The Chairs

Event Details

Event type: All Ages

Creemore Festival of the Arts will host a profound and haunting production of Eugène Ionesco’s "The Chairs" on Friday, October 2. Translated by Donald M. Allen, this seminal work of the Theatre of the Absurd remains one of the most daring explorations of the human condition ever written.

Set in a lighthouse on a remote, water-locked island, the play follows an elderly couple as they prepare for a monumental evening. One character believes they have finally unlocked a "profound message" that will save humanity, and a league of invisible dignitaries has been invited to hear this discovery. As the couple frantically arranges chairs for these non-existent guests, the stage becomes a cluttered labyrinth of emptiness, mirroring desperate attempts to find meaning in a world that offers none.

This production is anchored by a powerhouse creative team. Starring the formidable Erika Batdorf and Anastasia Phillips, the performance promises a masterclass in physical theatre and emotional depth. Batdorf, a celebrated movement specialist, and Phillips, a Gemini-nominated actor, bring a unique chemistry to the couple’s spiraling delusions. Under the direction of the award-winning Karin Randoja, the play’s "tragic farce" elements are brought to the forefront, balancing slapstick humor with the poignant loneliness of aging.

Presented by the Purple Hills Arts & Heritage Society, this performance is a highlight of the festival’s weekend-long celebration of creativity. By placing Ionesco’s avant-garde masterpiece within the intimate, rustic walls of Avening Hall, the production creates a visceral sense of isolation and intimacy. It is a rare opportunity for local audiences to experience world-class, thought-provoking theatre that asks the ultimate question: in the silence of the void, what is left of us?

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