Theatre of Heartbreak(s)

Nov 23

COVE/COVOX - Viktorija Kovac

Theatre of Heartbreak(s)

Viktorija Kovac, Artistic Director of Cosmic Fishing Theatre, is directing Nada Abusaleh (actor) and Juneyt Yetkiner (nuevo-flamenco guitarist) as an interdisciplinary performance duo in a romantic dramedy.

Viktorija will also be curating experimental in-person blind date events where single people will be paired up in small groups, and couples will be paired up with other couples to experience scenes from the staged relationship. This experimentation is about bringing people together to explore unique perspectives on a theatrical relationship, and to see how these types of artistic encounters can enhance theatrical interpretation for a director. These events are being lined up for June. Stay tuned!

Theatre of Heartbreak(s) is a project that hopes to open up intercultural/intergenerational conversations with audiences about contemporary dating, romantic partnerships, and expectations.

For future project updates or to get involved, follow Cosmic Fishing Theatre on Instagram and Facebook.

Cast

Nada Abusaleh - Mariam

Nada Abusaleh is a theatre artist and core member of Cosmic Fishing Theatre, an experimental project-based theatre company making art happen in the Waterloo Region. She’s an actor, creator, and artistic producer. She is the current Apprentice Artistic Director with MT Space, and an associate artist with Tottering Biped Theatre. Select performance credits include Lauren/Steph in "Chelsea’s Story" (MT Space, 2021/2022); the Hakawatieh in "How We Fall in Love" (Paprika Festival, 2021); Razan in "Suitcase" (Theatre Mada, 2019/2020); Mariah/Captain in "Twelfth Night" (Tottering Biped Theatre, 2019).

Juneyt Yetkiner - Rohan

Born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, Juneyt is a self-taught musician and has been playing Flamenco & Nuevo-Flamenco Guitar for 24 years. Drawn to the passion and raw emotion of music, he has played alongside many well-known musicians throughout his career. Juneyt has performed as a studio guitarist on more than 25 albums and numerous festivals in Europe, Asia, South & North America also opened for many world-renowned musicians such as Liona Boyd, John McDermott, Alex Cuba, Doobie Brothers, Santana and many more. He is the Musical and Educational Director for H20 Congo Movement, President of Chris Lane Foundation for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer; Juneyt regularly donates his time for many charity organizations, performing over 50 charity events annually. Juneyt has been nominated & won the 2017 Toronto Independent Music Awards, & 2019 Waterloo Region Arts Awards, has been a five-time nominee for Waterloo Region Arts Awards (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2019); He has composed music for two television documentaries and won 13 Diamond Readers Choice Awards (2014, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 & 2021).

Creative Team

Viktorija Kovac - Director

Viktorija Kovac is a theatre director, puppeteer, and the founding artistic director of Cosmic Fishing Theatre - an experimental project-based theatre company based out of Waterloo, ON. Her artistic practice centres on new creation and directing re-imagined adaptations, emphasizing the female artistic voice and serving intercultural and intergenerational audiences. Cosmic Fishing Theatre stages relevant, exciting, and evocative theatre and events for adults, young audiences, and very young audiences (ages 0-6). For 2022, Viktorija is the Metcalf Foundation Performing Arts Intern in Artistic Direction with MT Space.

Charlotte Peters - Stage Manager

As a Stage Manager, Charlotte has worked on Sweeney Todd (Talk Is Free Theatre); Back Home For the Holidays, Elf: The Musical, Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto (Drayton Entertainment); A Belly Full (Theatre Aquarius); Possible Worlds, Beauty and the Beast, Robin Hood's Latest Adventure (Bishop's University); Going Deaf and Blind At a Funeral on a Submarine (New Plays Festival); The Golden Fleece (TheatreActiv Festival). Charlotte is also a scenic painter with IATSE Local 828, and a poet, with writing published in The Maynard, The Mitre, and yolk. She would like to thank all the incredible spirits who made this workshop such a joy.

Julia Kim - Set & Projection Designer

Julia Kim is a set, costume, and projection designer, working in theatre and dance. She’s been working mostly in Southern Ontario, designing for independent theatre productions in Toronto and working as an assistant designer at Stratford Festival and Shaw Festival. In 2020, she’s been nominated for Pauline McGibbon Award. Currently, she is working as a resident designer at Motyer-Fancy Theatre at Mount Allison University.

Nadia Ursacki - Lighting Designer

Nadia is a K-W based Lighting Designer and Stage Manager, but is also known to do many other theatre supporting jobs. Lighting design credits include "Titanic" and "Spring Awakening" with K-W Musical Productions; "Heathers" and "In the Heights" with The Singer's Theatre; “The Paper Bag Princess" with Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre. Select Stage Manager credits: "Outside Mullingar" and "Charles Dickens Writes a Christmas Carol" with Lost & Found Theatre; "Touch" with Green Light Arts; "The Three Musketeers" and "Captain Hook's Revenge" with KWLT.

Cameron Slipp - Production Manager & Sound Designer

Cameron Slipp is a stage manager, production manager, and composer. He is a very recent graduate of the University of Waterloo, majoring in Music with a minor in Theatre and Performance. As a stage manager, Cameron has worked with Theatre Mada, MT Space, and Cosmic Fishing Theater. As a composer, Cameron has written the music and lyrics for two one-act musicals, along with various other vocal and instrumental works. Cameron is also on the board of directors of NUMUS, and sings with the Grand Philharmonic Choir.

Advisors And Crew

Carlos Parada - Videographer
Myke Phillips - Audio Technician
Vania Feng - Lighting Operator
Gary Kirkham - Projection Consultant
Movement Coach - Brad Cook
Intimacy Direction Consultant - Corey Tanzmania
Metcalf Foundation Artistic Directing Mentor - Pam Patel
COVE/COVOX Mentor - Isabella Stefanescu
COVE/COVOX Mentor - Angela Nenne Onuora

Inter Arts Matrix Team

Sheila McMath - Artistic Director
Samantha Tai - Audience Relations and Communication Coordinator
Kyle Murphy - Digital Projects Manager
Cameron Slipp - Production Manager
Isabella Stefanescu - Artistic Producer
Marie Leblanc Flanagan - Knowledge Mobilization Lead
John Sobol - Digital Engagement Strategist