Quebec Scene

Gordon wants to know what Josh thinks of his new girlfriend. It seems a simple question, but when Josh stumbles over his response, the lifelong friends are stunned to find themselves mired in a passionate and divisive political debate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Funny, complex, and touching, TALK is a refreshingly frank play, as much about the Middle East conflict as it is about the power of language. Crafted with a finely tuned ear for dialogue and electric pacing, Talk keeps us wondering whose side we’re on and why, and leaves us feeling the shock of lost friendship.

2009 Finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama (English)

POSTPERFORMANCE TALK-BACKS

FREE

Join the company for postperformance discussions about the semantics and possibilities of the play.

April 27

TALK director and playwright Michael Nathanson will be joined by Dr. Costanza Musu, a specialist in conflict resolution, security studies and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the University of Ottawa and Dr. Aisha Sherazi, biologist, former principal of the Abraar Elementary School, now a freelance writer and poet, to investigate how language can be a tool for change and encourage empathy, but equally how it has played an important role in conflict. From Neville Chamberlin’s “peace for our time” speech to the on-going conflict in the Middle East, is a word ever just that? 

April 28

Join TALK director and playwright Michael Nathanson, who will be joined by Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, “the Gaza doctor”, author of I Shall Not Hate and a renowned speaker on peace and development in the Middle East and Rabbi Reuven Bulka, rabbi of congregation Machzikei Hadas, author of over 30 books, radio talk show host on CFRA and regular contributor to the Ottawa Citizen. The power of words: what role can language play in escalating conflict and igniting change? This discussion will be moderated by Scott Hannant.  Scott Hannant's first job in journalism was reporting for the Arab Times in Kuwait some thirty years ago. Last year, he retired as News Director of CJOH / CTV Ottawa. He now teaches journalism at Carleton University and is President  of Hannant Media Solutions Inc. specializing in media and communications.