We are so excited to be supporting two Art Exhibitions this summer at the Gentle Rain Space in Perchance Theatre! Programming for these two exhibitions and curatorial assistance by John Rao. The Gentle Rain Space is open before and after productions at Perchance Theatre.

“ROOTED”

By the Art of Being Black

July 26th to August 16, 2025

This event has ended.

Join us for a special reception August 2nd 2025 at 4pm at the Gentle Rain Space in Perchance Theatre.

CURATORIAL STATEMENT

Rooted by The Art of Being Black is a collaborative initiative forged by Black creatives to amplify Black expression, presence, and lived experiences across Newfoundland’s diverse coastlines. This exhibition celebrates Black voices, weaving together the histories, values, and community narratives in a manner that elevates our collective identity. From the earliest brainstorming sessions to the realization of the final, vivid deliverables, every phase of this project deliberately centers Blackness—honoring our communities at the heart of each decision and action.

Rooted moves past the overdone argument and debate about the validity of black existence. It ushers in a new reality. A captured instance of blackness taken up space not in rebellion or protest but something even more powerful; simple existence. What does blackness look like past the negative labels or in opposition to negative labels. Rooted envisions a society that embraces blackness and simultaneously frees her to exist in any space within the social strata and across the land. It is a celebration of the richness of our histories, our untold stories, and our boundless expressions, all occupying the same space in an act of cultural revitalization.

We invite you to engage fully with this experience, divorce from existing ideological shortcut and open your mind up to possibilities and places where artistic exploration challenges the past, and history is being written anew.

Curated by Kerenhappuch Gandu.

Assisted by Brian Amadi.

Additional programming and curatorial assistance by John Rao.

Learn more about The Artists of Rooted.

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“The Night Breathes Blue”

by Sailor Danny

June 28th to July 25th

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“The Night Breathes Blue” is Sailor Danny’s latest series of paintings on exhibition at Perchance Theatre’s Gentle Rain Space in Conception Harbour. City streets burst to life with colour and skies dance with movement in Sailor Danny’s work. His pop sensibility is on full display with his vibrant palette and bold gestures.

Wit and whimsy meet in equal measure in “Food Culture” and “The Great Mug Up” where Danny takes iconic images of Newfoundland and Labrador culture and turns them on their head. The Pitcher Plant thriving in a Vienna sausage can is emblematic of the resilience of the province’s cultural identity and humour. A boat pulls not a house on the water to a new community, but a staple of the Newfoundland and Labrador diet, a can of Carnation milk.

Sailor Danny’s work is vibrant, energetic, and a little punk rock. He approaches traditional subjects with a new take that is both refreshing and familiar. “The Night Breathes Blue” is a show that brings life, humour, and energy when we need it most.

Join us June 28^th at 3:30 PM for a special opening of Sailor Danny’s most recent series of works The Night Breathes Blue at the Gentle Rain Space at Perchance Theatre in Conception Harbour. The artist will be present. Programming and curatorial assistance by John Rao. 

ABOUT SAILOR DANNY

Sailor Danny is a navigator in the commercial marine industry and a self-taught artist. Born and raised in St. John’s, Sailor Danny finds inspiration from home, working at sea, and travel abroad. He explores the culture of the island of Newfoundland and Labrador and has a passion for portraiture of popular culture figures. 

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1984

 This Event has ended.

Fresh off the heels of their fall production of Dracula, AOR Presents George Orwell’s 1984.

This stage adaptation of 1984 is true to the novel in which Orwell depicts with great power the horrors of man’s fate in a society where Big Brother is always watching—where everything that is not prohibited is compulsory. In a world where surveillance is mandatory and even your very thoughts may be investigated by the Thought Police. This theatrical event is both powerful and disturbingly provocative.

Comrade Winston Smith (Cameron Johnston) works for the Party in the Ministry of Truth where he edits historical records to match the truth of the day on behalf of the Party.  But he has a feeling…Something isn’t right.  When Comrade O’Brien (Gaby Forsey) a senior member of the Party arrives with Comrade Julia (Ananya Antony), Winston’s world get turns upside down.

The state teaches War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength. In a future world where Big Brother is always watching the citizens of Oceania through the Telescreen, how can you be free?

Featuring the many talents of the ARC program: Ananya Antony, Cameron Johnston, Abby Martin, Heather Phillipps, Cole Williams, Katie Russell, Alicia Mason Quinton, Jayla Jacobs, Conor Fagan, Leslie Matsikiti, Mackenzie O’Keefe, Owen Carter, and introducing Gaby Forsey as O’Brien. With choreography by ARC member Samantha Situ Pham and direction by John Rao, this literary classic sheds new light on the dark moments of contemporary society.

Orwell himself once said, “I do not believe that the kind of society I describe necessarily will arrive, but I believe that something resembling it could arrive. The moral to be drawn from the dangerous nightmare situation is a simple one: Don’t let it happen. It depends on you.”

Join us for George Orwell’s 1984 this February 28-29, 2020 at the LSPU Hall.

Funds from this performance will support the James D. Boone Memorial Award and the ARC program.
Produced with permission from the Dramatic Publishing Company.

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Dracula

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Presented by:

AOR Presents

Based on the novel by Bram Stoker.

“The dead travel fast.”

Join us October 18-19, 2019 at Holy Heart Theatre for this classic Gothic tale of horror with an exciting twist. Count Dracula (Ananya Antony) is eager to find property in England with the aid of Jonathan Harker (Cameron Johnston). Little does Jonathan know that helping the Count puts his friends and loved ones in harm’s way as Dracula seeks a new source of blood wanting to spread the curse of the undead. A group led by Dr. Van Helsing, fight to end Count Dracula’s sinister plan in a virtuous battle of good versus evil.

With direction by John Rao, this journey into the dark is a faithful retelling of Bram Stoker’s Dracula set in 1897 with an amazing young cast of performers from the ARC program. This classic tale is brought to life with exciting costume design by Tucker Ellis that will transport you into a renewed vision of this time and place.

Just in time for Halloween, join us in the dark of Transylvania for AOR Presents production of Dracula.

Learn more about the cast and crew here: aorpresents.com

This production is in support of the James D. Boone Memorial Award.

Appropriate for ages 12 and up.

School Matinee October 18, 2019 at 9:30

Public shows:

October 18-19 at 7:30 pm