Play with Your Food - a quartet of short plays set in a kitchen - Sept 2018
The team who created the Toronto Fringe Festival sold out show, Kitchen Sink Drama, return with more short, original food-themed plays by award-winning playwrights performed in a kitchen on Queen St East. By special invitation from the Ralph Thornton Centre, to celebrate their open house on Sept 15, the team has prepared a quartet of solo performances showcasing a sample of voices through history in the Riverside, Leslieville, and Riverdale area.
Location: Community Kitchen 2nd floor Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen St East
Dates/Times: September 14, 15, 16 at 7:30pm, with additional matinee on Saturday at 3pm
Tickets: All tickets are Pay What You Can in cash at the door, seating in the kitchen space is limited, so arrive early to claim the best seat.
Honey Glazed, written and directed by award-winning playwright Natalie Kaye, and starring musical sensation and Fringe veteran Elizabeth Rose Morriss, is a delightful and touching piece about a working class girl in 1920’s Riverside who dreams about being an actress. Kaye returns to the twenties era after her full length musical comedy Walking Around In A Dream, which was workshopped by Unspoken Theatre. Morriss, a performer in musicals at the Lower Ossington Theatre, and cabaret showcases produced by Jennifer Walls, brings her lovely voice and acting talents to the role.
11-8, written and performed by Naseem Reesha, and directed by Jeff Kennes, is a powerful and dreamlike poetic meditation set in the 1940’s, exploring the experience of those left behind in Leslieville whose family members went to be soldiers in the second world war. Reesha returns to the stage after his searing performance in Kitchen Sink Drama, which was praised by NOW Magazine as being “intense” and “focused”. Kennes brings experience as a graduate from the Director’s Program at InspiraTO short play festival and recent directing credits at Toronto Fringe and the University of Toronto.
Baby, written and performed by award-winning playwright Nina Kaye, reveals the hopes and struggles of a soon to be mother in the early 1980’s Riverdale during the recession. Kaye, an experienced playwright and director, returns to the stage after praise for her performances from Mooney on Theatre as “lovely” and “striking”.
Menos Boca, written and performed by David Montesdeoca, is set in present day South Riverdale and tells the personal story of meal times as a family tradition that can connect us to the ones we love. Montesdeoca relates the tale with animation and charm, having been praised by Mooney on Theatre for being a “delightfully…wide-eyed and mischievous dreamer” in Unspoken Theatre’s Death Meets Harlequin and Other Plays.
Location: Community Kitchen 2nd floor Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen St East
Dates/Times: September 14, 15, 16 at 7:30pm, with additional matinee on Saturday at 3pm
Tickets: All tickets are Pay What You Can in cash at the door, seating in the kitchen space is limited, so arrive early to claim the best seat.
Honey Glazed, written and directed by award-winning playwright Natalie Kaye, and starring musical sensation and Fringe veteran Elizabeth Rose Morriss, is a delightful and touching piece about a working class girl in 1920’s Riverside who dreams about being an actress. Kaye returns to the twenties era after her full length musical comedy Walking Around In A Dream, which was workshopped by Unspoken Theatre. Morriss, a performer in musicals at the Lower Ossington Theatre, and cabaret showcases produced by Jennifer Walls, brings her lovely voice and acting talents to the role.
11-8, written and performed by Naseem Reesha, and directed by Jeff Kennes, is a powerful and dreamlike poetic meditation set in the 1940’s, exploring the experience of those left behind in Leslieville whose family members went to be soldiers in the second world war. Reesha returns to the stage after his searing performance in Kitchen Sink Drama, which was praised by NOW Magazine as being “intense” and “focused”. Kennes brings experience as a graduate from the Director’s Program at InspiraTO short play festival and recent directing credits at Toronto Fringe and the University of Toronto.
Baby, written and performed by award-winning playwright Nina Kaye, reveals the hopes and struggles of a soon to be mother in the early 1980’s Riverdale during the recession. Kaye, an experienced playwright and director, returns to the stage after praise for her performances from Mooney on Theatre as “lovely” and “striking”.
