Pandemic Theatre

Pandemic Theatre is a Toronto-based socio-political theatre company.

Mandate

To create, develop, and produce work from critical and underrepresented perspectives that engage social and political themes.

To create spaces where political discourse is not only possible, but also encouraged.

Pandemic Theatre's work aims to challenge audiences, artists, and communities to engage and question the role of aesthetics in ideology. To do so ethically, critically, and in the spirit of solidarity.

Company History

Founded in 2009, Pandemic Theatre is a performing arts collective based out of T’karonto. It is run under the joint leadership of Jivesh Parasram (Artistic Producer) and Tom Arthur Davis (Artistic Director).

The name “Pandemic” was adopted to speak to the aim of the company to create work that is simultaneously dangerous – from the contemporary widespread bio-hazard connotations of the name – and also, in essence, work that responds to issues that effect and affect the larger common public.

“Pandemic” is derived from the Greek “pandemos” meaning all (“pan”) people (“demos”).

Since Pandemic's inception in 2009, they have produced over forty workshops & productions, including sixteen world premieres. Their work has received numerous honours, awards, and nominations, including the Governor General's Literary Award for Drama, Dora Mavor Moore Award, Herald Angel Award (Edinburgh Fringe), SummerWorks Prize for Production, SummerWorks Spotlight Award for Performance, Best of Fringe (Toronto Fringe), Encore Series (New York Fringe), and SIT-UP Award for Outstanding Audience Engagement.

Like a true Pandemic the work continues to spread, touring across Turtle Island and overseas, including Australia (Sydney), Canada (Calgary, Halifax, Kingston, Montréal, Ottawa, Surrey, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria), England (London, Suffolk), Romania (Sibiu), Scotland (Edinburgh), and the United States (Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco).

Production History

Take d Milk, Nah?

Written by Jivesh Parasram
Directed by Tom Arthur Davis
Created by Jivesh Parasram, Tom Arthur Davis, & Graham Isador

• April, 2020 • A Pandemic Theatre & Theatre Passe Muraille co-production, presented by Montréal, arts interculturels (MAI) • MAI • Montréal, QC
• March, 2020 • A Pandemic Theatre production, presented by Theatre Passe Muraille with support from b current performing arts • Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace • Toronto,ON
• January, 2020 • A Pandemic Theatre & Rumble Theatre co-production, presented by NAC English Theatre • National Arts Centre, Azrieli Studio • Ottawa, ON
• October, 2019 • A Pandemic Theatre & Rumble Theatre co-production, presented by The Cultch with Diwali in BC • The Cultch, Culture Lab • Vancouver, BC
• April, 2018 • A Pandemic Theatre & b current performing arts co-production, with the support of Theatre Passe Muraille • Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace • Toronto, ON
• October, 2017 • A Pandemic Theatre workshop presentation, in association with Aluna Theatre • As part of Caminos 2017 • Aki Studio, Daniels Spectrum • Toronto, ON
• August, 2016 • A Pandemic Theatre workshop presentation • As a part of the Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts • Surrey Arts Centre • Surrey, BC
• May, 2016 • A Pandemic Theatre workshop presentation, in association with b current performing arts • As a part of the rock.paper.sistahz Festival • Wychwood Barns Theatre • Toronto, ON

Daughter

Written by Adam Lazarus
Directed by Ann-Marie Kerr
Created by Adam Lazarus, Ann-Marie Kerr, Jivesh Parasram, & Melissa D'Agostino

• July, 2019 • A QuipTake, Pandemic Theatre, & The Theatre Centre co-production • As part of Latitude Festival • Henham Park • Suffolk, UK
• January, 2019 • A QuipTake, Pandemic Theatre, & The Theatre Centre co-production • As part of Syndey Festival • Carriageworks • Sydney, Australia
• August, 2018 • A QuipTake, Pandemic Theatre, & The Theatre Centre co-production, presented by Selfconcious Productions & Summerhall • As part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe • CanadaHub (King's Hall, Mainspace) • Edinburgh, Scotland
• February, 2018 • A QuipTake & Pandemic Theatre co-production, presented by the National Arts Centre • As part of undercurrents Festival • National Arts Centre, 4th Stage • Ottawa, ON
• February, 2018 • A QuipTake & Pandemic Theatre co-production • As part of PuSh International Performing Arts Festival • The Fox Cabaret (Club PuSh) • Vancouver, BC
• January, 2018 • A QuipTake & Pandemic Theatre co-production • As part of High Performance Rodeo • Vertigo Theatre Centre • Calgary, AB
• November, 2017 • A QuipTake, Pandemic Theatre, & The Theatre Centre co-production • The Theatre Centre • Toronto, ON
• August, 2017 • A QuipTake & Pandemic Theatre co-production • As part of the Kick & Push Festival • Grand Theatre • Kingston, ON
• June, 2017 • A QuipTake & Pandemic Theatre co-production • As part of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival • Teatrul Gong • Sibiu, Romania
• August, 2016 • A QuipTake & Pandemic Theatre co-production • As a part of SummerWorks Performance Festival • Factory Theatre • Toronto, ON

Shove It Down My Throat

Written by Johnnie Walker
Directed by Tom Arthur Davis

• April 2019 • A Buddies in Bad Times Theatre & Pandemic Theatre co-production • Buddies in Bad Times Theatre • Toronto, ON
• June, 2017 • A Buddies in Bad Times Theatre & Pandemic Theatre special presentation • As part of Queer Pride • Buddies in Bad Times Theatre • Toronto, ON

Threepiece

Written by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
Directed by Grace Phan

• October, 2018 • A New Harlem Productions workshop presentation, with support from Pandemic Theatre • as part of SpringWorks Festival • Stratford, ON

