We are proud to announce the launch of a multi-phase community engagement project at the Scarborough Historical Museum. As part of the Toronto Arts Council 2014 program to Animate Historic Sites Keystone Theatre has been engaged to bring our distinct silent film inspired genre of physical theatre to this unique location in the heart of Scarborough.

Not only a beautifully preserved pioneer homestead, the Scarborough Historical Museum is also a leader in youth engagement in their community. They boast a strong roster of Youth Volunteers who come from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Many of the Youth are new Canadians and come from homes where English is not the primary spoken language. With this audience in mind Keystone Theatre has envisioned a project blending visual arts, music, theatre as well as history that will engage and challenge the Youth Volunteers. There are several distinct aspects to the project that are happening concurrently at the museum every weekend through April, May and June:

1. Physical Theatre Workshops – We are hosting a variety of workshops in different aspects of physical theatre; Character Creation, Stage Combat, Clown, Improv, Slapstick and Commedia are all in the mix.

2. Set Design – Partnering with The inPrint Collective – a group of artists who specialize in printmaking – members of the Youth Volunteer Team will use traditional printmaking methods to create seven different sets our newest play Gold Fever which will be offered as a FREE public performance onsite at the museum Sunday, June 15th.

3. New Play Creation – We have formed a Young Company who are creating a short silent film inspired piece that will be performed for the public as a “Curtain Riser” for Gold Fever on June 15th and then will be performed throughout the summer at the museum as a stand-alone piece.

4. Professional Theatre Internship – One member of the Young Company has been invited to perform their original piece as the “Curtain Riser” for Gold Fever at the Toronto Fringe July 2nd – 13th. She will also take on a small role in Gold Fever. Christol Bryan is a long time Youth Volunteer who is now in the Devised Theatre Program at York University and this will be a great addition to her creative CV.

Summer is here, so come out to the Scarborough Town Museum and watch us perform in and around their beautiful historic buildings!

More info at: https://twitter.com/ScarbMuseum/media

This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of: