Opening Night, Baby

It's just about two weeks away from the festival, and we can't wait. We just can't.

We're too excited about what we've got lined up for you, we're ready to showcase our fresh-faced baby angels to the world, and we want you to be there for it.

Since we're so excited, we got to thinking: what's better than an opening night? An Opening Night Party.

On Thursday, October 15th at 7pm, the doors to Fresh Meat 4 will open, and we will all be there, happy to be together, and happy to be happy.

Our beautiful sponsor Dominion City will be wetting our whistles, as per usual, and we've got some ooh-la-la worthy ancillary programming coming to you brought to you by the ineffable Danica Olders and Laura Acosta, with their piece Van Go:

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Wondering what's going on in this photo? Come check out Van Go on opening night!

Their piece is an omnipresent version of the gallery and the artist; the feeling you get when arguing, “what came first, chicken or egg?” The gallery model is transformed into a performance, in which the audience, oblivious at first, is not a viewer, but also a part of the work itself. A combination of projections and performers dressed in colorful wearable sculptures will create the Van Go Experience.

If that ain't enough to get your butts out to come and party with us, local music curatorial guru DJ Rosstronica will be spinning beats all night, to keep us boogie-ing.

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Nothing g-Ross about our friend, Rosstronica

So come on out, let's dance, let's drink, let's be merry, and most of all, let's support some rad f*cking local theatre on opening night.

Love,

Fresh Meat

Theatre Creation Workshop: BEGIN ANYWHERE, With ANDY MASSINGHAM

Here at Fresh Meat, we love all things new, innovative, creative, daring, and well... fresh.

That's why we're so glad to have to have paired up with local artiste-extraordinaire Andy Massingham for the second instalment of his three-weekend series of acting workshops, entitled The Acting Animal.

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The man himself, Mr. Massingham performing in his Dora Award-winning creation Rough House.

Photo credit to Nicole Stamp at blogTO, April 16, 2008.

The second workshop of the series coincides, entitled Begin Anywhere with the first weekend of Fresh Meat, with the workshop running October 17 - 18.

The workshop info reads:

Workshop 2 – Begin Anywhere – Theatre Creation
October 17–18, 2015 10:00am–4:00pm
Ideas are contagious and you have millions of them, so let’s get to work and spread them around! Judgement and pressure free, the focus here is on creative flow and getting creativity on its feet and into action.
We will draw on diverse influences such as painting, sculpture, literature and music as well as personal history and stream of consciousness to create wholly organic theatre pieces.
This workshop will examine the process rather than the result. You will find the unique storyteller within you and share it with others.
Materials will be provided. Bring along your own writng materials, please.
Price: $100.00
To register contact: Andy Massingham

In partnership with Andy, we're stoked to offer half price tickets to Fresh Meat on the night of Saturday October 17th, to any and all who participate in Andy's workshop.

It's a great way to take in some local theatre while also focussing on getting your own creative juices pumping.

I mean, come on, who can say no to these baby blues? 

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Andy "Dreamboat" Massingham, as pictured in the Yukon News, credit: Chris Oke, 2008.

Love, 

Fresh Meat

Hi, we like you. Come work with us. (A call to VOLUNTEERS)

Hi,

We’ve seen you around here; you’re hard not to notice. I hope that’s not too forward of us to say, but how could we not?

I mean, it’s you, after all.

The one with the killer haircut, the disarming smile, the love for local theatre, the passion for giving to the community, and that sweet sweet ability to show up on time and follow through on your obligations. So yeah, we see you. And we want to see more of you

We were thinking that, maybe we could all get to know each other a little bit during the weekends of October 15 – 17 and 22 – 24? Anything you want. You know, ushering, ticket taking, bartending, anything. Whatever you’re into, we just want to spend some time with you and get to know you a bit better.

We're not asking for much, there are no minimum number of shifts required, and we'd treat you to a beer, some shows, and a whole lotta love.

Come on, you know you want to.

Here, take our email: info@freshmeatfest.com and drop us a line if you're as into this as we are. Send a message to Mahalia with "Volunteer" in the subject line, and we'll see where things take us.

We like you. Come work with us.

Love,

Fresh Meat

Fresh Meat 4 LAUNCH PARTY

"It's our party, we can do what we want."

- Miley Cyrus

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PIctured: Miley at her freshest, reminding us to party our butts off.

The Fresh Meat 4 LAUNCH PARTY is just days away! Featuring our unbelievable sponsors, Dominion City Brewing Co., and Seed To Sausage General Store, the official launch of Ottawa's Freshest theatre festival will be taking place at House of Common (11b Fairmont Ave, in Hintonburg) from 5-8pm on Friday, September 18th.

