April 20, 2006 -

A National Arts Centre English Theatre World Premiere production commissioned by the NAC English Theatre and funded with support from the Marti Maraden Play Creation Fund

Ottawa -- Greg MacArthur’s new play recovery is a powerful investigation of the ways in which individuals willingly relinquish their autonomy in modern society. Startlingly profound recovery is a complex, tightly woven drama that is at once troubling, quirky, engaging, deeply thought-provoking and brilliantly entertaining. recovery plays in the NAC Studio April 18 – 29 (Preview, Monday April 17) with performances at 20:00 and Saturday matinees at 14:00 on April 22 and 29. Tickets are available at the NAC Box Office in person, or through Ticketmaster at (613) 755-111, or online through the Ticketmaster link at www.nac-cna.ca (a surcharge applies to all tickets purchased through Ticketmaster.)

“I rarely, if ever, work from an outline. I begin with a question, an image, a sentence, a theme...and go from there.”

Greg MacArthur

Canadian playwright and performer Greg MacArthur has been heralded as one of this country’s most exciting and subversive playwrights. His plays have been produced across Canada and include Get Away, Snowman, girls! girls! girls! Epiphany: The Rise and Fall of Peter Gaveston and Beggar Boy (seen last season as part of the NAC English Theatre Family Theatre series.) Greg is the co-founder and co-artistic director of House of Slacks, a collaborative theatre company whose work includes The Millenium Project and Stem. He has been Writer-in-Residence at The Writer’s Network/Centre for the Book (Cape Town, South Africa); Playwright-in-Residence at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (Toronto); and Artist-in-Residence at Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal.

recovery is inspired by the playwright’s fascination with the ways in which society self-medicates. Whether it’s by using legal prescription antidotes such as Prozac and Paxil, resorting to street drugs or alcohol or engaging in retail therapy, to Greg MacArthur, it is clear that in Western society we increasingly seek ways in which to numb ourselves to the insane pace of life. In the play, people are beginning to succumb worldwide to the addictive pleasures of a mysterious new substance. Governments globally are responding to the virtual epidemic by establishing rehab centres in places as far flung as Antarctica (where the play is set.) Residents are welcomed into a supportive, if slightly ominous environment; however, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that all is perhaps not as it first seems. If you enter a rehab centre – do you ever come out? Richly drawn with compelling characters and a keep-you-guessing plot, recovery draws an Orwellian picture of an unsettling world.

The director for this world premiere production is Buddies in Bad Times Artistic Director David Oiye, with whom the playwright has collaborated on a number of projects.

The cast features Ottawa actors Kate Hurman, John Koensgen, Jeff Lawson, Ian Leung, Alix Sideris and Paul Wernick (a student at OSSD.) Mr. Leung is the only member of the company not from Ottawa. The Stage Manager for the production is Stéfanie Séguin, with Apprentice Stage Manager Tina Goralski.

Tickets for Recovery are available at the NAC Box Office in person or through Ticketmaster at (613) 755-1111, and on-line through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC’s web site at www.nac-cna.ca (a service charge applies to all purchases made through Ticketmaster.) Students (with a valid student card) may purchase half-price tickets at the NAC Box Office only. Ticket prices are from $30 - $34 ($18 preview). Full-time students (ages 13-29) should visit the Live Rush™ page online at www.liverush.ca to find out how to obtain Live Rush seats ($10.00) available on a first-come, first-served basis after 18:00 on the day of performance (2hrs. before a matinee performance.)

NEW for 05-06! Groups of 10+ save 15%-20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call (613) 947-7000 ext. 384, or email grp@nac-cna.ca

CKCU 93.1 FM is the proud media partner for the NAC English Theatre Studio Series

Recovery – Listings Info.

• April 18-29 (Preview, April 17). No performances Sundays.
• NAC Studio
• 20:00 Tuesday through Saturday; Saturday matinees 14:00 April 22 and 29
• Tickets available at NAC Box Office in person; through Ticketmaster (613) 755-1111, or on-line through Ticketmaster link www.nac-cna.ca
• Tickets from $30 - $34 ($18 preview); Students (with valid student card) may purchase half-price tickets in person at NAC Box Office.

Other activities related to Recovery are:

• Pre-Show Chat – An informal discussion before the first Saturday matinee performance – Saturday, April 22 at 13:00 in NAC Salon – Guest Speaker: Greg MacArthur
• Thursday Talkback – A post-performance question and answer session with performers – Thursday, April 27

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For more information, contact:
Laura Denker
Publicity and Media Relations Coordinator, NAC English Theatre
(613) 947 7000 ext. 389;
ldenker@nac-cna.ca

after April 12, contact:
Jennifer Covert
Marketing Coordinator
(613) 947 7000 ext. 776;
jcovert@nac-cna.ca

Digital photography: Production images from recovery are available for download in digital format (jpeg) at http://www.nac-cna.ca/media Just follow the links to recovery.