THE FOUR HORSEMEN PROJECT
The Story
The Four Horsemen Project is a multi-disciplinary extravaganza conceived and co-directed by Toronto’s dance-theatre dynamic duo, Ross Manson and Kate Alton, in collaboration with Vancouver animation studio Global Mechanic. Live, on-stage, swirling animation and sonic hi-jinx make the poetry of Canada’s 1970s avant-garde scene leap off the page and onto the stage.
The Four Horsemen Project uses the philosophical goal of the early sound poets themselves as its structural spine: the idea that poetry is far more than words on a page; poetry encompasses sound, breath and the human body. With this remarkable collaboration, a new generation of artists breathes life into some nearly-forgotten work – iconoclastic, brilliant, delightfully irreverent – work that set the whole world on its ear.
The Team
Conceived and Co-directed by | Kate Alton and Ross Manson
Based on the poetry of The Four Horsemen by | Rafael Barreto-Rivera, Paul Dutton, Steve McCaffery and bpNichol
Choreography by | Kate Alton
Animation by | Bruce Alcock and Global Mechanic
Musical Direction by | John Millard
Dramaturgy by | Ross Manson
Lighting Design by | Itai Erdal
Costume Design by | Cass Reimer
Starring | Jennifer Dahl, Graham McKelvie, Naoko Murakoshi and Andrea Nann
Stage Managers | Angie Jones, Kathryn Westoll, J.P Robichaud, Kai-Yueh Chen
Press
Milestones
February 2007: The Four Horsemen Project world premiere at Factory Theatre, Toronto.
March 2007: Tour to the Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa
January 2008: Tour to British Columbia: Intrepid Theatre in Victoria; and the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Vancouver.
July 2008: Tour to the Thousand Islands Playhouse, Gananoque,
September 2008: Tour to Project Arts Centre at the Dublin Fringe Festival.
July 2009: Tour to Das Kesselhaus at Berlin’s Poesie Festival.
July 2014: Toronto Remount at Soulpepper Theatre
Awards and Nominations
2007 Dora Award Winner (Independent Theatre Division) for:
Outstanding New Play: Bruce Alcock, Kate Alton, Rafael Barreto-Rivera, bpNichol, Paul Dutton, Steve MacCaffrey & Ross Manson
Outstanding Production: The Four Horsemen Project
Outstanding Direction: Kate Alton & Ross Manson
Outstanding Lighting Design: Itai Erdal
And nominated for Outstanding Costume Design: Cass Reimer & Outstanding Sound Design/Composition: John Millard & John Gzowski
2015 Dora Award Winner (General Theatre Division) for:
Outstanding Sound Design/Composition: Rafael Barreto Rivera, Paul Dutton, Steve McCaffery & bpNicohol. (Additional Sound Design Creation: Bill Brennan, Graham Hargrove, John Millard and the cast)
And nominated for Outstanding Performance – Ensemble: The Four Horsemen Project.
Dublin International Fringe Best Design Award: The Four Horsemen Project