Londoners will now have the chance to see Ontario’s premiere of Controlled Damage, at the Grand Theatre this month.
The production, written by H.B. Beal graduate Andrea Scott, looks at the life and work of Canadian Activist and business owner Viola Desmond.
Desmond, who fought against racial segregation in Nova Scotia, by refusing to leave a whites-only area of a theatre was removed from the theatre and then jailed and charged.
“We’re so excited to finally put on Controlled Damage at the Grand, it was supposed to be in our season last year, but it was cancelled because of the pandemic,” said Caitlin Core, the Communications Manager at the Grand Theatre when asked about the production’s journey.
“We’re so thrilled to finally put this on stage and for more and more people in London and beyond,” she added.
As the Grand’s opening production for the new year, Dennis Garnhum, the Grand Theatre’s Artistic Director is excited for Londoners finally have the chance to see Controlled Damage.
“We’re proud of what we’ve been able to do here, we’re so happy to be able to bring back the show after all the difficulties Covid brought with it,” he said.
Director, Actor, and Choreographer Ray Hogg is the director behind the Grand’s run of Controlled Damage working closing Andrea Scott, Dennis Garnhum, and the cast along with lead Beck Llyod.
Hogg, having worked with the production for close to five years, Hogg now helms the production and has been working on the show thought-out both its highs and lows.
“I was very fortunate to act as the casting director for its world’s premiere production at Neptune Theatre in Halifax, and I was so honoured that Andrea and Dennis asked if I would be the director of this second production,” he said.
“So I’ve been working on the show in a variety of capacities over the past five years, and I’m thrilled to be helping this production.” he continued.
He also talked about his experiences with working with the cast, in particular Llyod Beck, who works to portray Desmond.
“Working with Beck at the Grand has been really illuminating for me, she is an incredible actor who is able to access deep, deep emotions in the quietest moments,” he continued
“Some artists need big noise and big sound and big movements to do their work. Beck is a marvel at finding those quiet moments, the inner moments, the moments that all of us actually as regular human beings feel all the time in our private lives,” he added.
Beck went on to likewise praise Ray Hogg’s own performance in directing the production and in providing support to the cast and crew.
Ray is a shining light, a guide and an inspiration, and sometimes, like the perfect kind of Challenger,” said Beck.
“It been an absolutely fantastic experience being able to work with this cat and crew and I can’t wait for London to see us on the stage.” she continued,
Controlled Damage will run from January 17 to the 29th at the Grand Theatre, you can find out more about the show on the Grand’s website.
Great theatre makes your heart go pop.
#NationalPopcornDay
: Beck Lloyd
by: Dahlia Katz
by: Ming Wong pic.twitter.com/Ti24YuxzyJ
— Grand Theatre (@thegrandlondon) January 19, 2023
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