ROBERT.
A comedy by Award winning playwright Briana Brown
"This is actually, and positively, and certainly, and verifiably not happening to me right now."
The world premiere of Briana Brown’s comedy Robert was produced at the 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival. The play was staged at St. George the Martyr to almost (so close!) sold out crowds and garnered critical praise from NOW Magazine, Mooney on Theatre, My Entertainment World, and Tapeworthy.
Kat and James are waiting for their father to die. Not exactly estranged, but certainly not close, the two struggle to make conversation until James reveals a secret he’s kept from Kat since childhood – a secret that turns their family roles upside down, and forces them both to confront what exactly “family” means. Robert is a witty and graceful new comedy that delivers laughs and heart while taking on difficult questions of identity, grief and loss. With a set of bagpipes.
Photography by Stuart Paisley. Graphic Design by Qasim Khan.
A MOONEY ON thEATRE RAVE REVIEW. HONOURAble Mention on Tapeworthy’s Best of stage, 2018. WINNER OF THE 2018 Cayle chernin Award for theatre production.
“A dense universe of emotions…the kind of undeniable gem the Fringe exists to shed light on.” Trevor Abes, Mooney on Theatre. “Undoubtedly one of the best uses of space I’ve seen in a site-specific show…Brown’s original script hits all the right notes…seamlessly combining comedy and tragedy…” Chelsea Dinsmore, My Entertainment World. “Multiple layers of tension…keeps us intrigued.” Steve Fisher, NOW Magazine.
Briana Brown received the 2018 Cayle Chernin Award for Theatre Production, which is presented to an emerging or discipline transitioning female artist specifically to assist in the creation of new work.
Chris Baker as James, Janelle Hanna as Kat. Photography by Stuart Paisley.
creative Team
From the artists who produced Bad Baby Presents: Rules Control The Fun (2017 Toronto Fringe Festival, Torontoist Top 5 Pick of the Fringe, Mooney on Theatre Rave Review & Staff Pick, NOW Magazine Outstanding Performance: Janelle Hanna), Mockingbird (Next Stage Festival, Dora Nominated Outstanding Ensemble) and Almost, Again (2010 Toronto Fringe Festival, Best of Fringe), Robert was written by Briana Brown, co-directed by Briana Brown & Rob Kempson, and featured Janelle Hanna & Chris Baker. The production team consisted of Kathleen Harrison (Stage Manager), Jacob Kay (Assistant Director), Matthew Maaskant (Sound Designer), and Erin Vandenberg (Producer/Dramaturge).
thank you
Robert was originally conceived overnight in a castle as part of Driftwood Theatre’s Trafalgar 24 event where it received Driftwood’s Beyond the Castle Award. It was further developed through a playwriting residency with Driftwood supported by the Ontario Arts Council, and was shortlisted for the Stage West Pechet Family Comedy Award by the Playwright’s Guild of Canada.