#TotalKnockOut

Written by Sunny Drake
Directed by Tom Arthur Davis & Jivesh Parasram

• September, 2018 • Buzz Development Series • A Pink Pluto Collective workshop presentation, with support from Pandemic Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille • Toronto, ON

The Only Good Indian

Created by Jivesh Parasram, Tom Arthur Davis, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Adele Norohna, & Justine Shore
Original Concept by Jivesh Parasram, with Tom Arthur Davis

• May, 2018 • A Pandemic Theatre production • As a part of rEvolver Festival • The Culture Lab, The Cultch • Vancouver, BC
• May, 2018 • A Pandemic Theatre production • As a part of Uno Fest • Intrepid Theatre Club • Victoria, BC
• August, 2017 • A Pandemic Theatre production • As a part of SummerWorks Performance Festival • Factory Theatre • Toronto, ON
• February, 2017 • A Pandemic Theatre production • As a part of the Rhubarb Festival • Buddies in Bad Time Theatre • Toronto, ON

Situational Anarchy

Written by Graham Isador
Directed by Tom Arthur Davis & Jivesh Parasram

• May, 2017 • A Pressgang & Pandemic Theatre co-production • Stop, Drop & Roll • Toronto, ON
• August, 2016 • A Pressgang & Pandemic Theatre co-production • As a part of SummerWorks Performance Festival • The Drake Underground • Toronto, ON

Mahmoud

Written by Tara Grammy & Tom Arthur Davis
Directed by Tom Arthur Davis

• May, 2015 • A Pandemic Theatre production • As a part of Why Not Theatre’s RISER Project • The Theatre Centre • Toronto, ON
• October, 2014 • A Golden Thread Productions production, originally produced by Pandemic Theatre • San Francisco, USA
• October, 2013 • A Pandemic Theatre production • As part of the National Union for Democracy in Iran Fundraiser (performed for Her Imperial Majesty Farah Pahlavi) • Toronto, ON
• May-June, 2013 • A Pandemic Theatre production • Whitefire Theatre • Los Angeles, USA
• September, 2012 • A Pandemic Theatre production • As a part of the Encore Series • Soho Playhouse • New York City, USA
• August, 2012 • A Pandemic Theatre production • As a part of the NYC Fringe • Jimmy`s No. 43 • New York City, USA
• July, 2012 • A Pandemic Theatre production • As a part of the Toronto Fringe • Tarragon Theatre Extra Space • Toronto, ON
• March, 2011 • A Pandemic Theatre production • Tarragon Theatre Extra Space • Toronto, ON

They Say He Fell

Written by Nir Bareket & Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
Directed by Jivesh Parasram

• October, 2015 • A Pandemic Theatre production, in association with Cahoots Theatre • Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace • Toronto, ON
• March, 2015 • A Pandemic Theatre workshop presentation, in association with Canadian Stage • Berkeley Theatre Upstairs • Toronto, ON

The Emancipation of Ms. Lovely

Written by Ngozi Paul
Directed by d'bi young anitafrika

• August, 2015 • A Ngozika Productions production, in association with Pandemic Theatre • As part of SummerWorks Performance Festival • Factory Theatre Studio • Toronto, ON

Birth

Written by Tom Arthur Davis
Directed by Jivesh Parasram, Sarah Kitz, & Tom Arthur Davis

• August, 2016 • Originally produced by Pandemic Theatre • As part of The Navigator’s Lift-Off New Play Series • New York City, USA
• October, 2014 • A Pandemic Theatre production • Campbell House Museum • Toronto, ON

The Lost Sagas of Tjorvi the Flaccid

Written by Jivesh Parasram
Directed by Jivesh Parasram & Alex Rubin

• March, 2013 • A Pandemic Theatre & Theatre Lab co-production • Factory Theatre Studio • Toronto, ON
• March, 2012 • A Pandemic Theatre production • Unit 102 • Toronto, ON

Autogeddon

Written by Heathcote Williams
Directed by Steven Bush & Fiona Griffiths

• May, 2012 • A Happy Trails Production Co. & Pandemic Theatre co-production • Dancemakers • Toronto, ON

Miss Toronto Acts Back

Written by The DitchWitch Brigade
Directed by Antje Budde

• November-December, 2011 • A Pandemic Theatre & DitchWitch Brigade co-production • Unit 102 • Toronto, ON

This Wide Night

Written by Chloë Moss
Directed by John Michaelson

• March, 2012 • A Mermaid Parade production, with support from Pandemic Theatre • Red Sandcastle Theatre • Toronto, ON
• July, 2011 • A Mermaid Parade production, with support from Pandemic Theatre • Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace • Toronto, ON

Murder on Ossington

Created & Directed by Tom Arthur Davis & Alex Rubin

• October, 2011 • A Pandemic Theatre production • Secret Location • Toronto, ON

My Gaza, ‘Tis of Thee

Written by Alex Rubin & Jivesh Parasram
Directed by Jivesh Parasram

• September, 2010 • A Pandemic Theatre production, in association with with UC Drama (University of Toronto) • Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse • Toronto, ON

Imbalance

Written by Michael Clarke
Directed by Tom Arthur Davis

• July, 2010 • Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse • Toronto

Guantanamo Hotels and Resorts

Created by Tom Arthur Davis, Marcel Dragonieri, Kat Letwin, Sonia Lindner, Michael MacKinnon, Muneer Malik-Noor, Colleen Osborn, Jivesh Parasram, Alex Rubin, & Briana Templeton
Directed & Conceived by Jivesh Parasram

• November, 2009 • A Pandemic Theatre production • Bread & Circus • Toronto, ON

External Links

Official Website