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SummerWorks Performance Festival (August 3 - 13, 2023)

Thank you for an incredible year! Check out the 2023 Year-End Wrap Video for highlights from all of our amazing SummerWorks happenings…

Welcome to the 33rd SummerWorks Performance Festival!

Join us for 11 days of diverse encounters and curious collaborations with artists, audiences, and creative partners from across Canada, and around the world.

Curated by, and in conversation with our six Guest Curators, the 2023 Festival asks crucial questions about our relationship to our senses, and heightens our embodied awareness of the world around us. You’ll experience a diverse mix of innovative and sensorial performance experiences combined with unique and thought-provoking creative exchanges.

If you’ve attended in the past, or you are just now encountering the Festival for the first time – welcome! There is so much rich potential in the moment of meeting; between two people and between artist and audience. There’s a sensation that’s palpable; there’s a spark that ignites when we share space in intimacy and in proximity with one another. There’s an endless array of possibilities…

Whether it’s in the theatre, at the Market, or on the dance floor, we look forward to meeting you and sharing space with you!

Scroll down to view all of the exciting offerings at this year’s Festival!

ASL VLOG

Uncover more about the 2023 SummerWorks Performance Festival by viewing general information about tickets, venues, and policies.

Video produced by Deaf Spectrum. Signer: Alice Lo.

Festival Programming 2023

A dancer with short brown hair is captured in motion from the shoulders up in front of a black background. She is facing away from the camera and has her right first raised to eye level at her side. A dancer with short brown hair is captured in motion from the shoulders up in front of a black background. She is facing away from the camera and has her right first raised to eye level at her side.
SummerWorks Lab

within sensation

A handsome white man in an under shirt and yellow sunglasses pours gasoline on himself. A handsome white man in an under shirt and yellow sunglasses pours gasoline on himself.
SummerWorks Exchange

TRUCK

A painting by Brent Hardisty in the Anishinaabe Woodland style. A pregnant woman is standing, and power-lines show her speaking to a kneeling woman. Above them, an owl is flying. The painting is in shades of red, blue, black and brown on a white background. A painting by Brent Hardisty in the Anishinaabe Woodland style. A pregnant woman is standing, and power-lines show her speaking to a kneeling woman. Above them, an owl is flying. The painting is in shades of red, blue, black and brown on a white background.
SummerWorks Presentations

The Seventh Fire

A side profile of a large stack of colourful hardcover books. A side profile of a large stack of colourful hardcover books.
SummerWorks Exchange

The Reading Room

Jacob sits holding a transparent yellow disc to their forehead in a sunny field of tall green grass. Within the yellow disk, there is a small image of Alyssa cheerleading with lettuce bundles for pom poms. Jacob sits holding a transparent yellow disc to their forehead in a sunny field of tall green grass. Within the yellow disk, there is a small image of Alyssa cheerleading with lettuce bundles for pom poms.
SummerWorks Public Works

The Lettuce Head Experience

A place setting is laid out on a black tablecloth. The setting includes an empty white plate, tools in the place of silverware, a stack of books, a water glass, and a placecard labelled A place setting is laid out on a black tablecloth. The setting includes an empty white plate, tools in the place of silverware, a stack of books, a water glass, and a placecard labelled
SummerWorks Exchange

The Dinner Party

A collage of images; a long winding road, a huge planet, a set of apartment builds and a pyramid in the background. In the foreground there is a baobab tree, a glass jar, Aisha wearing dark baggy jeans, a black t-shirt that says London, and an African kufi on her head with a black blazer, looking down to the ground. A collage of images; a long winding road, a huge planet, a set of apartment builds and a pyramid in the background. In the foreground there is a baobab tree, a glass jar, Aisha wearing dark baggy jeans, a black t-shirt that says London, and an African kufi on her head with a black blazer, looking down to the ground.
SummerWorks Public Works

TERRAFORM

Two black performers with their fists raised are leading the audience down a sidewalk. One has short orange hair, a cheetah print skirt and a black shirt saying 'Batty Bwoys Matter'. The other has long black hair and is wearing a white crop top with jean shorts. Two black performers with their fists raised are leading the audience down a sidewalk. One has short orange hair, a cheetah print skirt and a black shirt saying 'Batty Bwoys Matter'. The other has long black hair and is wearing a white crop top with jean shorts.
SummerWorks Public Works

