"Helena 2" @ FringeMTL! a new "female-gaze" robot play
Donation protected
If you are reading this, we have some exciting news to share. Toronto-based LET ME IN productions is putting up a play this June! We've been mostly dabbling in the short film world for the past few years, curating the Short Film Share festival for our filmmaking community. Now, we're producing a play again, for the first time since 2019!
"Helena 2; or, The Island of Eden" is a new work, and it's what we're calling a "female-gaze" adaptation of Karel Čapek’s iconic 1920 sci-fi play "R.U.R.". It was for this play that Čapek coined the word "robot". Our play also draws inspiration from "Frankenstein", early feminist manifestos, and the current moment in AI technology.
We are so excited to share this next creative endeavor with you. The story is meaningful to us, and extremely relevant. Not to mention, it's a fun one.
Below are the details for the show (if you're able to make it, you are most welcome!), and an explanation of what we're seeking funding for will follow.
TICKETS:
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"Helena 2; or, The Island of Eden"
MONTREAL FRINGE (JUNE 5th-15th) / 45mins, Quebec English Category
Produced by LET ME IN
Writers: Justine Christensen & Lily Scriven
Director: Justine Christensen
Associate Artist/Director: Morgan St. Onge
Stage Manager: Emily Stuchbery
Set and Lighting Consultant: Sahana Dharmaraj
Costume Consultant: Femi Avolonto
Photographer: Séamus Easton
CAST
Kyrah Harder as Margaret / Domin
Lily Scriven as Serenity / Helena
Parmida Vand as Jordan / Dr. Gall / Primus
Viv DeGraves as Alina / Sulla / Helena 2
Justine Christensen as Sloane / Alquist
Opens June 6th runs to June 12th 2025
PlayShed - 10 Pine Ave W
Performances:
June 6th, 8:15PM
June 7th, 12:45PM
June 8th, 8:30PM
June 9th, 5:30PM
June 10th, 8:45PM
June 11th, 5:45PM
June 12th, 7:00PM
Synopsis of the original "R.U.R."
The play begins in a factory that makes artificial workers from synthetic organic matter. (As living creatures of artificial flesh and blood, that later terminology would call androids, the playwright's 'roboti' differ from later fictional and scientific concepts of inorganic constructs.) Robots manufactured by Rossum’s Universal Robots may be mistaken for humans but have no original thoughts. As humanity demands more and more of their robot workforce, the robots grow dissatisfied, and chaos ensues.
A charming little article about the origin of the word “robot”:
About LET ME IN
LET ME IN (est. 2016) produces remodeled “classic” works for a contemporary audience through remixing, altering, satirizing, and gender-bending. In 2024, LMI expanded into the world of film, and the company now hosts short film screenings to encourage community building among emerging creatives, and create community between theatre and film makers.
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Now for the funds part. We are running a campaign to raise $6,450 to help us put on this show. Since we were asked to join the festival from the waitlist and have not had as much time as usual to prepare for the festival, we are seeking funding from granting bodies, but can't hope to see any money coming our way (should we even be successful in receiving government funding) for several months after this performance.
We are therefore reaching out to our communities, supporters, and those who have appreciated our work in the past, to see who has the means of sending some funding our way. All of the money received goes to paying for the logistics of putting on the play, including rehearsal space and travel (for those on the team who are not local to Montreal) and to paying the team of artists who will contribute their expertise to making this show happen.
If you're Toronto-based and won't be able to attend the actual play due to the distance, please consider contributing $10 or $15 in lieu of buying a ticket. We would greatly appreciate the help.
We hope you will consider donating if you are able, and please spread the word if you believe in what we do. :)
Much love,
LMI