LIGHTS, THEATRE, AND ACTION!
HEIST makes its Ontario premiere at the Grand Theatre
By Arun Lakra
Directed by Haysam Kadri
Co-production with The Citadel Theatre
January 14 to February 1, 2025
Opening Night Friday, January 17
Spriet Stage
Season Sponsor:
BMO
Downtown Community Partner:
Old Oak Properties
Title Sponsor:
Digital Extremes
January 7, 2025 – London ON – Get ready to dive into the world of diamonds, deals, and deceit as the Grand Theatre proudly presents Heist. The Ocean’s Eleven-inspired, edge-of-your-seat, popcorn-theatre crime caper production plays January 14 – February 1 on the Grand’s historic Spriet Stage.
This highly anticipated Canadian play will experience its second professional production since premiering at Vertigo Theatre in early 2024. “You are witnessing theatre history in the making!” says Grand Theatre Artistic Director, Rachel Peake. “We at the Grand are deeply committed to second-run Canadian plays, which means that once the dust has settled on a world premiere the playwright can go back into their script with a new team and imagine the show for a second time.”
“I wanted to create a sort of hybrid show, which grabbed elements from both film and theatre,” says Heist playwright, Calgary-based breakthrough writer (and ophthalmologist by day) Arun Lakra. “Through my collaboration with Haysam Kadri, our brilliant director, who shared this vision, we have tried to create a cinematic experience on stage. We (the entire creative team) have embraced the technology, and as you will see, so have our characters.”
Heist tells the story of five skilled accomplices coming together for one final job. But, as with all iconic heist tales, the plan is riddled with twists, turns, and unexpected betrayals. Patrons can expect to see drones, acrobatics and a laser sequence, live and in person on the stage. The story seamlessly shifts between past and present, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats as they piece together the ultimate whodunnit.
This run also sees the return of Calgary-based director Haysam Kadri, who is directing Heist for the second time, and directing at the Grand Theatre for the third time (A Thousand Splendid Suns and Homes: A Refugee Story). “It’s always a gift to be able to mount a second production,” explains Kadri, “on the technical side, having access to bigger resources and tools means we can elevate the production value significantly. The set design [by Beyata Hackborn], for instance, is more ambitious, incorporating moving pieces and intricate lighting effects that amplify the suspense and spectacle of the story.”
In partnership with Edmonton’s The Citadel Theatre, all production elements were created and built in London, Ontario by the Grand’s scenic carpenters, painters, props team, and wardrobe team, and after the conclusion of the London run, will head to Edmonton for a run in the Citadel’s Shoctor Theatre.
The creative team of the London, Ontario production of Heist are: Haysam Kadri (Director), Beyata Hackborn (Set Designer), Jessica Oostergo (Costume Designer), Siobhán Sleath (Lighting Designer), Richard Feren (Composer & Sound Designer), Corwin Ferguson (Projection Designer), Siobhan Richardson (Fight & Intimacy Director), Alexandra Rizkallah (Assistant Director), Sang Sang Lee (Stage Manager), and Jess Gordon (Assistant Stage Manager).
Grand audiences will be in the company of exceptional talent from across Canada. The cast and creative team feature nine Grand Theatre debuts, which includes five of the six cast members. The Grand Theatre is also thrilled to welcome back the talented Belinda Cornish (who plays The Spider), last seen at the Grand Theatre in An Undiscovered Shakespeare, adding a touch of familiarity to this remarkable ensemble.
Heist
By Arun Lakra
Directed by Haysam Kadri
Co-production with The Citadel Theatre
JAN 14 to FEB 1 (Opening Night JAN 17)
Creative Team
Haysam Kadri (Director)
Beyata Hackborn (Set Designer)
Jessica Oostergo (Costume Designer)
Siobhán Sleath (Lighting Designer)
Richard Feren (Composer & Sound Designer)
Corwin Ferguson (Projection Designer)
Siobhan Richardson (Fight & Intimacy Director)
Alexandra Rizkallah (Assistant Director)
Sang Sang Lee (Stage Manager)
Jess Gordon (Assistant Stage Manager)
Cast
Belinda Cornish
The Spider
Devin MacKinnon
Marvin
Callan McKenna Potter
Ryan
Gillian Moon
Angie
Priya Narine
Fiona
Emilio Vieira
Kruger
Heist plays on the Spriet Stage from January 14 to February 1, 2025. Single tickets range from $24-$96, and are available at www.grandtheatre.com, by phone at 519.672.8800, or at the Box Office, 471 Richmond Street. There is a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Sunday, January 19 at 2:00 p.m. (Pay-What-You-Can tickets become available online at midnight on the day of the performance, with a selection of tickets held for in-person purchase one hour prior to the performance at the Grand Theatre Box Office).
The Grand Theatre gratefully acknowledges Season Sponsor BMO, Downtown Community Partner Old Oak Properties, and Title Sponsor Digital Extremes.
To learn more about Heist, please visit https://www.grandtheatre.com/event/heist. Additional facts, photos, and updates can also be found by following @thegrandlondon and #GrandHeist on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
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The Grand Theatre is located on the traditional territories of the Original storytellers and caretakers of this land and the Nations, both settler and Indigenous, who continue to uphold the various treaties of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and Lunaapéewak. We value the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations, and all of the Original Peoples of Turtle Island (colonially known as North America), and acknowledge the traditional lands upon which we live, work, share, and tell stories together.
About the Grand Theatre – World Curious. London Made.
The Grand Theatre is known for world-class theatre created and built in London, Ontario. As southwestern Ontario’s premiere producing theatre and one of the most beautiful theatre spaces in Canada, the company has deep ties to the community and to its artists, artisans, and technicians.
As a vibrant cultural hub and not-for-profit professional theatre, the Grand serves to gather, inspire, and entertain audiences in London and beyond. At our home in downtown London, we create productions on two stages: the Spriet Stage (839 seats) and the Auburn Developments Stage (144 seats). The Grand season of theatrical offerings runs from September to May, and we collaborate with companies and artists across the country through our co-productions that see London-made artistic and creative work travel to audiences nation-wide. Through our successful New Play Development Program, the Grand is committed to developing and premiering new, original works and supporting the growth and reach of theatre writers and creators. Our recently renovated venue offers a contemporary and welcoming environment that is also home to several successful music series’, community arts rentals, and cultural and special events.
A cornerstone of the organization is our place as a teaching theatre, exemplified in our many mentorship programs and highlighted in our annual Grand Theatre High School Project. As the first program of its kind in the country and currently in its twenty-sixth year, the High School Project involves as many as one hundred high school participants annually from schools across the region. These students participate at no cost and take on roles both on stage and off, in a fully realized mainstage production under the direction of a professional creative team.
For more information, visit: grandtheatre.com.
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For more information please contact:
Maria Siabato, Communications and PR Specialist
msiabato [at] grandtheatre.com (msiabato[at]grandtheatre[dot]com)
Office: 519-672-9030 ext. 266
Media Call
When: Tuesday, January 14 at 1:00 p.m. (Cameras, please arrive at 12:30 p.m. to set up)
Where: Spriet Stage, Grand Theatre, 471 Richmond Street, London, Ontario
What: Heist photo, video, and interview opportunities for media.
