Guild Festival Theatre to present one-night-only concert version of Evalyn Parry’s SPIN
iPhoto caption: Poster courtesy of GFT.
On July 6, Scarborough’s Guild Festival Theatre (GFT) will present a special concert version of Evalyn Parry’s popular touring production SPIN.
Inspired in part by the incredible true story of Annie Londonderry, who in 1895 became the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle, SPIN travels from 19th-century women’s emancipation to the present day, forging unexpected links across time and history.
A vintage bicycle, hooked up to simple electronics and suspended in a mechanic’s stand, becomes a percussion instrument. Playing it from fenders to spokes to sprung vinyl seat, from whirling pedals to bells, percussionist Brad Hart creates a sonic accompaniment to Parry’s songs and stories.
For this outdoor version of SPIN at GFT, Parry and Hart are accompanied by a string trio led by violinist Kathleen Kajioka, with string arrangements by composer/songwriter Michael Holt. In lieu of the show’s original video projections, SPIN‘s backdrop will be the Greek Theatre.
“I am incredibly excited to be presenting SPIN at the Greek Theatre,” said GFT co-artistic director Helen Juvonen in a press release. “I saw a production in 2014 and I was entertained, moved, and inspired. This is a show that will stay with you for years to come!”
You can learn more about GFT’s presentation of SPIN here.
Liam Donovan
Liam is Intermission’s senior editor. He lives in Toronto. His Substack newsletter is available at loamdonovan.substack.com.
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