Menos Boca, written and performed by David Montesdeoca, is set in present day South Riverdale and tells the personal story of meal times as a family tradition that can connect us to the ones we love. Montesdeoca relates the tale with animation and charm, having been praised by Mooney on Theatre for being a “delightfully…wide-eyed and mischievous dreamer” in Unspoken Theatre’s Death Meets Harlequin and Other Plays.
Kitchen Sink Drama at Toronto Fringe Festival July 2018 - Sold Out
Kitchen Sink Productions, Unspoken Theatre, and Plan A Theatre present
Kitchen Sink Drama at Toronto Fringe Festival
Kitchen Sink Drama at Toronto Fringe Festival
Performed at Ralph Thornton Centre, Betsy Swift Community Kitchen, 765 Queen St East M4M 1H3 second floor
"Quartet of plays about food performed in an actual kitchen serves up some intriguing flavours...you'll definitely come away feeling full"- NOW Magazine review
"Bitterness, revenge & romance in four delicious courses in Kitchen Sink Drama"-Life With More Cowbell review
"Kitchen Sink Drama is a highly engaging and well crafted piece. It is definitely worth taking advantage of this opportunity to see a Fringe show in Leslieville for the first time" - Mooney on Theatre review
"Bitterness, revenge & romance in four delicious courses in Kitchen Sink Drama"-Life With More Cowbell review
"Kitchen Sink Drama is a highly engaging and well crafted piece. It is definitely worth taking advantage of this opportunity to see a Fringe show in Leslieville for the first time" - Mooney on Theatre review
The first year of Toronto Fringe in Leslieville & Riverside
SOLD OUT FIRST WEEK |
"Delightful" "Magical"-NOW Magazine
"A theatrical feast" "Hilarious" "Positively winsome" - Mooney on Theatre |
Best of Fringe - She Does the City!
Featured interview on TAPA! BlogTO Fringe pick! NOW magazine Fringe guide! |
Your $13 ticket to Kitchen Sink Drama includes four short plays & a serving of snacks from our tasty sponsors, including unique gourmet creations from CXBO Chocolate!
Four plays performed inside a community kitchen! Five playwrights created brand new work to perform in a kitchen at Queen St East. Writers were given a unique flavour - Salty, Bitter, Umami, Sweet - to correspond with the Soup, Salad, Main, and Dessert course of a meal. The pieces they created are strange, powerful meditations on love, betrayal, grief and revenge. They are magical, delicious and proudly queer.
The Salty Soup course is the first play, Siren, by award-winning playwright Natalie Kaye (Mood Swings, Fringe 2016), which tackles themes of violence, betrayal and sexual violence as a scullery maid rails against the constraints of her oppressive employment, vowing to storm the seas as a cross-dressing, blood-thirsty pirate.
**trigger warning - description of violence/sexual violence featured in performance**
The Bitter Salad course, Bitter Hearts, grapples with the ethics of veganism while relishing the inescapable bitterness of first love’s betrayal.
The Umami Main course, Savour, directed by Sandra Cardinal (Sizzle & Spin, Fringe 2015) and starring Fringe veteran and Equity member Andrea Irwin (False Start, Fringe 2016 & Hogtown, 2017), Kelly-Marie McKenna (If We Were Birds, York U), and Mladen Obradović (A Flea in Her Ear, Fringe 2017), is a delectable romance about fairies, breakups, yearning, alienation, magic mushrooms and carpe diem.
The Sweet Dessert course is A Trifle, written by award-winning playwright Nina Kaye (Death Meets Harlequin, Fringe 2017) and directed by Collette Radau (Midnight Toronto, Rhubarb 2017). The queer comedy about new love, cake, and how to connect, is a sweet, but not too saccharine, way to end the night.
OUR CAST AND CREW FOR KITCHEN SINK DRAMA
Aaliya Alibhai, Amelia Blaine, Laurence Braun-Woodbury, Evan Boutsov, Sandra Cardinal, Maggie Cheung, Maggie Cook, Mark Hastings, Andrea Irwin, Natalie Kaye, Nina Kaye, Isaac Lloyd, Kelly Marie McKenna, Mladen Obradovic, Collette Radau, Naseem Reesha & Jess Wareing
Four plays performed inside a community kitchen! Five playwrights created brand new work to perform in a kitchen at Queen St East. Writers were given a unique flavour - Salty, Bitter, Umami, Sweet - to correspond with the Soup, Salad, Main, and Dessert course of a meal. The pieces they created are strange, powerful meditations on love, betrayal, grief and revenge. They are magical, delicious and proudly queer.
