HOLDEN & ARTS ASSOCIATES
SHARING STORIES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1983
OUTSIDE
Produced by Roseneath Theatre
From Toronto, Canada
Three friends. Two high schools. One lunch hour.
Outside is the story of Daniel, a teen who triumphs over homophobic bullying, depression, and suicide. During a meeting of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at his new school Daniel shares his story. Meanwhile, at his old school, struggling to come to terms with what happened, his friends Krystina and Jeremy attempt to start their own GSA. Using flashbacks, we travel through Daniel’s harrowing experience of bullying that began with a taunt and a text message and eventually led to a serious physical assault.
Official Showcase Selection at IPAY 2017!
Nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore Awards!
Outstanding New Play – Paul Dunn
Outstanding Performance – G. Kyle Shields
Best for Grades: 7th-12th
Audience Size: Medium to Large Venues
Archival 2015 promo video -
Please contact us to watch an archival full-length recording.
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Company Background
Past Tours: The Incredible Speediness of Jamie Cavanaugh, La Maleta (The Suitcase), Dying to be Thin, Wrecked, Smokescreen and Danny, King of the Basement
Established in 1983, Roseneath Theatre is one of Canada’s leading producers of award-winning theatre for children and their families. Our plays address issues that resonate with today’s youth, encouraging them to reflect on themselves and their place within the community. Our commitment to excellence has earned us many accolades, including 43 Dora nominations and a total of 14 Awards. Roseneath was also a finalist for the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.
Roseneath gives up to 300 performances per year to approximately 100,000 young people, making us the largest professional touring theatre in Ontario. We are equally committed to both quality and accessibility.
Roseneath Theatre was founded by David S. Craig and Robert Morgan. The current Artistic Director is Andrew Lamb.
Our Mandate
To educate and promote the public’s appreciation of the aesthetic arts by providing theatrical performances in educational institutions, community centres and public places.
Our Mission Statement
Roseneath Theatre’s mission is to create and produce small cast, high quality theatre for youth and family audiences. We produce popular theatre that has artistic, personal, and social integrity using all the resources at our disposal for the largest possible audience.
Collective Vision Statement
Roseneath is a professional theatre company delivering artistically excellent original Canadian productions that engage and inspire young audiences. Our plays address provocative issues relevant to today’s youth encouraging them to reflect on themselves and their place within the community. The impact of our collaborative work is immediate and inclusive.
For more information, please visit the company’s website.
Artistic Team
Cast:
Krystina: Mina James
Jeremy: Giacomo Sellar
Daniel: G. Kyle Shields
Playwright: Paul Dunn
Director: Andrew Lamb
Set Designer: Michael Greves
Costume Designer: Lindsay C.Walker
Sound Designer: Verne Good
Critical Acclaim
The performance of ‘Outside’ was relevant and engaging. It hit on so many topics. Our school counselor felt that all 8th graders should see this play before going to high school. The students felt respected; that someone was finally treating them like young adults. We now have students that would like to start a gay/straight alliance at high school next year!
—Maria Orlando, Teacher
Nikolay Middle School. Cambridge, WI
Outside is a hard-hitting, insightful and engrossing piece of theatre that looks at the ways in which young people who are "different" are bullied in today's context of social media and cell phones. It demands that we consider the impact of our actions and refuses to settle for easy solutions. It never speaks down to young people. It is honest. It empowers young people with a sense of responsibility. It is simply one of the best pieces of theatre for young audiences that I have encountered in recent memory.
- Brendan Healy, Artistic Director
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre - Toronto
Our school really benefited from this production. It has promoted so many positive messages about inclusion and responsibility for our own actions that we will probably never see the many ways this will ripple into our students' (and staff's) lives.
—K. Fraser, Teacher
Holy Trinity Catholic High School, SMCDSB
The characters were believable and the plot invited the audience to feel uncomfortable in which characters they identified with as well as challenged them to respond. It was at once heart-wrenching and hilarious with a powerful message. Very well done!
- Mirayam Morris, Teacher
Don Mills Middle School, TDSB
Feedback that I'm getting from teachers and students is that OUTSIDE was an excellent play, excellent writing, explicitly exposes a theme without being too graphic...well done!
—M. Morvillo, Vice-Principal
Pleasant View Junior High School, TDSB
This is what our kids need! Lecturing them on rules and issues in the abstract has little impact -- but this play made the issues real. In that hour, our audience invested in three new friends in the characters on stage, and then experienced their struggles with them. It was powerful. I wish we could have this production back every two years.
—Darcy McLenaghen, Teacher
Valley Park Middle School, TDSB
Every young person deserves to feel safe at school. Sadly, this is not always the case for our LGBTQ youth, many of whom endure hateful comments and abuse. Outside uses the power of theatre to illustrate the devastating impact of homophobic bullying. Every student and teacher should see it.
-Jill Holroyd
Toronto PFLAG board member
Gallery of Past Productions
2017/2018 Dates
See Performances of “Outside”:
November 13-19, 2017 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
November 30, 2017 at Flynn Centre for the Performing Arts, Burlington, VT
Or see the company on the road with "The Money Tree"
Curriculum Connections
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Curriculum Connections: Social Studies & the Humanities, Physical & Health Education, Civics & Citizenship, Equity & Inclusive Education, Drama, English
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Themes: Homophobia, Gay-Straight Alliances, Bullying & Cyberbullying, Mental Health, Teen Suicide
Minimum Technical Requirements
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Load In Time: 4 hours
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Crew Needs: 4 crew (carpenters/LX/sound) for load in/out, 1 LX crew for show call
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Min. Stage Size: 30’ wide x 25’ deep x 10’ ht
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Load Out Time: 1 hour
Outreach and Workshops
School performances include a talkback session with the artists, unless otherwise pre-arranged with venue.
Roseneath Theatre is able to offer sensory friendly performances of "Outside" upon request and with specific direction as to what this means for your venue.
We have also offered student and teacher workshop opportunities while we are on tour and where the tour schedule permits. Please let us know what you'd have in mind and we will do our best to meet your needs.