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Poster for Letters from Max, a ritual by Sarah Ruhl. Canadian premiere Nov 10 - Dec 3, 2023. The Theatre Centre. Based on the book by Sarah Ruhl and Max Ritvo. Directed by Alan Dilworth. Get tickets at necessaryangel.com Against a grey background, side by side black and white photos of a woman with long blonde hair and a man with short dark hair, with a painted red wave curling over their heads.
Poster for Letters from Max, a ritual by Sarah Ruhl. Canadian premiere Nov 10 - Dec 3, 2023. The Theatre Centre. Based on the book by Sarah Ruhl and Max Ritvo. Directed by Alan Dilworth. Get tickets at necessaryangel.com Against a grey background, side by side black and white photos of a woman with long blonde hair and a man with short dark hair, with a painted red wave curling over their heads.

Deeply moving:

A poetic portrait of a friendship & an unforgettable exploration of love, art & mortality.

Home Events Performance Letters from Max, a ritual

Letters from Max, a ritual

A Canadian premiere

Necessary Angel Theatre Company opens its 45th anniversary season with the Canadian premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Letters from Max, a ritual

Sarah Ruhl’s poetic play Letters from Max, a ritual is an award-winning adaptation of her & Max Ritvo’s 2018 book, Letters from Max: A Poet, a Teacher, and a Friendship. The play is a deeply moving portrait of friendship, and an unforgettable exploration of love, art, mortality and the afterlife.

“A resonant and profound contribution from two fully formed artists to the literature of illness,” (Slate) the story is built on letters and poems passed between Ruhl and her former student Max Ritvo. Letters From Max, a ritual sparks with humour, urgency and humanity in the face of the return of Ritvo’s Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of pediatric cancer. Ruhl and Ritvo’s words become a captivating celebration of life in which hopes, fears and observations are shared and debated in a spirit of generosity and joyous affection.

The play runs from November 10 to December 3 at The Theatre Centre. Directed by Necessary Angel Artistic Director Alan Dilworth, this production features Maev Beaty and Jesse LaVercombe.

“Letters from Max, a ritual, is a stunning, life-giving play that breathes language and love into life. I think this play is an antidote for our time, and that it helps audiences slow down, take stock and connect with what matters most to them.”

– Alan Dilworth, director and Artistic Director of Necessary Angel Theatre Company

About Necessary Angel Theatre Company

Necessary Angel Theatre Company is one of English Canada’s most vital original creation and touring organizations. The company has a history of innovation and risk taking and engages theatre artists from a variety of disciplines in the creation of new work. An influential and original presence on the national and international theatre scene for over 40 years, the company has produced more than 60 productions, including 30 world premieres and 11 North American premieres. Work created by Necessary Angel has been nominated for and has won Governor General’s Awards for Drama, Chalmers Awards for Outstanding New Play, and numerous Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

Necessary Angel Artistic Director and Letters from Max, a ritual director Alan Dilworth has a history of bringing Ruhl’s work to Canada. In 2013, he co-directed and co-produced her epic three-act Passion Play (a co-production between Sheep No Wool with Convergence Theatre and Outside the March, which also starred Maev Beaty). In 2015, he directed the critically-acclaimed production of Eurydice at Soulpepper Theatre Company. He also in 2015 produced a staged presentation of The Oldest Boy at Soulpepper, and programmed Ruhl’s play Orlando for Soulpepper’s 2018 season.

Poster for Letters from Max, a ritual by Sarah Ruhl. Canadian premiere Nov 10 - Dec 3, 2023. The Theatre Centre. Based on the book by Sarah Ruhl and Max Ritvo. Directed by Alan Dilworth. Get tickets at necessaryangel.com Against a grey background, side by side black and white photos of a woman with long blonde hair and a man with short dark hair, with a painted red wave curling over their heads.

 

(Photo credits: Maev Beaty & Jesse LaVercombe, Necessary Angel Theatre Company.)

 

Event details

Hosted by: Necessary Angel Theatre Company

Type of event: theatre performance

Written by: Sarah Ruhl, based on the book by Sarah Ruhl & Max Ritvo

Directed by: Alan Dilworth

Cast: Maev Beaty & Jesse LaVercombe

Dates: Friday, November 10 – Sunday, December 3, 2023

Start times: Tuesday – Saturday nights at 8:00 PM ET; matinées on Saturdays & Sundays (starting from November 18) and Wednesdays (November 22 & 29) at 2:00 PM ET.

Duration: Approximately two hours, including one intermission

Cost: General admission. Pick-Your-Price (C$30.00, $45.00, $60.00 based on availability) and preview tickets (for November 10, 11 and 14) run from $25.00

Location: The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W, Toronto, ON, M6J 1J1

Trailer: Watch the trailer

Booking link: Book your tickets here

Contact Details: The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W, Toronto, ON, M6J 1J1, Canada; 416-538-0988, boxoffice@theatrecentre.org, theatrecentre.org

 

Content warning: Mature language, cancer and death by terminal illness.

Accessibility: The Theatre Centre is physically accessible to audiences and artists alike. Each level has a barrier-free washroom and there’s a lift available for public use. If you have questions or need specific accommodations, please email or call the box office at 416-538-0988 and they’ll do their best to help you out. While the box office staff is working from home there will not be anyone on site to answer the phone. Leave a message and they will endeavour to return your call within 24 hours. More info here. 

COVID-19 policy: Info here.