Swim Team SummerWorks Premiere

Nowadays Theatre  is thrilled to announce the Toronto English premiere of Swim Team, part of the Lab Programming  at the SummerWorks Performance Festival, August 12-19th.

ABOUT THE SHOW:
Swim Team is inspired by real stories from the world of women’s sports in post-revolutionary Iran. It follows 3 girls who are determined to learn to swim in a place devoid of water, and their coach, who realizes it can be just as difficult to achieve one's dreams in the imagination as in reality.


WHY SWIM TEAM?                                            
Following the 1979 revolution, sports in Iran became subject to gender segregation. Women were banned from sporting stadiums and were not allowed to train with or be trained by men. Facilities and funds were in short supply for female athletes and laws that required women to wear hijabs greatly impacted their ability to compete against other high-performance athletes. As a result, many women’s sports teams were disbanded after the establishment of the Islamic Republic. In the 1990s, women’s rights activists and women’s sports advocates attempted to recreate a community of female athletes by forming the Islamic Federation of Women’s Sports. The Federation was later dissolved by the country’s administrators, and its founder served a six-month sentence for crimes against the Republic. Swim Team connects with the vision of a female sporting community. It highlights how sports provides a framework for mentorship and comradery, helping women persevere in the face of hardship.  


COSTS:                                                                        
Thanks to the generous support of SummerWorks, we are grateful to showcase this important work at the reputable Theatre Centre. However, other costs are needed for Swim Team to reach its creative goal: 
Honorariums: $500  +  Costumes & Props: $400  +  Rehearsal Space: $350  +  Set Design: $300  +  Marketing: $250  +  Tech: $200 

                                                                         
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS:                        
Nowadays Theatre is committed to creating art that crosses borders, connects people and celebrates cultural diversity. When the play is performed in Iran, it is subject to censorship and the female actresses are required to wear hijabs. 

We want Swim Team to raise awareness about women’s rights in Iran and promote conversations about the challenges faced by female athletes. We want the production to intersect with current events and issues—to build on the momentum of the women’s movement. Now is the time for productions that tell women’s stories and give voice to their struggles. Women are protesting, marching and organizing; their demands for equality are being heard across the spheres of sport, entertainment and theatre. 

With your help, Swim Team can participate in timely conversations about women in sport. Any donation, big or small, is a step closer to bringing female artists and athletes from different ethno-cultural backgrounds into the spotlight.  

CREATIVE TEAM:                                                
Directed by Aida Keykhaii; Written by Jaber Ramezani; Dramaturged by Mohammad Yaghoubi; Performed by: Banafsheh Taherian, Parya Tahsini, Sarah Saberi, Tina Bararian; Stage Managed by Farnoosh Talebpour; Publicity by: Banafsheh Taherian; Co-Produced by Alma Matters Productions  (Sarah Marchand)

To learn more about Nowadays Theatre, please visit our social media:    Facebook -  Twitter -  Instagram  #swimteamTO