January 12 – 26, 2025
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
A Bad New Days production in partnership with Common Boots Theatre
A theatrical meditation on environmental collapse.
“Last Landscape” is a theatrical production scheduled for January 12 to 26, 2025, at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto. This world premiere is a collaboration between Bad New Days and Common Boots Theatre, conceived and directed by Adam Paolozza. The production mediates environmental collapse, exploring themes of extinction, ecological grief, and interspecies care.
Set in a future devoid of nature, the narrative follows posthuman ‘workers’ who enter a space to assemble artificial landscapes from found objects, striving to recreate the natural world from memory. The performance raises questions about whether these reconstructions reflect a deep past or a genetically modified future. “Last Landscape” blends Bad New Days’ signature physical theatre with an eco-dramaturgical, DIY aesthetic, featuring colossal puppets of prehistoric megafauna. The production aims to offer hopeful possibilities for how humanity might share the planet amidst environmental challenges.
The creative team includes set designer Ken Mackenzie, lighting designer André du Toit, scenic marionette designer Roxanne Ignatius, and original puppets by Graeme Black Robinson, Clelia Scala, and Puppetmongers Theatre. Valerie Calam is responsible for costume design, and Ian Garrett serves as the eco-dramaturgical consultant. The cast features Nada Abusaleh, Nicholas Eddie, Gibum Dante Lim, Annie Luján, Adam Paolozza, and Kari Pederson, with original music and live turntablism by SlowPitchSound.
“Last Landscape” has been recognized for its commitment to sustainability in theatre production, receiving the Ray Ferris Innovation and Sustainability Grant from the Ontario Arts Foundation and the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts. This eco-dramaturgical approach prioritizes sustainability at every stage of creation, from artistic vision to the materials used in production. The collaboration with Common Boots Theatre reflects a shared passion for creating sustainable art that fosters environmental awareness and inspires meaningful change.
Performances are scheduled at various times, including evening shows and matinees, with a mask-mandatory performance on January 18 at 2 PM. Tickets are available for purchase through Showpass, with prices starting at $13, plus applicable taxes and fees. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official event page.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, located at 12 Alexander Street in Toronto, is renowned as the world’s largest and longest-running queer theatre company, dedicated to the promotion of queer theatrical expression. The venue continues to support innovative and socially relevant productions like “Last Landscape,” contributing to the vibrant cultural landscape of Toronto.