Check out our Facebook event for all the sweet deets, and for a v. important youtube clip of Bambi (but let's not talk about the ending of that movie, ok?). 

Entry is free, but donations to keep our festival fresh, our beer pouring, and our meat sizzling is very much encouraged. The featured companies will be unveiled, dope beats will be mixed live (none of which will be Miley), and lots of juicy meat puns will be all up in your grills.

Bring a friend, and bring your fiercest self. We know we will #mileyforever.

Love, 

Fresh Meat

Where Are They Now? A Very Special Artist Feature: JONAH ALLINGHAM

Fresh Meat founder and musician-turned-actor-turned-musician Jonah Allingham is returning to Ottawa this week to play a show with his awesome new band The Budds. We persuaded him to take a break from his rocking life in Toronto to sit down and catch up with us. Get the juicy details below, and don’t miss The Budds, Fun Fact and Caveman Techno on Thursday September 3rd at Avant-Garde Bar.

 Fresh Meat: Tell us why you started Fresh Meat:

Jonah Allingham: Soooo about 4 years ago I was like "whoa there is some rad DIY theatre in Ottawa being made by emerging artists with no money, but it's not really a scene yet". So I figured we should make it a scene and started up the first Fresh Meat Theatre Fest. We ran in like a rock show and just threw a bunch of young theatre companies together at a bar and gave them total creative control. I produced it for three years and did shows with my own company Backpack Theatre each year. Now it's like a big thing and I couldn't be more of a happy papa.

FM: What are you up to these days?

JA: Soooo I'm kind of a total jabroni cause I moved to Toronto. Things are good, I'm going to film school and I play in the craziest rock band in the city. We're called The Budds and we play psychedlic garage rock, all our songs are about drugs, girls, and growing up and people just go insaaaane at our shows. Oh waaaait, if you're in Ottawa you can see us on Thursday (Sept 3)! We're playing at the Avant Garde with the awesome touring funk band Fun Fact. There will be sweat, there will be dancing, there will be rock n roll. It's PWYC. Be theeeere.

Pictured: Jonah (right) with bandmates Chris and Alex "Drumming Is My Life" Shackleton 

FM: if you were a kitchen item, implement, or appliance what would you be?

JA: I would be a bottle of Jack Daniels.

FM: Speaking from your experience as an artist, how do you think Fresh Meat impacts the local community?

JA: Fresh Meat exposes independent theatre to a diverse crowd. This is not just for the grey hairs, everybody can enjoy it. It's not museum theatre, it's a night out. It exposes indie theatre to the O-Town masses. It brings theatre to non theatre people. 

FM: What’s your favourite thing about Fresh Meat?

JA: Fresh Meat is important because it gives artists a voice. It is very rare for an arts event to trust their artists to just do whatever the fuck they want. And that's where the magic happens. The coolest thing is you don't even have to be sure it will work, because who cares?? Theatre should be punk/DIY as fuck and Fresh Meat makes it so.

FM: Of course, how do you like your meat? (Veggie-friendly answers accepted.)

JA: I love my meat.

Touché, Jonah. Touché.

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The Budds play Avant Garde Bar Thursday September 3rd at 10pm. Pay what you can at the door.

Where Are They Now? Artist Double Feature: MEGAN CARTY & TESS MC MANUS

Local tour-de-forces and Fresh Meat alums Megan Carty and Tess Mc Manus are teaming up for a wicked double bill at Theatre Underground's event PAIRED UP: You Didn't Ask To Be Here & Donkey Derby this September. So we figured what's a better way to catch up with these two dynamos than a double feature?

Megan Carty is no stranger to Fresh Meat; in the past year she has shared two current works-in-development with the festival: Me and My Monster and The Gold One. Most recently Megan performed as Baby Bridget in Jan Irwin's stage adaptation of Up to Low. She is currently performing in Theatre Wakefield's production of A Bridge to the Past, a musical revue about the history living in the Gatineau Hills. Up next: Charlie in the world premiere of Theatre Underground's You Didn't Ask to be Here by Allan Mackey.

Tess Mc Manus had been working in the Ottawa arts community for a few years when, on a fateful night at the Fringe beer tent (RIP),  she was approached by Fresh Meat founder Jonah Allingham and asked to take part in the festival's very first incarnation. It was during that Fringe circuit that Donkey Derby first galloped (if donkeys can be said to gallop?) onto the scene, and the show is back in its newest form in Theatre Underground's double bill.

