[elephants] is an experimental devising group based in Tkaronto.
Our work explores the possibilities inherent in the live event of the performer/audience relationship. We are interested in performance as a unique space to consider big ideas (previous projects explore time, objects, companionship, reality). We have been active since 2014.
We've presented work in an array of venues and festivals including Rhubarb, SummerWorks, Toronto Fringe, DaPoPo’s Live-In Festival (Halifax), Katzman Contemporary, Pi Theatre's Provocateurs Series (Vancouver) and through a number of residencies and independent productions.
[elephants] collective originated out of an emerging artist creation residency facilitated by Theatre Passe Muraille (The Elephants in the Room Creation Lab, 2013). This initial group was constructed as a gesture towards TPM’s collective roots and provided the selected artists two residencies at the theatre, the second of which resulted in the first draft of A Wake for Lost Time.
Following their time at TPM, artists Donna Marie Baratta, Jenna Harris, Thomas McKechnie and Michael Reinhart decided to embark on a longer project of collective creation, formally announcing their collaboration as [elephants] collective in March 2014. Since then, [elephants] has seen many manifestations, projects, and events. But certain principles have always remained consistent:
- a mandate that experimental performance must express an experiment within the performance. the audience must be accounted for as an essential part of this;
- commitment to dramaturgical rigour;
- ongoing physical training.
Our current core members are Jenna Harris, Z. Mair, and Michael Reinhart.
PAST CORE MEMBERS
Donna Marie Baratta
Jess Byiers
Nicole DeAngelis
Thomas McKechnie
ASSOCIATE ARTISTS
Ian Ball
Maïna Béland-Rahm
Kristina Bojanowski
Anahita Dehbonehie
Dario Del Degan
Jennie Egerdie
Jessie Fraser
Andrew Gaboury
Ailsa Galbreath
Beniot Gravel
Rebecca Hooton
Phoebe Hu
Ximena Huizi
Erin Humphrey
Sydney Jinjoe
Hannah Kaya
Michaela Mar
Monty Martin
Naomi Melvin
Michael Palumbo
Kevin Rees
Tanya Rintoul
Sofia Rodriguez
Michela Sisti
Katie Sly
Elizabeth Staples
Moez Surani