Award-winning songwriter, poet and ironic social commentator Evalyn Parry is gifted with a sharp pen, a quirky musical sensibility and a wicked sense of humour. From 19th century cycling heroines to 21st century sailors; from “feminine protection” to bottled water to the quest for the Northwest Passage, evalyn’s outspoken creations hold out a powerful vision of social and personal change, while her irreverent wit holds nothing sacred.
Evalyn has released four critically acclaimed CDs of music and spoken word and her work has been widely broadcast, commissioned and anthologized. Recent performance highlights include Guelph’s renowned Hillside Festival and The Lincoln Centre Out of Doors Festival in NYC. Education is a vital part of her artistic practice, and Parry has worked as a guest artist at various high schools and universities across Canada and the USA over the last decade.
“Equally funny and dangerous, this is a songwriter who takes us into unchartered waters” – CBC Radio
SPIN
Created and Performed by Evalyn Parry
Directed by Ruth Madoc-Jones
Innovative, award-winning Toronto artist evalyn parry takes her audience on an uncommon theatrical and musical journey in SPIN, her tour-de-force performance celebrating the Bicycle as muse, musical instrument and agent of social change. Inspired in part by the incredible true tale of Annie Londonderry – the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1894 – Parry spins a web of stories which travel from 19th century women’s emancipation to 21st century consumer culture, peeling back layers of history to ultimately reveal a profoundly contemporary and personal heart to her performance.
Parry’s “co-star” is a vintage bicycle: suspended in a mechanic’s stand on stage and connected to a variety of electronic effects pedals, the bike is played – from fenders to spokes to bells – by percussionist Brad Hart, conjuring an astonishing and unique sonic accompaniment to Parry’s songs and monologues. Projections by award-winning designer Beth Kates add a captivating visual layer to SPIN, which sold out the run of its premiere in Toronto in 2011.
“part theatre, part musical gig, part spoken word poetry and part documentary … whatever it is, it is brilliant” – Toronto Star
MEDIA CENTRE
Download high-res image – Evalyn Parry
Download high-res image – SPIN
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
Oct. 14-21/13 – Northern Arts & Cultural Centre Tour – Yellowknife, NWT
Oct. 24-25/13 – Yukon Arts Centre – Whitehorse, YT
Jan. 26/14 – MERA Schoolhouse – McDonalds Corners, ON
Mar. 7/14 – The Red Brick – Edson, AB
Mar. 8/14 – Shell Theatre – Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mar. 9/14 – Horizon Stage – Spruce Grove, AB