Read our juicy interview with these two below, and don't miss PAIRED UP: You Didn't Ask To Be Here & Donkey Derby (Sept 11 - 13, Avalon Studio @ 738A Bank, 25$).

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The latest offering from our two wunderkinds.
 

Fresh Meat: DIY Theatre Fest: Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started with Fresh Meat.

Megan Carty: My first engagement with Fresh Meat was last fall. I had recently taken the summer lab intensive at One Yellow Rabbit in Calgary so I was very jazzed about creating my own experimental theatre. I was currently developing a one-woman physical theatre/verbatim piece called Me and My Monster for which Fresh Meat was the perfect platform. The experience with the festival was so tremendous and it was a gift to have a supportive platform to share art straight from my heart. For that reason, I decided to participate in Fresh Meat's Weekend Inventive the following winter with The Gold One.

Tess Mc Manus: Before Fresh Meat came along, I was fascinated with theatre creation - but it was something I'd never tried before. Knowing that that was where my interests lay, I joined a few touring shows on the Fringe circuit to get a better idea of what was being created across Canada at the grassroots level. I watched upwards of 70 shows, and the more I watched, the more confident I felt that I could create something, too. So the following year I threw together a humble attempt at a solo show called Donkey Derby, which toured the Fringe circuit, gaining critical acclaim and was encouragement for me to keep creating.

On that circuit, I was approached by Jonah and Tony. Less than a month before the very first Fresh Meat, I was performing Donkey Derby in Edmonton, and started working on the new show. That year, I offered up Tales She Tells, and the next year came Who Will Separate Us? The festival was a perfect platform to try out both: two brand-new ideas, and the barebones of could-be shows.

FM: What does your Fresh Meat project look like now?

Tess Mc Manus: Tales She Tells has undergone so many levels of evolution it's remarkable. The first, its premiere at Fresh Meat 1, where I tried to cram a lesson in Celtic Mythology and two epic stories into 15 minutes. The second, I toured the Ottawa, Regina, Winnipeg, and Edmonton Fringes in its full-length version. Of course, in Regina I got into a bike accident and broke my jaw, so my amazing stage manager Lydia Riding continued on with the tour, learning an 8 000 word solo show and an Irish accent in less than a week (she makes it look so easy). For the third, I was approached by the Artistic Director of the Ottawa Storytellers to book the show at the NAC's 4th Stage. It went up as Straight From The Harp, featuring a harpist and a soprano, and was a promotion of Irish culture as the original script had intended. Now, in its fourth incarnation, on Oct 2nd at the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre, it will feature storytelling and the harp. With every new rendition, it's getting better and better.

Tales She Tells will be going up Oct 2nd a the Shenkman Arts Centre, link here: http://shenkmanarts.ca/en/calendar_calendrier/october_octobre_2015/tales_she_tells/index.htm. Photo Credit: Allan Mackey
 

FM: Megan, any upcoming performances?

Megan Carty: Of course! I always have a project on-the-go, be it acting, producing, or creating. It's through theatre that I aspire to tell stories that resonate with me on a personal level. Right now I'm involved in Bridge to the Past by Ian Tamblyn and directed by Mary Ellis with Theatre Wakefield!

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Running until August 31st, link here: http://www.theatrewakefield.ca/en/bridge-to-the-past/
 

“The experience with the [Fresh Meat] festival was so tremendous and it was a gift to have a supportive platform to share art straight from my heart.”

— Megan Carty

FM: If you were a kitchen item, implement, or appliance, what would you be?

Megan Carty: A waffle maker.

Tess Mc Manus: A spoon.

FM: Speaking from your experience as an artist, how do you think Fresh Meat impacts the local community?

Megan Carty: It's an amazing way to bring likeminded emerging theatre creators together in a supportive and fun environment. New work is so important to the development of Ottawa's arts scene and this is exactly what this festival is all about!

“With Fresh Meat, it’s cooperating instead of getting competitive. It’s a shift from the Fringe model of ticket sales and bums in seats. When an audience member attends Fresh Meat, all the participants win. It’s awesome.”

— Tess Mc Manus

Tess Mc Manus: In addition to a strong local artist presence, Fresh Meat is a launching pad for those artists. And in order to be considered a launching pad, the presence of highly regarded individuals working in theatre in the city should be in attendance as well. That is to say that staff from the National Arts Centre, Ontario Arts Council, Canadian Council for the Arts, etc could see potential in somebody or a show and shed light on next steps or even pick up some shows.

FM: What's your favourite thing about Fresh Meat?

Megan Carty: I love that I can take huge risks without fear. Fresh Meat celebrates process, and for that reason I can create far out of my comfort zone.

