BODY POLITIC
MAY 21 - JUNE 12
“kudos go to the excellent cast, in particular the fiery Flacks as Deb… Her monologue about organizing the bathhouse raid protests will make you wish you could go back in time to join the fray.”
— Toronto Star
The story of the birth, life, and eventual demise of Canada’s first gay liberation newspaper. This sweeping historical drama re-imagines the events and personalities surrounding one of the most potent journalistic forces in our country, and the legacy it has left behind.
The story unfolds as a founding member of the paper’s collective recounts a series of memories during an intimate encounter with a young man. As an unexpected relationship develops, the generational differences between them shine a light on the massive shifts in queer identity and politics in the last 50 years, the disappearing of a history, and the loss of a unifying struggle.
As Toronto’s queer media landscape shifts again with the end of the printed editions of Xtra, Body Politic looks back at the very beginning of it all. After years spent interviewing people involved in The Body Politic, playwright Nick Green brings to life the legal, political, and personal struggles surrounding one of Canada’s most important queer publications.
The Body Politic, published from 1971-1987, remains one of the most historically significant drivers of queer politics and history in Canada. Collectively owned and operated, this newspaper housed the voices of over one hundred of Canada’s foremost queer activists, artists, poets, and writers. With 16 years of archives available, The Body Politic survives as a record of Canadian queer history at some of it’s most seminal moments: censorship battles, police raids, historic rallies, the onset of HIV/AIDS, and many of the important debates that still resonate in today’s queer politic.
Body Politic was developed in Buddies Residency Program, sponsored by BMO Financial Group. buddiesinbadtimes.com/residency
SHOW PATRONS
The Lawrence Family Foundation
Charles Hill
David Gibson
David Rayside
David Mole
Dennis Findlay
Ed Jackson
Garth Norbraten + Greg Lichti
Gerald Hannon
Lawrence Bennett
Ken Popert
Rick Archbold
image of Indrit Kasapi, Nick Green, and Jonathan Seinen by Tanja-Tiziana.
See more, spend less.
Earn Buddies Rewards when you buy tickets to this show through our Buddies Rewards program.
-
- Diane Flacks and Geordie Johnson
-
- Geordie Johnson, Cole Alvis, Diane Flacks, and Jonathan Seinen
-
- Aldrin Bundoc and Geordie Johnson
-
- Aldrin Bundoc, Craig Pike, and Geordie Johnson
-
- Cole Alvis, Geordie Johnson, Diane Flacks, and Jonathan Seinen
-
- Aldrin Bundoc and Geordie Johnson
photos by Jeremy Mimnagh
The histories of The Body Politic, Pink Triangle Press, and the gay liberation movement in Canada are immensely rich and dense. And yet while there has been some critical and scholarly work written about these topics, there is still much to be done. The timeline below is meant to serve as only a brief introduction to The Body Politic, a crucial thread in the complex fabric that is queer Canadian culture and history.
Compiled by Thom Bryce McQuinn, with special thanks to the CLGA and Nick Green.
Works Cited:
- Flaunting It!: A Decade of Gay Journalism from The Body Politic. Eds. Ed Jackson and Stan Persky. Toronto: Pink Triangle P, 1982.
- Bébout, Rick. “On the Origins of The Body Politic.” www.rickbebout.com. Rick Bébout, 11 Aug. 2007. Web.
- Bradburn, Jamie. “Historicist: I Sing The Body Politic.” Torontoist.com. Ink Truck Media,14 Feb. 2015. Web.