Switching Regent(s): Making Street Theatre Magic

Five performers in a street-side park sit in semi-circle, lit by a purple glow. One of them is in a motorized chair and speaking into a microphone. A line of flags hangs behind them. Five performers in a street-side park sit in semi-circle, lit by a purple glow. One of them is in a motorized chair and speaking into a microphone. A line of flags hangs behind them.
SummerWorks Public Works

Switching Queen(s) Reprised: After Care for Frontline Hearts

A theatre lit up at night with the words 'Invent the Future' on the wall and a spotlight on a speaker standing on a balcony. On the ground, spectators look up from picnic tables and neon green umbrellas. A theatre lit up at night with the words 'Invent the Future' on the wall and a spotlight on a speaker standing on a balcony. On the ground, spectators look up from picnic tables and neon green umbrellas.
SummerWorks Public Works

Opening Night Celebration

A four grid image of the two artists. Yarro, with short buzzed hair, bare shoulders and a large hooped earring with an ornate design, looks down in front of a background of clouds in a blue sky. Nyda, in an orange shirt with long black hair draping their face, leans forward in front of a light grey background. The two images are doubled below and upside down. A four grid image of the two artists. Yarro, with short buzzed hair, bare shoulders and a large hooped earring with an ornate design, looks down in front of a background of clouds in a blue sky. Nyda, in an orange shirt with long black hair draping their face, leans forward in front of a light grey background. The two images are doubled below and upside down.
SummerWorks Lab

LOOP

A colourful image of a man looking up at the light in front of projector in prayer. A colourful image of a man looking up at the light in front of projector in prayer.
SummerWorks Exchange

Light, Form + Stage: Projection Mapping Mini-Showing

A black and white portrait of a white woman's right side of the face, right eye staring straight ahead. A black and white portrait of a white woman's right side of the face, right eye staring straight ahead.
SummerWorks Presentations

Lady M (Margaret)

Seven artists ride in a colourful van with peace signs, rainbows and stars. Seven artists ride in a colourful van with peace signs, rainbows and stars.
SummerWorks Exchange

International Choreographic Interlink: Toronto-Taipei

An extreme close up of pale, rosy cheeked person's nose, chin, and chest. They are wearing a loose red leather dog collar around their neck, holding the end of the leash between their teeth, and grinning. An extreme close up of pale, rosy cheeked person's nose, chin, and chest. They are wearing a loose red leather dog collar around their neck, holding the end of the leash between their teeth, and grinning.
SummerWorks Presentations

i am your spaniel, or, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare by Gislina Patterson

Two people sit on the ground surrounded by multiple spheres. One person cradles two of the spheres in their arm and one on their head. The other person holds two books on their head. A kaleidoscopic projection in the background with a strange geometric shape. Two people sit on the ground surrounded by multiple spheres. One person cradles two of the spheres in their arm and one on their head. The other person holds two books on their head. A kaleidoscopic projection in the background with a strange geometric shape.
SummerWorks Lab

DOUBLE

Six images of the six curators. Sue looks out at a body of water and sunset aboard a boat. A black and white image of Ralph dancing with hands on his waist and a leg raised wearing half pants, half dress. Aria looks at the camera wearing a yellow top, a beaded earring, in front of a purple background. A black and white image of Jivesh with round glasses, a beard, hooped earrings and a jean jacket. A profile image of ted with short blond hair, white tank top, long necklace and an arm tattoo of a large bird. An image of Alison looking at the camera smiling in a turquoise top and background. Six images of the six curators. Sue looks out at a body of water and sunset aboard a boat. A black and white image of Ralph dancing with hands on his waist and a leg raised wearing half pants, half dress. Aria looks at the camera wearing a yellow top, a beaded earring, in front of a purple background. A black and white image of Jivesh with round glasses, a beard, hooped earrings and a jean jacket. A profile image of ted with short blond hair, white tank top, long necklace and an arm tattoo of a large bird. An image of Alison looking at the camera smiling in a turquoise top and background.
SummerWorks Exchange

Curators in Conversation

An outdoor gathering at sunset with people sitting on blankets on the grass by a large tree and the CN Tower in the distance. An outdoor gathering at sunset with people sitting on blankets on the grass by a large tree and the CN Tower in the distance.
SummerWorks Public Works

