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Outdoor medium close-up of a woman with long dark brown hair and a black coat leaning toward a brown horse, her eyes closed and her forehead resting against the bridge of the horse's nose.
Outdoor close-up of a woman with long dark brown hair and a black coat leaning toward a brown horse, her eyes closed and her forehead resting against the bridge of the horse's nose.

A theatrical odyssey A theatrical odyssey

A relationship built on playfulness & healing, revealing light in the darkness.

Home Events Performance On stage: 12 Litres 8800 Steps

On stage: 12 Litres 8800 Steps

From Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 17, 2026 – The Unbridled Theatre Collective and Aluna Theatre present the world theatrical premiere of 12 Litres 8800 Steps by Anita La Selva. Inspired by La Selva’s own experience with equine therapy, this visually striking journey unfolds through text, sound, choreography and video projections. Presented with venue partner Factory Theatre.

A Woman. A Horse. An Odyssey.

Originally a short film (2022), garnering accolades across 18 international film festivals, and with five years in development for the stage, 12 Litres 8800 Steps is rooted in playwright, co-director and performer La Selva’s experience witnessing the demise of her partner through addiction.

“The Horse told me to keep walking. If I keep walking, I’ll be able to breathe again.” The two characters, The Woman and The Horse, negotiate their deepening bond, re-discover play and heal each other in the process. As the Woman comes to terms with the fragility of her mental health and the everyday reality of living with and loving an addict, the play illuminates the stigma that keeps individuals and their loved ones in a place of shame and fear. Oscillating between past and present, magic realism and everyday reality, this high-octane, rollercoaster story illuminates an often overlooked perspective: the toll on family and caregivers.

12 Litres 8800 Steps features Anita La Selva as The Woman, and actor, puppeteer and movement specialist Brad Cook as The Horse. It is co-directed by Beatriz Pizano and choreographed by Victoria Mata.

“It is an honour for me to be included in this piece. Anita and I have a long history of working together as artists. She is fearless, committed, incredibly talented and passionate. In 12 Litres 8800 Steps, Anita invites us into this journey with great care and compassion. Through her extraordinary performance and carefully crafted story, she gives us the space to breathe and to feel our own stories without judgment, without formulas but only with empathy for the human experience.”

– Beatriz Pizano, Aluna Theatre Artistic Director & production Co-Director

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada,1 one in five (over 6 million) Canadians suffer from addiction, with Statistics Canada reporting that two-thirds of Canadians experienced addiction within their immediate families.2 12 Litres 8800 Steps is a particularly urgent work, unfolding a non-linear story that explores the inextricable connections between mental health and addiction.

 

About The Unbridled Theatre Collective

The Unbridled Theatre Collective is an artist-driven theatre company founded by Anita La Selva in 2023. Their vision is to create and present provocative and daring inter-cultural, inter-disciplinary work reflective of the human condition. They are drawn to examine the juxtaposition of beauty and brutality in the world through the creation of original pieces, as well as the reimagining of established texts. At the heart of their practice is a dynamic and immersive approach to performance, designed to awaken audiences’ sensibilities and invite deep reflection. Through their work, they encourage audiences to engage with narratives in a way that is deeply personal, fostering connections that extend beyond the stage.

About Aluna Theatre

Since 2001, Aluna Theatre has embraced a myriad of voices, cultures and stories to transform the landscape of Canadian theatre. From works in translation and international co-creations to creating the CAMINOS Festival of New Works and the RUTAS International Festival of Performance, they’ve encouraged new theatre hybrids, evolved from a rich collaboration of experiences, performance traditions and media, with both emerging and established theatre professionals. As they celebrate 25 years as a company, they invite you to join them as they reflect and generate new ideas on what it means to create and connect in the Americas.

Image featuring text and photograph, with text superimposed on the photo in the top half of the image. Top: 12 Litres 880 Steps by Anita La Selva. Outdoor medium close-up of a woman with long dark brown hair and a black coat leaning toward a brown horse, her eyes closed and her forehead resting against the bridge of the horse's nose. Bottom: Yellow text against a brown background. Left: May 1-17 2026. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5V 2R2 (Bathurst & Adelaide). Right: A Woman. A Horse. An Odyssey. With Brad Cook and Anita La Selva. Produced by The Unbridled Theatre Collective & Aluna Theatre. Venue partner Factory Theatre. Theatre company and sponsorship logos.

(Photo credits: The Unbridled Theatre Collective & Aluna Theatre. Anita La Selva & horse. Photo by Lynda J Watson Photography.)

 

Event details

Presented by: The Unbridled Theatre Collective & Aluna Theatre, with venue partner Factory Theatre 

Type of event: theatre performance

Written & co-directed by: Anita La Selva

Co-directed by: Beatriz Pizano 

Choreography by: Victoria Mata 

Cast: Anita La Selva & Brad Cook

Costumes & horse mask by: Teresa Przybylski & Monica Viani 

Dates: Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 17, 2026 (previews May 1 – 3, opening May 6). There will be post-show talkbacks following the Thursday performances on May 7 & 14.

Start times:

  • Wednesday – Saturday evenings @ 7:30 PM ET
  • Sunday matinées @ 2:00 PM ET

Duration: 80 minutes (no intermission)

Cost: Prices include taxes & fees.

  • All preview tickets (May 1 – 3): C$25.00
  • Arts workers, students & seniors: C$25.00
  • Regular admission: C$35.00
  • Supporter admission: C$50.00

Location: Factory Theatre Mainspace, 125 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON, M5V 2R2

Booking link: Book your tickets here. Tickets can also be purchased by phone at (416) 504-9971 or by email at boxoffice@factorytheatre.ca.

Contact details: Aluna Theatre, 1 Wiltshire Ave., Unit #134, Toronto, ON, M6N 2V7, Canada; info@alunatheatre.ca, alunatheatre.ca; Factory Theatre box office: call (416) 504-9971 or email at boxoffice@factorytheatre.ca.

 

Content warning: For audiences 16+. Addiction, mental health, death and loud, immersive sound.
Accessibility: Factory Theatre’s Mainspace Theatre (which is accessed via the lobby elevator) can accommodate up to four wheelchairs. Their Studio Theatre is able to accommodate up to six wheelchairs. Please advise the Box Office representative when ordering your tickets if you, or a member of your party, have concerns about accessibility. More info here.

Refund policy: If you cannot make the performance, you can exchange your tickets for another performance.

 

1 Smetanin et al. (2011). The life and economic impact of major mental illnesses in Canada: 2011-2041. Prepared for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Toronto: RiskAnalytica.

2 Pearson, Caryn. 2015. “The impact of mental health problems on family members.” Health at a Glance. Statistics Canada catalogue no. 82-624-X.