The Salty Soup course is the first play, Siren, by award-winning playwright Natalie Kaye (Mood Swings, Fringe 2016), which tackles themes of violence, betrayal and sexual violence as a scullery maid rails against the constraints of her oppressive employment, vowing to storm the seas as a cross-dressing, blood-thirsty pirate.
**trigger warning - description of violence/sexual violence featured in performance**
The Bitter Salad course, Bitter Hearts, grapples with the ethics of veganism while relishing the inescapable bitterness of first love’s betrayal.
The Umami Main course, Savour, directed by Sandra Cardinal (Sizzle & Spin, Fringe 2015) and starring Fringe veteran and Equity member Andrea Irwin (False Start, Fringe 2016 & Hogtown, 2017), Kelly-Marie McKenna (If We Were Birds, York U), and Mladen Obradović (A Flea in Her Ear, Fringe 2017), is a delectable romance about fairies, breakups, yearning, alienation, magic mushrooms and carpe diem.
The Sweet Dessert course is A Trifle, written by award-winning playwright Nina Kaye (Death Meets Harlequin, Fringe 2017) and directed by Collette Radau (Midnight Toronto, Rhubarb 2017). The queer comedy about new love, cake, and how to connect, is a sweet, but not too saccharine, way to end the night.
OUR CAST AND CREW FOR KITCHEN SINK DRAMA
Aaliya Alibhai, Amelia Blaine, Laurence Braun-Woodbury, Evan Boutsov, Sandra Cardinal, Maggie Cheung, Maggie Cook, Mark Hastings, Andrea Irwin, Natalie Kaye, Nina Kaye, Isaac Lloyd, Kelly Marie McKenna, Mladen Obradovic, Collette Radau, Naseem Reesha & Jess Wareing
Death Meets Harlequin at Toronto Fringe KidsFest July 2017
AUDIENCE MEMBERS SAY
“A terrific interaction between father & son"
“Mesmerizing" “Great acting”
MOONEY ON THEATRE SAYS
"Commedia Dell’arte [performances] are caricatures, delightfully so"
Nina Kaye is one "of our city’s best emergent playwrights”
Music in the performance is "striking" "comical" and "pretty"
A lively and thoughtful comedy with music, for anyone who is young at heart. Harlequin is a wide-eyed and mischievous dreamer who loves to chase butterflies and play his guitar all day rather than work at the strict routine of chores dictated by his father, the Doctor. Can a visit from a mysterious singer change the father and son relationship for the better?
Family friendly! In English with some Spanish language. Una comedia para los niños en ingles y español! Arlequin ama tocar su guitarra y jugar con mariposas azules. Su padre el Doctoro es tan enojado con Arlequin por que el no quiere trabajando. Una mujer misteriosa que se llama "Mariposa" se encuentra con Arlequin... Que va a pasar?
With special CIRCUS PRE-SHOW by Deflying Feets!
Starring Tom Beattie, Thomas Gough and Aleksandra Maslennikova
Written and directed by Nina Kaye
Produced by Natalie Kaye
Assistant director and lighting designer Aaliya Alibhai
Choreography by Fernando Restituto
Commedia dell'Arte consultation by Paul Babiak
Location: George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire Place (near St. George station)
“A terrific interaction between father & son"
“Mesmerizing" “Great acting”
MOONEY ON THEATRE SAYS
"Commedia Dell’arte [performances] are caricatures, delightfully so"
Nina Kaye is one "of our city’s best emergent playwrights”
Music in the performance is "striking" "comical" and "pretty"
A lively and thoughtful comedy with music, for anyone who is young at heart. Harlequin is a wide-eyed and mischievous dreamer who loves to chase butterflies and play his guitar all day rather than work at the strict routine of chores dictated by his father, the Doctor. Can a visit from a mysterious singer change the father and son relationship for the better?
