 Persephone Productions is a not-for-profit company. Its charitable registration number is 891803918RR0001 Company Mandate Persephone Productions aims to provide experience and exposure to young artists and to foster a collaborative work environment. Founded on the belief that the greatness of any city depends on the state of its cultural events and the health of its artistic community, Persephone Productions seeks to acknowledge the importance of theatre in our lives by creating opportunities for young artists to find their place and make a contribution. Created in 2000, Persephone Productions is mandated to provide work experience for young professional theatre artists in all areas of their expertise. The company is committed to presenting plays that are innovative and of literary and social significance. Board members: Gabrielle Soskin, Artistic Director Hugh Cameron Ann Elbourne Ann Owens Judith Schurman Advisory committee: Dr. Ian Smith Dr. Suzanne Faure Carol Harwood Long-awaited Dream Persephone Productions is the realization of a long-awaited dream. Its inaugural production in September, 2000, of Anna Karenina was enthusiastically received. Playhouse Creatures by April de Angelis followed a year later, delighting audiences once again. Vision and Success Gabrielle then took on the challenging task of directing two shows in one season: Kindertransport by Diane Samuels and West by Steven Berkoff. These two productions marked a turning point for Persephone Productions attracting a wide and enthusiastic audience, as well as praise from the critics. Gabrielle's vision was a successful one reflected in the quality of work by the whole company and by excellent box office sales averaging 75%. Persephone continues to achieve its mission by providing "experience and exposure to young artists", by doing two major productions each year: Jane Eyre and subUrbia, A Room of One's Own and Spring Awakening, Prodigy and To the Green Fields Beyond, The Loves of Shakespeare's Women, Unity 1918 and Othello. Awards and Nominations Montreal's theatre critics have nominated Persephone in various categories. Gabrielle Soskin won Best Director MECCA (Montreal English Critics' Circle Awards) for SubUrbia in 2004-2005 and SubUrbia won Best Production for 2004-5. Glenda Braganza won Best Actress MECCA 2003-2004 for her performance in three plays including Persephone's Jane Eyre and West. In the same year, Neil Napier was nominated as Best Actor for West and the Company was nominated for best ensemble for the same production. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë adapted from the novel by Polly Teale was acknowledged by MECCA with a nomination for Best Semi-Pro Production. In September 2005, the Company performed Eric Bogosian's powerful and abrasive play SubUrbia and was among Montreal Gazette Theatre Critic Matt Radz's Top Ten Theatre Picks for 2004. In 2006 To the Green Fields Beyond won the MECCA award for Best Ensemble. Gabrielle also won the Myron Galloway award for Distinction in the Montreal theatre environment. Local and Global Fundraising In March 2005, Gabrielle decided to appear in Patrick Garland's dramatization of A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf directed by Jennifer Piercey at La Balustrade Monument National as a fundraiser for Persephone Productions' upcoming season. The critics praised Gabrielle's performance. A Room of One's Own toured various high schools and libraries following its sold out run at Monument National. The tour continued to Hong Kong where the prestigous Helena May Institute for Women sponsored a performance for its members and guests. The 2005 fundraising initiative has successfully increased the exposure of Persephone Productions, and contributed towards funding for the production of A Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind in November 2005. In spring 2007 a fundraising initiative took place: The Loves of Shakespeare's Women by Susannah York adapted and performed by Gabrielle Soskin and directed by Jennifer Piercey There were six performances at Théâtre St.Catherine in Montreal and a special one at Vignoble Chappelle Agnès in Sutton A remount of the show took place in April, 2008: at Centre Greene, 1090 Greene Avenue, Westmount and at Centre St. Ambroise, 5080 St. Ambroise and also at C.E.G.E.P. Champlain, Quebec City Copyright © 2002-2004 Persephone Productions Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorization. Original web site development by Gary Isaac Charitable registration number: 891803918RR0001 No d'enregistrement d'organisme de charité: 891803918RR0001 back to top |