The Rover

The Rover: An Exploratory Workshop
January 12 - February 23
Workshop Director: Adam Corrigan Holowitz

To begin 2022 the AlvegoRoot ensemble will be holding the first in a series of workshops exploring Aphra Behn's restoration comedy The Rover. The workshop will use Behn's text as a spine from which we will engage and respond to the play through acting, directing, playwrighting and dramaturgy.

AlvegoRoot is holding a limited number of spots in this workshop for people to apply to take part in it. Please see the application form on this page for more information.

"Aphra Behn's play The Rover is set in Naples during carnival. Carnival, in Behn's world, is an extended drunken and dangerous party; which I believe has the potential to provoke creation and conversation in response to issues London Ontario has been reckoning with over the past year. Behn is considered the first professional English female playwright, though the concept of professionalism intersecting with gender is in itself complex and something that will be explored in the workshop. Behn's writing is unique amongst her male contemporaries. I very excited to have AlvegoRoot begin an exploration of her writing." - Adam Corrigan Holowitz

Please Note: The Rover explores issues including toxic masculinity, party culture and sexual violence. These issues will be explored with care and sensitivity. A series of guidelines for how these issues will be examined will be agreed upon prior to start of the exploration. Every participant is welcome to take breaks from these sections of the the play. Exploring these scenes through blocking will be entirely optional and intimacy direction will be applied. However non-literal deconstructed staging practices will be the preferred method for exploring these scenes. This workshop may not be right for everyone. AlvegoRoot will offer more workshops in the future, if this one is not right for you.

Primary Workshop Times:
Wed Jan 12 7:00-10:00 PM
Wed Jan 19 2:00-6:00 PM and 7:00-10:00 PM
Wed Jan 26 2:00-6:00 PM and 7:00-10:00 PM
Wed Feb 9 2:00-6:00 PM and 7:00-10:00 PM
Wed Feb 16 2:00-6:00 PM and 7:00-10:00 PM
Wed Feb 23 2:00-6:00 PM and 7:00-10:00 PM
There will be secondary workshops for small groups scheduled at mutually convenient times. All evening sessions are required, but you can indicate if you are unavailable for the afternoon sessions.

Participation is free, the only cost is purchasing a copy of The Rover. Click here to buy a copy.

Location: Manor Park Memorial Hall, 11 Briscoe Street West
This will be a hybrid workshop between in person and zoom, depending on public health requirements. The first sessions will be on Zoom.

All participants must provide proof of vaccination.

WORKSHOP

AlvegoRoot creates work on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples as well as nations both recorded and unrecorded who have been caretakers of this land for time immemorial. These lands are connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.