Community Reading: Eight 'Men' Speak
Produced by Blythe Haynes, Laura Philipps, Dylan Tate-Howarth
Join us at The Theatre Centre, Franco Boni Theatre, May 3rd at 7:30 pm for a community play reading of ‘Eight Men Speak’ to draw parallels between censorship of pro-Palestinian artists, and the ongoing arrests of pro-Palestinian organizers in Toronto.
‘Eight Men Speak’ was written and performed in 1933 by a group of artists/labour organizers as a direct response to the incarceration of Communist Party Leaders under Section 98 of the criminal code. It is the only play in Canadian history to be banned by Toronto Police and Canada Post for political reasons. Heavily policed/censored during its first production, this piece of Toronto theatre history remains a potent reflection of our socio-political landscape. This reading is a chance to collectively review the relevance of this text in 2024.
Your attendance is a form of direct action to directly address how theatre can respond to state violence. We are supporting our community by supporting the Toronto Community Justice Fund (TCJF) with a PWYC donation bin at the reading.
Content Warnings: punishment in the carceral system and police brutality
May 3, 2024
to May 3, 2024
Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can
Franco Boni Theatre
This performance is 2 hours
May 11, 2026
Tiny Concert Series for Torontonians is a new initiative at The Theatre Centre, presenting free and low-cost music events over the next several months! This performance is part of events that we’re calling our Tiny Concert Series for Torontonians, increasing the community’s access to shared arts and culture experiences. The music programming will span a range...