Closing Weekend Party

A collage image of the three Ballroom artists. Matthew “Snoopy” is on the ground whipping their long hair, Chéline stands smiling and posing with an arm raised, a tree is wrapped by pink fleshy worms in the background. A collage image of the three Ballroom artists. Matthew “Snoopy” is on the ground whipping their long hair, Chéline stands smiling and posing with an arm raised, a tree is wrapped by pink fleshy worms in the background.
SummerWorks Lab

Ballroom, Too

Two dancers are captured by camera from above. They lay facing each other with their heads resting on a white windowsill. The dancers are softly smiling, holding their hands out with the backs of their palms in front of each other’s noses. Both dancers are wearing collared teal shirts, one lighter and one darker. The dancer on the left has short, curly dark brown hair; the dancer on the right has shoulder length straight brown hair. Two dancers are captured by camera from above. They lay facing each other with their heads resting on a white windowsill. The dancers are softly smiling, holding their hands out with the backs of their palms in front of each other’s noses. Both dancers are wearing collared teal shirts, one lighter and one darker. The dancer on the left has short, curly dark brown hair; the dancer on the right has shoulder length straight brown hair.
SummerWorks Lab

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Programming Streams

SummerWorks Performance Festival (August 3-13, 2023) offers four distinct streams of programming:

SummerWorks Presentations
Fully-developed new works, offering a snapshot of the future of contemporary performance.

SummerWorks Lab
A place for exploration, experimentation, and process, with diverse performance works at crucial stages of development, forging connections between artists and audiences.

SummerWorks Public Works
Free performances and artworks that aim to bring artists and audiences together to experience public space in new ways.

SummerWorks Exchange
Community workshops and professional development, facilitated discussions, mentorship, and networking opportunities for artists, audiences, and industry professionals.

Guest Curators

Six images of the six curators. Sue looks out at a body of water and sunset aboard a boat. A black and white image of Ralph dancing with hands on his waist and a leg raised wearing half pants, half dress. Aria looks at the camera wearing a yellow top, a beaded earring, in front of a purple background. A black and white image of Jivesh with round glasses, a beard, hooped earrings and a jean jacket. A profile image of ted with short blond hair, white tank top, long necklace and an arm tattoo of a large bird. An image of Alison looking at the camera smiling in a turquoise top and background.

This year’s Festival is curated by six Guest Curators – Sue Balint, Ralph Escamillan, Aria Evans, Jivesh Parasram, ted witzel, and Alison Wong. Learn more about what inspired the 2023 Festival programming and get to know our 2023 Guest Curators.

2023 GUEST CURATORS

Accessibility

A smiling person with glasses performs wrapped in an orange scarf. Four audience members can be seen in the background behind them. Ralitsa Rodriguez in Gender Reveal Party (SummerWorks 2019). Photo by Henry Chan.

SummerWorks is committed to continually increasing accessibility for our artists and audiences. This includes extending accessibility practices throughout the entirety of the artistic and administrative processes.

We strive to go beyond the bare minimum standard of accessibility practices in the performing arts and to support artists, programmers, and partner organizations in considering how access can be incorporated throughout all aspects of a production and throughout all stages, from development to presentation. It is our expectation that the artists we work with will also strive to put accessibility practices at the forefront of the creative process and implementation of their work.

Equity & Diversity

Image of a theatre full of people, taken from the stage. A performer with their back to the camera, stands facing a seated audience. There is a spotlight shining down on the performer. Reece's Pieces 2.0 (SummerWorks 2019) Photo by Andrew Williamson

SummerWorks is committed to equity and diversity, both through our program of activities and as an employer. Our practices and procedures aim to reflect the varied needs, expectations, and cultures of all members of our community. We make every effort to ensure that no member of the community receives less favourable treatment in our recruitment process or when accessing our services, on the grounds of gender identity, disability, race, religion or belief, age, or sexual orientation.

Health & Safety

The words 'There is so much more to say' is written in colourful tape on the brick wall of a residence in the daytime. Health and Safety Notes (SummerWorks 2022). Photo Credit: Andrew Williamson

SummerWorks centres our core value of Care in the development of our health & safety policies and practices. The health and safety of patrons, artists, volunteers, and staff is our number one priority.