January 22, 2004 -

Ottawa -- First seen by Canadian audiences last year at Prairie Theatre Exchange, The Well Being 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.  The Well Being will run in the NAC Studio from January 27 to February 7 (preview January 26) with performances at 20:00 (Saturday matinees at 14:00). 

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.

Mouthpeace Collective is the name used by Lara Foot-Newton, Andrew Buckland and Lionel Newton when they work together collaboratively.  The company has enjoyed significant international success when The Well Being was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at venues in Europe, Canada and South Africa.   

The Canadian tour of The Well Being, a result of the collaborative efforts of the National Arts Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange and Catalyst Theatre, opened in Edmonton at Catalyst January 7-15.  The tour moved to Winnipeg’s Prairie Theatre Exchange January 17-22 and then travelled to the nation’s capital. 

Tickets for The Well Being 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). Students (with a valid student card) may purchase half-price tickets at the box office only. Ticket prices are from $27.50 to $31.50.  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 Well Being -  Listings Info.

• January 27 – February 7 (preview January 26).  No performances Sundays or Mondays (aside from preview)
• NAC Studio
• 20:00 Tuesday through Saturday
• Saturday matinees 14:00, Jan. 31, Feb. 7
• Tickets available at NAC Box Office in person; through Ticketmaster 755-1111 or on-line through Ticketmaster link www.nac-cna.ca
• Tickets from $27.50 (preview $18)
• Pre-Show Chat – An informal discussion before the Saturday Matinee performance Saturday, January 31 at 13:00 in the NAC Salon; Guest Speaker: Dr. Marcia Blumberg    
• Thursday Talkbacks –  A Post-Performance Question and Answer session with performers –Thursday, February 5

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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

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