Project: Humanity brought a young, middle class playwright into one of Toronto's roughest neighbourhoods to conduct on-camera interviews with the residents of a youth shelter. These striking encounters form THE MIDDLE PLACE and mark PH’s first foray into Verbatim Theatre. Written by Andrew Kushnir and directed by Alan Dilworth, this documentary play has five actors embodying the real words of 16 remarkable youth, 3 caseworkers and one well-intentioned outsider. How do you hang onto hope? “Practice it. Like, wanna have hope.”

THE MIDDLE PLACE notably had two separate runs in the same Toronto theatre season as a way of maximizing new audiences for the show. Theatre Passe Muraille and Canadian Stage co-produced these runs in 2010/11.

Written by Andrew Kushnir
Directed by Alan Dilworth
Featuring Jessica Greenberg, Akosua Amo Adem, Kevin Walker, Antonio Cayonne, Andrew Kushnir (2010-11), Paul Dunn (2009), Aidan DeSalaiz (2009) & Monica Dottor (2011)

Set & Costume Design by Jung-Hye Kim
Lighting Design by Kimberly Purtell
Sound Design by Thomas Ryder Payne
Movement Design by Monica Dottor
Stage Management by Andrea Schurman (2009),
Sandi Becker (2009), Marinda de Beer (2010) & Kinnon Elliott (2011)

★★★★ – EYE WEEKLY
★★★★ – TORONTO SUN
NNNN – NOW MAGAZINE 2011

“It’s gritty, moving, disturbing, and sometimes funny. The use of language is astounding.”
-TIMES COLONIST, ★★★★

“This is theatre that reflects its city in a way that is both urgent and entertaining.”
-THE GLOBE AND MAIL, ★★★1/2

“The onstage methods of The Middle Place could hardly be simpler. The impact is very powerful and also surprisingly complex…The way these kids talk can give you hope. Like them, the play makes painfully but not depressingly clear, we need it.”
- NATIONAL POST

TORONTO THEATRE CRITICS’ AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
DORA AWARD NOMINATION FOR OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY
summerworks jury prize for outstanding direction