Julia Ainsworth B.F.A, B.ED
SELECTED WRITING
MEET ME
co-written with Rosaruby Kagan
Full-length interactive, branching narrative play
Produced by Live Action Theatre Project and Teesri Duniya Theatre
Premiered September 29th, 2022
Meet Me is an audience-interactive, branching narrative experience that explores sexual dynamics, cancel culture and consent in the post #metoo era. It tells the story of three characters in an academic setting whose perspectives clash after a night of intimacy goes wrong. The characters, alongside the audience, must navigate the multiplicity of pathways towards resolution.
This play was developed and produced with support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Quebec, Conseil des Arts Montreal, Playwrights Workshop Montreal, the iMpacts SSHRC project led by Professor Shaheen Shariff, and the Cole Foundation.
Excerpts of Meet Me were presented at the Vanier College 2022 symposium "English Studies in the 21st Century"
Reviews:
"Provocative well-crafted (& performed) show from Teesri Duniya & Live Action Theatre Project currently playing at McGill Campus. A kind of Sliding Doors-type parallel narrative about sexual politics in academia, with the audience nudging where the story goes." Jim Burke (Funhouse Theatre)
"I found Meet Me to be utterly engrossing." Sarah Deshaies, CJAD Radio, Sarah's Long Weekend List
"In presenting this striking energy alongside its open discussion of consent, violation, racism, and cancel culture, Meet Me proves to be a thought-provoking, engaging theatre experience that will keep audiences thinking long after the metaphorical curtains close." Dana Prather (McGill Tribune)
Links/Press Coverage
CBC Radio "Let's Go" Interview with Julia Ainsworth and Sabrina Marandola
CityNews Interview "Quite An Adventure: Immersive Theatre Experience in Montreal"
Westmount Mag interview with Julia Ainsworth, Rosaruby Kagan and Irwin Rapoport
MENS REA
Full-length stage play
Created with the support of Teesri Duniya Theatre. Selected from a national competition as the first recipient of the Playwrights Guild of Canada Mentorship Program with dramaturgy by Lib Spry.
Excerpts were publically presented at the McGill Faculty Club in November 2016.
WAKE UP SLEEPING BEAUTY!
One Act stage play for young audiences (ideal for ages 6-10)
(45 minutes, 4 actors)
A modern adaptation for young audiences of “Little Briar Rose” by the Brothers Grimm, in the genre of choose-your-own-adventure. The audience teams up to wake up Princess Briar Rose and help her take action to save herself and restore her kingdom.
Produced by The Live Action Theatre Project, directed by Rosaruby Kagan. Featuring Leigh Ann Taylor, Elisabeth Yale, William Ward and Lise Vigneault. Premiered at the Centaur Children’s Series (November 2015) and presented at the 2016 Shortstanding Festival, Springworks Festival (Stratford, Ontario), TADA Festival (Wakefield, QC), Hudson Village Theatre (Hudson, QC), and schools & theatres in the Montreal region in 2017.
Excerpts of this play were presented at two academic presentations: A special guest lecture at Concordia University on the topic of "Equilibrium as an artist/educator" and the 2016 Artful Inquiry Symposium at McGill University "Emergent Identities through Multi Textural Dialogue" co-presented with Darlene St. Georges (visual artist and educator, PhD)
Reviews:
"True interactive theatre. Top-notch performances with lots of spontaneity!"
-Quebec Drama Observer
"This show is perfect for young audiences and parents can enjoy it too! Even I got caught up in the fun and adventure! "
-Eileen Smith - Artistic Producer- SpringWorks Festival
Links/ Press Coverage:
Interview with the Springworks Festival
Review by Byron Toben with the Westmount Mag
Coverage with the Suburban
Interview with Montreal Rampage by Sing Karan
WAYWARD
Feature length screenplay
In 1959, a choir girl runs away from home with an outlaw biker gang but discovers the gang’s social code is as strict as the religious dogma she escaped.
Written with development funding from Jeunes Voluntaires (2012)
Story Editor: Ruth Atkinson
UNFIT FOR BEARS
Full-length stage play
(80 minutes, 5 female actors)
Unfit for Bears goes beyond the prison walls and into the hearts and minds of incarcerated women, exposing human rights abuses that took place at Canada's Federal Prison for Women.
Produced by Zeitgeist Theatre Collective (September 2011) with production support from the Canada Council for the Arts and development support from the Playwrights Guild of Canada, the Quebec Writer's Federation and Playwrights Workshop Montreal. Presented at Les Ateliers Jean Brillant.
Featuring Catherine Lemieux, Nathalie Tannous, Emilia Xochitl Alvarez, Vanessa Schmidt, RosaRuby Kagan
Inspired by interviews with incarcerated women, correctional officers, social workers and criminal lawyers. The production included an art exhibit by local organization Entre ‘Elles, and a panel discussion with artists and community members.
Reviews:
"Volatile stories keep emotions on high and give us much to think about"
-Charlebois post
"This brave new production invites us to find hope and dignity in a degrading prison culture" - Midnight Poutine
Links/Press Coverage:
Review by Estelle Rosen of the Charlebois Post
Interview with Eylsha Enos of The Link
Preview by Midnight Poutine
Interview with Upstage
FLIGHTS OF FANCY
Theatre for Young Audiences, a one-act play