Family friendly! In English with some Spanish language. Una comedia para los niños en ingles y español! Arlequin ama tocar su guitarra y jugar con mariposas azules. Su padre el Doctoro es tan enojado con Arlequin por que el no quiere trabajando. Una mujer misteriosa que se llama "Mariposa" se encuentra con Arlequin... Que va a pasar?
With special CIRCUS PRE-SHOW by Deflying Feets!
Starring Tom Beattie, Thomas Gough and Aleksandra Maslennikova
Written and directed by Nina Kaye
Produced by Natalie Kaye
Assistant director and lighting designer Aaliya Alibhai
Choreography by Fernando Restituto
Commedia dell'Arte consultation by Paul Babiak
Location: George Ignatieff Theatre, 15 Devonshire Place (near St. George station)
Mood Swings at Toronto Fringe July 2016 - "Shed Show"
Winner of the Pat the Dog Play contest!
Fringe Shed at the Fringe Club behind Honest Ed’s - 581 Bloor St. W - Limited space!
June 29-July 10, 2016
A jaded young thing waits in the sweaty sun of sad Toronto for the 501 that never comes. A mass of plaid in Buddy Holly glasses droops his puppy dog eyes in her direction. Will she look back? An experimental and poetic premiere of the award winning short play about longing for love in the millennial age.
Starring Maggie Cheung and Tom Beattie
Fringe Shed at the Fringe Club behind Honest Ed’s - 581 Bloor St. W - Limited space!
June 29-July 10, 2016
A jaded young thing waits in the sweaty sun of sad Toronto for the 501 that never comes. A mass of plaid in Buddy Holly glasses droops his puppy dog eyes in her direction. Will she look back? An experimental and poetic premiere of the award winning short play about longing for love in the millennial age.
Starring Maggie Cheung and Tom Beattie
Death Meets Harlequin and Other Plays May 2016
Unspoken Theatre Presents
Death Meets Harlequin and other plays
May 20 to 29, 2016
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30PM and Sunday at 2PM
Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen St E (Just east of Queen and Broadview)
$15/$10 cash at the door
Three new plays by local female writers about love and transformation in a beautiful Leslieville venue
A rotation of special musical guests will perform each night
THE EMPRESS by Sandra Cardinal
Directed by Nina Kaye
Starring Glenda Bell and Aleksandra Maslennikova
What good is success if you can't enjoy it?
A stressed hotel owner learns about abundance from a wise wanderer in this philosophical dialogue inspired by Tarot cards
DEATH MEETS HARLEQUIN by Nina Kaye
Directed by Nina Kaye
Starring Thomas Gough, Nina Kaye, David Montesdeoca
What if Death was a girl you loved?
Quinn is a dreamy layabout, and his father the Doctor has just about had enough when a mysterious young woman enters the picture. Comedy and music fill this lively piece inspired by Commedia dell'Arte
THE RED DEER by Nina Kaye
Directed by Glory Dearling
Starring Aaliya Alibhai, Aleksandra Maslennikova, Natalie Kaye
What if true love could break enchantments?
Based on the Irish myth of the hero Finn Mac Cool, this fairy tale in verse tells the story of love, loss, and evil enchantment.
Death Meets Harlequin and other plays
May 20 to 29, 2016
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30PM and Sunday at 2PM
Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen St E (Just east of Queen and Broadview)
$15/$10 cash at the door
Three new plays by local female writers about love and transformation in a beautiful Leslieville venue
A rotation of special musical guests will perform each night
THE EMPRESS by Sandra Cardinal
Directed by Nina Kaye
Starring Glenda Bell and Aleksandra Maslennikova
What good is success if you can't enjoy it?
A stressed hotel owner learns about abundance from a wise wanderer in this philosophical dialogue inspired by Tarot cards
DEATH MEETS HARLEQUIN by Nina Kaye
Directed by Nina Kaye
Starring Thomas Gough, Nina Kaye, David Montesdeoca
What if Death was a girl you loved?