- Xtra! Editor. “A Timeline of Events: 40 Years of Pink Triangle Press.” Daily Xtra.com. Pink Triangle P, 12 Sept. 2013. Web.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and lemonTree creations present
BODY POLITIC
by NICK GREEN
directed by ALISA PALMER
starring GEORDIE JOHNSON, DIANE FLACKS, JONATHAN SEINEN, ALDRIN BUNDOC, CRAIG PIKE + COLE ALVIS
set design SCOTT PENNER
costumes JOANNA YU
lighting MICHELLE RAMSAY
sound and composition RICHARD FEREN
dramaturge BRENDAN HEALY
associate artist GEIN WONG
assistant director CARLY CHAMBERLAIN
design assistant LINDSAY JENKINS
stage management MICHAEL HART
lemonTree creations is a Toronto-based independent theatre company founded in 2007. Led by Co-Artistic Producers Indrit Kasapi and Cole Alvis with Artistic Associate Jonathan Seinen, over the past eight years lemonTree has presented edgy contemporary work as well as re-imaginings of classics that reflect queer life as it was and as it is. Their most recent production, MSM [men seeking men], is a movement-based exploration of the male online hook up culture that played to great success at the Fringe Festival and was remounted in 2014 as part of World Pride. Buddies audiences will remember lemonTree from workshop productions of Body Politic during our Rhubarb and Queer Pride festivals.
Tuesday – Saturday at 8:00pm // Sunday at 2:30pm // All previews at 8:00pm
Saturday, May 21 // 8pm (preview)
Sunday, May 22 // 8pm (preview)
Tuesday, May 24 // 8pm (preview)
Wednesday, May 25 // 8pm (preview)
Thursday, May 26 // 8pm (opening night)
Friday, May 27 // 8pm
Saturday, May 28 // 8pm
Sunday, May 29 // 2:30pm
Tuesday, May 31 // 8pm
Wednesday, June 1 // 8pm
Thursday, June 2 // 8pm
Friday, June 3 // 8pm
Saturday, June 4 // 2:30pm
Saturday, June 4 // 8pm
Sunday, June 5 // 2:30pm
Tuesday, June 7 // 8pm
Wednesday, June 8 // 8pm *audio described performance
Thursday, June 9 // 8pm
Friday, June 10 // 8pm
Saturday, June 11 // 2:30pm
Saturday, June 11 // 8pm
Sunday, June 12 // 2:30pm *ASL-interpreted performance
Every Thursday, we invite you to stick around after the show for a conversation with some of the creative team and some special guests.
Thursday, June 2
with special special guest Richard Fung
Thursday, June 9
with special guest Susan G Cole
and moderator Evalyn Parry
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a physically accessible venue, with washrooms located on the lower floor accessed by elevator.
Washrooms at Buddies are not separated by gender.
On June 8th, audio description will be available at the 8pm performance. Audio Describers are Rebecca Singh and Kat Germain. Consultant Rose Jacobson, Picasso Pro. Audio Description headsets are reserved for our Blind/Low Vision Patrons. Quantities are limited and should be reserved in advance to avoid disappointment. To reserve please email tickets@buddiesinbadtimes.com or call Barry at 416-975-9130
On June 12th, ASL interpretation will be provided at the 2:30pm performance. ASL Interpreters are Sage Willow, Nina Winiarczyk, and Jamie O’Connell. Best Seating for ASL interpretation is limited. After purchasing your ticket for June 12 at 2.30pm please reserve your seat with Box Office at tickets@buddiesinbadtimes.com
Click here or more information about access at Buddies
Accessibility Funding for Body Politic provided by
support with audio described performance provided by
WAYS TO SAVE
Whether you want to see just one show or keep coming back for more, Buddies has affordable ticket options that are right for you. We have Rush Tickets during the week and Pay-What-You-Can shows every Sunday. We also have $25 tickets to select shows for folks who buy their tickets early, and you can save even more when you sign up for Buddies Rewards.
Click here to learn more about all the ways to save at Buddies
TICKET PRICES
ALL TICKETS $25
Book your ticket early and save, with a limited number of $25 available for every performance – but prices go up May 19.
REGULAR
Previews $20
Tu/W/Th/Sa afternoon $32
F/Sa evening $37
Su $32 / PWYC
UNDER 30 / ARTS WORKER
Previews $20
Tu/W/Th/Sa afternoon $27
F/Sa evening $31
Su $27 / PWYC
RUSH TICKETS
A limited number of $20 Rush Tickets will be available for performances on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
For more information, including Group Rates and Rush Ticket policies, click here.