013 Toronto Fringe Festival

Following two successful improvisation shows, Meurtre littéraire in September 2012 and Effeuilletage in April 2013, bilingual theatre company Productions Nemesis returns with The Letter / La lettre at the 25th Toronto Fringe Festival, July 3-14, 2013.

One of three Pay What You Can plays to share the outdoors tent space at the Fringe Club in Honest Ed’s Parking Lot, The Letter / La lettre invites its audience to bring letters to the show to inspire an improv sketch. For those who wish to write a letter on site, stationery will be provided.

“We’ve experimented with interactive improvisation before, and had a lot of fun with our audience,” says Sonia D’Amico, director. “Our blend of staged theatre and improvised sketch is an intriguing challenge. Throw in there that we will play in both English and French, and we’ve got ourselves a show that lends itself very well to our unique venue.”

Featuring Barbara-Audrey Bergeron, Audrey Ferron, and Catherine Berthiaume, researched and written by A.M. Matte and yet-to-be-discovered audience members, The Letter / La lettre is on stage (or, more precisely, under canopy) from July 3 to 14:

Wednesday, July 3, 7 p.m.

Thursday, July 4, 4 p.m.

Friday, July 5, 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 6, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 7, 3 p.m.

Monday, July 8, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, July 9, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 10, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, July 12, 4 p.m.

Sunday, July 14, 8:30 p.m.