January 08, 2004 -

a sizzling piece of theatre that burns indelibly in the memories of PTE patrons. The Well Being was unlike anything seen before on local stages, unleashing the full power of theatre with a few sheets of paper, two actors, a bucket, a watermelon and a bit of imagination.

Ottawa -- The National Arts Centre English Theatre is excited to offer a warm welcome to Canada to the members of mouthpeace collective. This extraordinary company from South Africa is returning to Canada in January 2004 with its critically acclaimed smash hit, The Well Being for limited engagements at Catalyst Theatre, Edmonton; Prairie Theatre Exchange, Winnipeg and The National Arts Centre.

First seen by Canadian audiences last year at Prairie Theatre Exchange, this production is a touching, hilarious and provocative piece of theatre featuring virtuoso performances by the play's collaborative creators, Andrew Buckland and Lionel Newton. Together with director, Lara Foot- Newton, these actors have brought to life an idea first conceived of by Buckland, about a kind of feminine water creature, stranded by a well in the middle of a desert. Through intensive workshopping and artistic collaboration, this initial idea has grown into a brilliant piece of physical theatre with a story that at once moves and enrages.

When young Flo Deluge is violently assaulted, she retires to the outskirts of her village and begins to dig a deep hole. She becomes the focus of gossip and speculation culminating in a communal belief that Flo is responsible for the environmental disasters afflicting the village.

With no more than a roll of newsprint, a watermelon and their own bodies, the two gifted actors bring an entire village to life, rendering character with no more than the move of a hand, or the glint of an eye. Buckland and Newton engage in a dance of trust, where they react to one another, support one another and, in doing so, produce performances of rare insight, emotional integrity and intensity both physically and intellectually. Audiences are delighted, outraged, and awed by this powerful and often hilarious production.

The Canadian tour of The Well Being, a result of the collaborative efforts of the National Arts Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange and Catalyst Theatre, will open in Edmonton at Catalyst January 7-15. The tour moves to Winnipeg's Prairie Theatre Exchange January 17-22 and winds up at the National Arts Centre January 27 - February 8, with performances at 20:00 in the NAC Studio.

The NAC wishes mouthpeace a hugely successful tour and good luck finding watermelons in Canada in January!

For more information about The Well Being at the National Arts Centre, please contact:
Laura Denker Publicity and Media Relations Coordinator
National Arts Centre English Theatre
(613) 947-7000 ext. 389;
ldenker@nac-cna.ca