Quinn is a dreamy layabout, and his father the Doctor has just about had enough when a mysterious young woman enters the picture. Comedy and music fill this lively piece inspired by Commedia dell'Arte
THE RED DEER by Nina Kaye
Directed by Glory Dearling
Starring Aaliya Alibhai, Aleksandra Maslennikova, Natalie Kaye
What if true love could break enchantments?
Based on the Irish myth of the hero Finn Mac Cool, this fairy tale in verse tells the story of love, loss, and evil enchantment.
Kill Your Darlings at the Socap Short Short Play Festival April 2016
The Tarot Show: Three Plays by the Kayes Nov. 28, 29, Dec 2, 2015
Saturday Nov 28 Tarot reading at 8pm, show at 8:30pm
Sunday Nov 29 Tarot reading at 8pm, show at 8:30 pm
Wednesday Dec 2 Tarot reading at 8pm, show at 8:30pm
In November, we are at the Imperial Pub at 54 Dundas St E
In December, we are at the Black Swan on 154 Danforth Ave
The Program:
7:50pm interested attendees will put their name in a hat for a chance to get a free tarot reading
8pm the tarot reading will be given publicly
8:30pm Show starts. Three plays are included. A workshop production of works-in-progress.
The Fall by Nina Kaye starring Aleksandra Maslennikova.
A woman is humbled by a profound love. Poetic, esoteric, haunting.
The Cave by Nina Kaye, directed by Glory Dearling, starring Caedmon Ricker-Wilson, Claire Guastavino, Natalie Kaye, Robert Notman, Christina Song, Thomas Gough
Six eccentric characters travel deep into a cave searching for treasure. A philosophical comedy.
Sing For Your Supper by Natalie Kaye, directed by Caedmon Ricker-Wilson, starring Christina Song, Glory Dearling, Claire Guastavino
Women wage epic poetry battles in order to get drunk
Sunday Nov 29 Tarot reading at 8pm, show at 8:30 pm
Wednesday Dec 2 Tarot reading at 8pm, show at 8:30pm
In November, we are at the Imperial Pub at 54 Dundas St E
In December, we are at the Black Swan on 154 Danforth Ave
The Program:
7:50pm interested attendees will put their name in a hat for a chance to get a free tarot reading
8pm the tarot reading will be given publicly
8:30pm Show starts. Three plays are included. A workshop production of works-in-progress.
The Fall by Nina Kaye starring Aleksandra Maslennikova.
A woman is humbled by a profound love. Poetic, esoteric, haunting.
The Cave by Nina Kaye, directed by Glory Dearling, starring Caedmon Ricker-Wilson, Claire Guastavino, Natalie Kaye, Robert Notman, Christina Song, Thomas Gough
Six eccentric characters travel deep into a cave searching for treasure. A philosophical comedy.
Sing For Your Supper by Natalie Kaye, directed by Caedmon Ricker-Wilson, starring Christina Song, Glory Dearling, Claire Guastavino
Women wage epic poetry battles in order to get drunk
Into the Abyss: A Play Reading February 2014
The Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies presented a free play reading of the full-length play Into the Abyss by Nina Kaye, currently in-development with Unspoken Theatre Company.
Into the Abyss is a historical drama set in late 19th century Niagara Falls and inspired by the biographies of historical figures including daredevils Maria Spelterini, Annie Edson Taylor, William Hunt (AKA the Great Farini), and Sam Wasgate (AKA Lulu); curiousity collectors and showmen PT Barnum, Saul Davis, and Thomas Barnett; escaped slaves Harriet Tubman and Harriet Jacobs; and the Haudenosaunee archeologist Arthur Caswell Parker.
The diverse cast of characters in the play represent the rich cultural melange of the Niagara Falls border town, with it's history as a First Nations settlement, a location for Canadian-U.S. exchange and antipathy, a site for daredevil performance, and a stop along the Underground Railway.
The public play reading was a free event at 8pm on Tuesday February 25th at the Glen Morris Studio Theatre at 4 Glen Morris (near Harbord and Spadina).
Into the Abyss is a historical drama set in late 19th century Niagara Falls and inspired by the biographies of historical figures including daredevils Maria Spelterini, Annie Edson Taylor, William Hunt (AKA the Great Farini), and Sam Wasgate (AKA Lulu); curiousity collectors and showmen PT Barnum, Saul Davis, and Thomas Barnett; escaped slaves Harriet Tubman and Harriet Jacobs; and the Haudenosaunee archeologist Arthur Caswell Parker.
