X Marks the Spot by Christopher Duthie
Creator/Performer: Christopher Duthie
Director: Ayla Stephen
Choreographer: Veronica Benz
Sound: Gabriel Stephen
A young man. A night at the theatre. An impulsive act.
A journey inside…
Inspired by the collected lectures of Joseph Campbell, X Marks the Spot is a physical exploration of the individual and mythology. It was created in collaboration with Veronica Benz, Gabriel Staples, and Ayla Stephen at Calgary Arts Development’s Seafood Market Studios. Sound by Gabriel Staples.(Theatre & dance)
Christopher Duthie is a Calgary-based actor engaged in the creation of new theatrical work. He loves life, art and the city he lives in. Christopher Duthie is a Calgary-based actor, musician and performance creator. Selected acting credits include REVERIE, Ghost River Theatre; Smash Cut Freeze, Radioheaded 2: It Is The 21st Century, One Yellow Rabbit; A Christmas Carol ’07-’10, Theatre Calgary; Night Light, Quest Theatre; Freak Show ’07 –’09, Swallow-a-Bicycle; The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, Alberta Theatre Projects; Henry VI, Part III; The Shakespeare Company. His one man show n00b premiered at Sage Theatre’s Ignite! Festival in 2009 and is currently in development at Vertigo Theatre’s Y-Stage Series for production in February, 2012. He was One Yellow Rabbit’s first Lefebvre resident and attended their Summerlab Intensive in 2007. He has also been through the Canadian National Voice Intensive and John Turner’s Baby Clown Intensive. He is a graduate of the University of Calgary.
Calgarian Veronica Benz is an independent dance artist, performing, choreographing, teaching and working behind the scenes in the city’s contemporary dance community. After studying in the well-known dance program at the University of Calgary and earning her B.A. in Dance Studies, Ms. Benz has performed the works of Davida Monk, Melanie Kloetzel, Amber Douglas, Wojtek Mochniej, Neah Kalcounis, Valerie Campbell and Michèle Moss. She has also presented her own choreography at the High Performance Rodeo, Franco Force, Dance Montage, U of C Professional Series, Alberta Dance Festival/Dance Explosions, for MoMo Dance Theatre and for the Fluid Movement Arts Festival. Ms. Benz is known for being enthusiastic and passionate about creating, performing, seeing and speaking about dance. Benz is an Elected Director of the Calgary Contemporary Dance Collective and has a growing presence in Calgary dance. In 2011, she was featured as an “Up and Coming Performance Artist” in the Calgary Herald.
Calgarian Veronica Benz is an independent dance artist, performing, choreographing, teaching and working behind the scenes in the city’s contemporary dance community.
Gabriel Staples is a Calgary based multidisciplinary artist; he graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Gabriel has designed sound for plays including n00b (Sage Theatre’s Ignite! Festival 2009/House Company), and Potentilla (Downstage’s Uprising Festival 2010). His own artistic practice explores the subtle complexities of mediation - the relationship between a viewer and that which is viewed. His media ranges from graphite drawing to photography and digital video. Gabriel is inspired by collaboration between artistic disciplines and sees the performing arts as a perfect environment for this to occur.
Ayla Stephen has worked as a director, actor and creator with a number of Calgary companies since completing her BFA at the University of Calgary. She collaborates regularly with Christopher Duthie; laces up her Chuck Taylor’s to perform with the Late Late Breakfast Show sketch comedy gang as much as she can; is an artistic associate with The Shakespeare Company; and recently became the managing director of Sage Theatre. Selected directing credits include: Romeo & Juliet, The Shakespeare Company Outreach; The Disembodied Lady, Ignite! ’11; Heterophobia, Beyond Closed Doors; n00b, House Company and Ignite ’09. She completed a one year residency with One Yellow Rabbit in 2008. Ayla brings her quirky sense of humor and a healthy dose of curiosity to everything she does. Her own solo works often feature handmade items fashioned out of paper, string, white glue, styrofoam balls and other bits and bobs that end up around the house.