A Pandemic-inspired audio drama Trilogy from André Alexis
Internationally acclaimed, multiple award-winning Toronto novelist André Alexis has teamed up with local experimental theatre company Volcano to create a new audio drama Metamorphosis: a Viral Trilogy. Launching on August 17 with new episodes added on August 24 and 31, the series is a co-presentation between TO Live, SummerWorks, and Canadian Stage.
Created in collaboration with Volcano’s founding Artistic Director Ross Manson, sound designer Debashis Sinha, and a trio of acclaimed Canadian actors – Bahia Watson, Becky Johnson and Diana Leblanc – Metamorphosis charts the progress of a fictional global pandemic in Canada’s largest city through three fictional diaries.
These audio-journals – from a 13-year old girl (Lucretia); a 30-year-old woman (Kerri); and an 86-year old
senior (Nella) – are funny, intimate, and often fantastical.
The first episode, Lucretia in Quarantine, centres on a 13-year-old caring for a 7-year-old sister who,
in the absence of parents, has decided to adopt a baby racoon. Lucretia’s diary beautifully explores
loneliness, love and family in a time of extremity. Lucretia in Quarantine launches on August 17 at
In the second installment, Kerri Wonders, a 30-year-old woman takes a pill in a moment of abandon
after years in quarantine. Kerri’s diary chronicles how the pill transforms her life in a post-pandemic
world. Kerri Wonders launches on August 24 athttp://summerworks.ca/programming.
The final episode of the series, Nella at 86, follows an octogenarian in a long-term care home at the
start of a global pandemic. Her diary is a clear-sighted account from someone who is no stranger to
loss. Nella at 86 launches on August 31 athttps://csgrid.canadianstage.com/metamorphosis.
The three diaries each run approximately 35 minutes. For the full impact of the sound and music, they
are best listened to through headphones. Transcriptions for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences will
also be available.
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