The diverse cast of characters in the play represent the rich cultural melange of the Niagara Falls border town, with it's history as a First Nations settlement, a location for Canadian-U.S. exchange and antipathy, a site for daredevil performance, and a stop along the Underground Railway.
The public play reading was a free event at 8pm on Tuesday February 25th at the Glen Morris Studio Theatre at 4 Glen Morris (near Harbord and Spadina).
Lets Misbehave! A 1920's cabaret June 2013
A night of live music, dancing, silent film, and theatre celebrating the 1920's jazz era!
The evening featured a play reading of an excerpt from Walking Around in a Dream, or, Gentlemen Prefer Maypoles, a play-in-development by Natalie Kaye. The cabaret featured performances from Maggie Cheung, Tristan Yum, Aaliya Alibhai, Natalie Yiu, Natalie Kaye, Nina Kaye, Evan Boutsov, Ted Hawkins, Laurence Braun-Woodbury, Claire Guastavino, Simone Van Abbe, James Laverty and the Cool Quatre dance troupe.
The evening featured a play reading of an excerpt from Walking Around in a Dream, or, Gentlemen Prefer Maypoles, a play-in-development by Natalie Kaye. The cabaret featured performances from Maggie Cheung, Tristan Yum, Aaliya Alibhai, Natalie Yiu, Natalie Kaye, Nina Kaye, Evan Boutsov, Ted Hawkins, Laurence Braun-Woodbury, Claire Guastavino, Simone Van Abbe, James Laverty and the Cool Quatre dance troupe.
LOVESICK An Evening of Dark Romance May 2013
Performances and staged readings of new work by young female playwrights on the theme of dark romance.
Starring Aaliya Alibhai, Evan Boutsov, Jill Carter, Maggie Cheung, Billy Cudgel, Nina Kaye, Daniel Kim, and Demetri Tsioros.
The Plays
"I" by Shrikha Khemani - A bittersweet and sentimental romance evoking A Philadelphia Story and Blithe Spirit.
"Seven Ages" by Nina Kaye - A runner-up in Sterling Studio Theatre's recent play contest, Seven Ages looks at the life and loves of Emily over seven different ages in her life.
"Anthony" by Aaliya Alibhai - A bitter introvert and a feisty lady bond over twisted literature...Could this be love?
The Monologues
"The Last Word" by Natalie Kaye - As published in NEST Magazine, The Last Word is the fierce, funny, and final manifesto of a man with unconventional passions.
"Up Against a Locker" by Nina Kaye - High school passions are not for the faint of heart.
"When I was a kid" by Nina Kaye - Inspired by The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the piece introduces Julio, who is only clear about being confused.
"Rodney" by Nina Kaye - Falling in love means getting a whole new bag of tricks.
Starring Aaliya Alibhai, Evan Boutsov, Jill Carter, Maggie Cheung, Billy Cudgel, Nina Kaye, Daniel Kim, and Demetri Tsioros.
The Plays
"I" by Shrikha Khemani - A bittersweet and sentimental romance evoking A Philadelphia Story and Blithe Spirit.
"Seven Ages" by Nina Kaye - A runner-up in Sterling Studio Theatre's recent play contest, Seven Ages looks at the life and loves of Emily over seven different ages in her life.
"Anthony" by Aaliya Alibhai - A bitter introvert and a feisty lady bond over twisted literature...Could this be love?
The Monologues
"The Last Word" by Natalie Kaye - As published in NEST Magazine, The Last Word is the fierce, funny, and final manifesto of a man with unconventional passions.
"Up Against a Locker" by Nina Kaye - High school passions are not for the faint of heart.
"When I was a kid" by Nina Kaye - Inspired by The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the piece introduces Julio, who is only clear about being confused.
"Rodney" by Nina Kaye - Falling in love means getting a whole new bag of tricks.
Unspoken May 2011
Check out the link to hear more about the debut production of Unspoken by Nina Kaye