Tess Mc Manus: The void of competition. With Fresh Meat, it's  cooperating instead of getting competitive. It's a shift from the Fringe model of ticket sales and bums in seats. When an audience member attends Fresh Meat, all the participants win. It's awesome.

FM: Of course, how do you like your meat? (Veggie-friendly answers accepted)

Megan Carty: I am a vegan, but I am a huge fan of the roasted Portobello mushroom burger.

Tess Mc Manus: Juicy.

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PAIRED UP: You Didn't Ask To Be Here & Donkey Derby plays at the Avalon Studio (738A Bank) September 11 -13, tickets for 25$: http://theatreunderground.com/
 

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Where Are They Now? Artist Feature: NICHOLAS DAVE AMOTT (Fireflood Theatre)

A homegrown lifelong Ottawan, our first featured artist, Nicholas Dave Amott (Fireflood Theatre) is a man who makes a mean sandwich, and often receives comparisons to Benedict Cumberbatch. Comparisons which he self-professedly encourages.

Nicholas joined the ranks of Fresh Meat performers in 2013: the festival's second incarnation. His piece, previously entitled Wake went on to the 2014 Ottawa Fringe Festival, and now in 2015, rechristened as Awoken,  Nick is back for more.

Read our sizzling interview with Nicholas himself below, and be sure to check out his latest offering of Awoken (Fri Aug 21st at 8pm, Sat Aug 22nd at 8pm and 9:30pm at LIVE! on Elgin, 10$ advance, 12$ door tickets link: http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/awoken-tickets-17145037268?aff=eac2)).
 

Nicholas Dave Amott performing an earlier incarnation of Awoken, and channelling his best Mr. Piano Man impression.

Photo credit: Brennan Richardson
 

Fresh Meat: Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started with the festival.

Nicholas Dave Amott: I've lived in Ottawa my entire life, well 27 years of it anyway. I've seen a lot of great things arrive in this city, some better things leave it, and some greater things still evolve from it.

“The greatest ideas and the best projects always start off as cute pets”

— Nicholas Amott

When Jonah "The Budd" Allingham invited me to be in Fresh Meat 2013, I was honoured, but also apprehensive: at the time, Frest Meat seemed like a great idea, but nothing more than a cute pet project.

However, since passing off a generous opportunity to create something for a brand new showcase would be silly (and kind of douchey), I went for it and have fallen in love with the adventure that has come out of it, and the lessons I've learned from it.

FM: Like what?

NDA: That the greatest ideas and the best projects always start off as cute pets.

FM: What does your Fresh Meat project look like now?

NDA: What started off as 20 minutes of me playing with lamps has turned into a full hour of that, with new ideas and challenges in the overall concept.

In Awoken, we see Todd (the protagonist) lost in his own mind, which - weakened though it is - he still has some subconscious control over. By using household lighting instruments (that is, lights that the performer manipulates himself) as opposed to theatrical ones, the audience sees only what Todd wants them to see, blocking elements of his mind by hiding them in the shadows. It's only until the end, when he has nearly lost control that we truly see the human he is.

I've also brought in a director proper (the kingly Brennan Richardson) to have a hand in creating a production wholly different from the Fringe 2014 version previous. That man is more than a find swordsman and spinner of tales, he offered insights into the character and world of Awoken that I had not even considered before.

Promotional poster for Awoken, link at end.
 

FM: If you were a kitchen item, implement or appliance, what would you be?

NDA: A decanter. I have trouble verbally articulating my ideas right away; I need to look into them and let them pour onto paper first so that I gain better sight of where they're heading, if anywhere, before sharing them with my peers.

You know, let them breathe a little.

Party-talk is different... Then, it's straight from the bottle.

“Fresh Meat assists the artists in finding the potential in their work, and in themselves... Even as the festival itself slowly grows year by year, and garners more professional attention, it still feels as though it’s a community of friends who have another chance to hang out, drink, chat, and watch some new theatre, without ever getting too far up each others’ butts.”

— Nicholas Amott

FM: Speaking from your experience as an artist, how do you think Fresh Meat impacts the local community?

NDA: Fresh Meat is one of the too-few bastions in Ottawa for local, up-and-coming, and needless-to-say independent artists who REALLY deserve an opportunity to just get out there and make something, and to have it seen by the community.

The original Fresh Meat version of Awoken, honestly, was thrown together in three days. I had a story concept, a design concept, and less than a week before the show I strung together a 20-minute... something, and put it up. As expected, it was unpolished, but it was still interesting.

