Inspired by a neighbourhood made famous by the art movements and media moguls who shaped it over the last 30 years, The Tale of a Town – Queen West is a site-specific theatrical journey that celebrates the history of this legendary strip. Based on countless interviews with local icons, artists and entrepreneurs, this trip through time takes off “outside the walls” of Theatre Passe Muraille.
The audience is led on a promenade-style theatrical tour of Queen West by a fictional condo developer, passing by the controversial Loblaws big-box development and ending up inside the imaginary Champagne Flaming Feather Eco Boho Legend Lofts. These condo designs become the playground for our protagonist Jane as she flashes back through her life on Queen West, beginning in the 80s. Accented by a track of original Queen West music, archival video, photo projections, audio documentaries and rounded out by a pair of live musicians, The Tale of a Town – Queen West invites the audience to take a trip down Queen Street’s memory lane while asking the question, “If this is the past, what will become of the future?” If you missed this incredible production you can listen to the hour long broadcast that was produced for The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, which aired on December 21st, 2011.
Meet the incredible team behind this monumental production!