Convergence Theatre is run by husband & wife duo Aaron Willis (actor-director) and Julie Tepperman (actor-playwright), listed as one of Toronto’s “most respected theatre duos” by NOW Magazine. Since forming Convergence Theatre in 2006, they have both gone on to create some of the most innovative work in Toronto. Aaron has directed at theatres across the city, most notably at Soulpepper and Tarrago
n, as well as being part of the Stratford Festival’s inaugural Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Theatre Direction and associate producer at Canadian Stage. Julie has acted at theatres across the city, has been commissioned to write two musicals – one by Tapestry Opera and one by Acting Up Stage, and most recently co-created/co-wrote/co-directed Brantwood, one of the most ambitious site-specific shows this country has ever seen. ARTISTIC STATEMENT: With each new project we challenge ourselves to find innovative ways to push the boundaries of intimacy between performer and audience. We create plays in site-specific and non-traditional venues, as well as completely re-imagine traditional theatre spaces. We invite our audiences to be an integral part of their theatre-going experience by exploring ways to fully immerse them in the world of the play. PAST PRODUCTIONS:
AutoShow was comprised of seven short plays that took place in actual cars. ETC: It premiered at the 2006 Fringe where it was awarded Best New Play, Outstanding Ensemble & Outstanding Production, and was listed #4 in NOW Magazine’s Top Ten Toronto Productions of 2006. A new version of AutoShow premiered at the 2015 Kick & Push Festival at Theatre Kingston. The Gladstone Variations was comprised of four one-act plays that had audiences chasing characters all over Toronto’s historic Gladstone Hotel. ETC: It premiered at the 2007 Fringe, was remounted independently in 2008, was nominated for 4 Dora Awards, and was listed #2 in NOW Magazine’s “Top Ten Toronto Productions of the Decade”. YICHUD (Seclusion) by Julie Tepperman, transformed Theatre Passe Muraille into a Synagogue for Rachel & Chaim’s wedding, where the audience of wedding guests was invited to dance, drink, and meet the family for a “pre-show” wedding celebration. ETC: Following its success at the 2009 Next Stage Theatre Festival, YICHUD was part of TPM’s 2010 and 2011 seasons, was the headliner for the 2011 Magnetic North Theatre Festival where it was nominated for a Capital Critics’ Circle Award for Best Production, was listed #5 in NOW Magazine’s Top Ten Toronto Productions of 2010, and was published by Playwright’s Canada Press. Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl (co-produced with Outside the March and Sheep No Wool) was a 4 hour epic drama which took place at Withrow Park and Eastminster United Church. It won the 2014 Dora Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble.