Flawed as the piece was, the concept was enough to capture the audience's attention. It was a seed that showed some promise, which is exactly what the festival does. Fresh Meat assists the artists in finding the potential in their work, and in themselves. Even if it's only a seed.

FM: What's your favourite thing about Fresh Meat?

NDA: The grassroots nature that is still maintains. Even as the festival itself slowly grows year by year, and garners more professional attention, it still feels as though it's a community of friends who have another chance to hang out, drink, chat, and watch some new theatre, without getting too far up each others' butts.

FM: Finally, how do you like your meat? (Veggie-friendly answers accepted)

NDA: Animalistic. Also, sandwiched.

Nicholas Dave Amott performing Awoken, and really earning those Benedict Cumberbatch comparisons.

Photo credit: Christine Hecker
 

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Awoken plays Friday August 21st at 8pm, and Saturday August 22nd at 8pm and 9:30pm at LIVE! on Elgin (above Dunn's Diner). Tickets are 10$ in advance and 12$ at the door. http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/awoken-tickets-17145037268?aff=eac2)
 

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We miss you…

Hi everyone,

It’s officially been a month since the end of the Fringe Festival. This is the saddest kind of anniversary. It’s a sad-iversary. 

See? We’re so sad we’re resorting to puns like this. Please don’t hold it against us, we still love you, and we miss you. 

We were thinking of ways to ease the pain. There’s always wine… but that’s a bit cliché. 

And there’s always positive and healthy living, but… that’s worse.

So instead let’s reminisce. Together.

Over the next few months, leading up to the festival, we’ll be taking a look a few of the artists who’ve debuted works at Fresh Meat over the years to see just where they’ve ended up, where they’ve taken their work, and just what they’re up to. Stay tuned.

So join us. You can still have wine, of course. Everyone loves a cliché.

Love,

Fresh Meat

Fresh Meat 4 Application Deadline: EXTENDED Until June 1

We get it, May’s a busy month. You're knee deep in fringe prep and those patios are calling your names. Due to demand from the community, Fresh Meat has extended the application deadline for Fresh Meat 4 until June 1st at midnight. That’s an extra 8 days to get them apps looking tight. Think of it as the Hanukkah of independent theatre.

Application here.

From our hearts to yours,

Fresh Meat

Grab your forks and sharpen your knives...

The sun is coming out, the grass is less yellow everyday, and there’s something on the wind… Something we’ve missed; a smell. Something…

Fresh. Something…

Meat.

Well maybe you’re not smelling meat, unless you live on a hobby chicken farm -they really fucking stink- but regardless, there is something fresh in the air and it’s the application for Fresh Meat 4! Now are the times friends, artists, and imaginers. Slap on some shorts, sit on a patio and dream up some sweet art. The trees are coming to life, the water is flowing, and your ideas should follow suit.

Take some time in the coming weeks to get inspired: when you’re out during Ontario Scene seeing incredible pieces, when you and your friends are dreaming over some drinks, when you’re on your nature walk, when you’re in rehearsal halls for your fringe shows and people get on a weird tangent piling ideas on top of ideas lacing them with absurd and specific details and then some one yells out, “that’s a Fringe show!” Take these moments and let them stew, marinate and cook- because we have the stomach for them.

Be inspired, be bold, and dream.

Fresh Meat 4 will be held over the weekends of October 15-17 and 22-24. App's here.

Love,

Fresh Meat

Our Gift to You: The Weekend Inventive

 We’re all praying for the weekend. You’ve got a case of the Monday’s, to work hangover Tuesday, hump day, tricking yourself on Thursday into thinking it is Friday, counting down the last hours until Friday night arrives- sleeping in then spelling out Saturday followed by yelling night. It’s what we all want, it’s a place where dreams come true, adventures can be had and there are risks to be taken. Here at Fresh Meat, we totally get this. Which is why we want to take full advantage of the weekend and make some dreams (probably of the more artistic variety rather than the club grinding drinking kind) come true. Consider this your formal introduction to: The Weekend Inventive.

February 26-28 we are booking studio space to allow two groups to start creating a new piece which will then result in a public viewing and party- because art is always best paired with a party. We are looking for people to push past their boundaries and take some big risks to then be able to present them in a low risk environment. The most exciting thing to see is some one really push, and whether it is a complete success or a train wreck there’s at least something dangerous to watch.

So if you’re someone looking to try out a new style of solo show, or a new collective looking to try working together or a company looking to try something new- we want you. Take these holidays to re-connect with your artistic love and practice and apply to the Weekend Inventive. Fill out this application form and get it back to us by February 1st.

All the best,

Fresh Meat.