The NAC English Theatre presents the Canadian Premiere of Michael Frayn's Multi-Award Winning, International Smash Hit Copenhagen
February 12, 2003 -
"Ball and Mezon...surge with tremendous energy, [and]
Martha Henry is particularly fine in her nuanced performance..." The
Halifax Herald
"The most invigorating and ingenious play of ideas in many a year.
Endlessly fascinating, filled with a crackling, questing vitality."
The New York Times
Ottawa -- The NAC English Theatre is proud to present the Canadian
Premiere coproduction of Michael Frayn's extraordinary play,
Copenhagen. Starring Michael Ball as Niels Bohr, Martha Henry
as Margrethe Bohr and Jim Mezon as Werner Heisenberg, and directed by
Diana Leblanc, this stylish and impressive production has enjoyed
enthusiastic reviews during its run at Halifax's Neptune Theatre
and will be sure to engage, challenge and fascinate audiences in
Ottawa when it opens at the NAC Theatre on February 20 (preview
February 19). Copenhagen runs at the NAC until March 8, with
performances at 19:30 and Saturday matinees at 14:00. There will be a
12:30 matinee performance on Wednesday, February 26, followed by a
special Round-Table discussion with panelists Diana Leblanc, Director
and Actor; Gilles Paquet, Ethicist and President Elect of the Royal
Society of Canada and Alan Bernstein; Scientist and President of the
Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Copenhagen is Michael Frayn's brilliant dramatization of an
actual secret meeting that took place at the height of World War II
in Nazi-occupied Denmark, between the Danish physicist Niels Bohr,
and his former student and colleague, the German scientist Werner
Heisenberg. By invoking the ghosts of Bohr, Heisenberg and Bohr's
wife, Margrethe, Frayn invites the audience to participate in a
compelling moral debate: did Heisenberg set up the meeting in order
to spy for the Nazis, or was he trying to assist the Allies by
passing on information about Nazi scientists' progress towards
building a nuclear bomb? Alternatively, did he come to show off his
professional accomplishments to his former professor or did he come
to see Bohr in the name of friendship for comfort and guidance?
Members of the scientific community in Ottawa have expressed their
excitement that this important play will be presented in Ottawa. Dr.
Paul B. Corkum, Program Leader in Femtosecond Science at the Steacie
Institute for Molecular Sciences with the National Research Council
of Canada says, "It is wonderful that Michael Frayn's play,
Copenhagen, is coming to Ottawa. Although the play has
initiated intense international debate on a 50-year old controversy
in the science community, it is not a play only for scientists. The
issues it raises - truth, friendship, patriotism, and morality
- are of universal interest".
NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Marti Maraden says,
"Copenhagen is a brilliantly crafted piece of theatre. Having
seen it in London ( England) in the summer of 1999, and having
enthusiastically sought the rights from that time onward, I was
delighted when we finally won out and could formally announce the
play as part of our season."
Diana Leblanc, Director for this first Canadian production says of
the play, "[T]he play engaged me when I first read it in
spite of my non-scientific background. I thought it presented an
extraordinary, engaging and passionate debate. Frayn has done an
exceptional job of combining the historical and the unknown.
It's almost like he's looking at the situation through a
prism, presenting all the various colours and angles."
Set and Costume design for this production are by Stratford's
Douglas Paraschuk. Lighting Design is by Halifax designer Leigh Ann
Vardy. The Stage Manager is Jane Butler.
Tickets for Copenhagen are available at the NAC Box Office
in person or through Ticketmaster at 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). Tickets for Copenhagen are from $28.50 to
$49.50. Students should visit the Live Rush™ page online at
www.liverushnac.ca
to find out how to obtain Live Rush seats ($9.50) available on a
first-come, first-served basis after 18:00 on the day of
performance.
The NAC English Theatre is pleased to welcome the Ottawa Citizen
as its media partner for the English Theatre Main Stage 2002-2003
Season.
Copenhagen - Listings Info.
February 20 - March 8 (preview February 19).
No performances Sundays or Mondays
NAC Theatre 19:30 Tuesday through Saturday
Wednesday matinee 12:30, February 26, followed by special Round-Table
discussion
Saturday matinees 14:00, February 22, March 1, 8
Tickets available at NAC Box Office in person; through Ticketmaster
755-1111 or on-line through Ticketmaster link www.nac-cna.ca
Tickets from $28.50 to $49.50
Other activities related to Copenhagen are:
Pre-Show Chat - An informal discussion before the Saturday
Matinee performance Saturday, February 22 at 13:00 in the NAC Salon ;
Guest Speaker: Director, Diana Leblanc and Dr. Paul Corkum
Thursday Talkbacks - A Post-Performance Question and Answer
session with performers - Thursday, February 27, March 6
Shop Talk: A behind-the scenes chat with a member of the design or
acting company - Sunday, March 2 at 14:00, Rehearsal Hall
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