Soulpepper Theatre, Canada’s leading artist-driven theatre company, is bringing the magic of Narnia to Toronto’s Distillery Winter Village this holiday season through a new partnership with OCAD University led by Interim Dean, Faculty of Art, Philippe Blanchard.
Inspired by Soulpepper hosting Bad Hat Theatre’s production of Narnia, the theatre company is transforming its lobby and exterior façade into an extension of the magical land during the annual Winter Village.
Shannon Lea Doyle, an OCAD U alum and Narnia production designer, mentored two students for nine weeks to transform the space. Experimental Animation student Charlotte Lavoie-Auspert and Environmental Design student Isabella Staffieri helped design the colour palette of the family lounge and Santa Village photo stage. As assistant designers, the two students implemented wayfinding solutions on themed lampposts, with Lavoie-Ausper adding Narnia-themed Easter eggs throughout the event space.
As part of the immersive multimedia installation, Experimental Animation students Maya Harding and Derya Ozparlak developed two animations for framed screens by the lobby window. These animated loops feature whimsical stop-motion paper puppets of characters from the world of Narnia.
The students also created a series of atmospheric projections that mimic winter ice effects, illuminating a large hanging sculpture. Soulpepper and the OCAD U team also enlisted AVA Animation and Visual Arts to create animations of a hanging branch arrangement over the lobby.
“It was such an amazing experience seeing our concepts – once just ideas on paper – come to life,” said Staffieri. “I learned how an art director takes on multiple roles and collaborates with others to create a seamless production. The Winter Village at Soulpepper Theatre is magical, and I’m so happy I got to be a part of it.”
In addition to the thematic installations, OCAD U will present a merchandise pop-up in the Soulpepper lobby from Nov. 13 to Dec. 28, with a set of clothing and gifts newly designed for this partnership.
Visitors will also be able to browse a marketplace featuring handcrafted items by OCAD U alums, adjacent to the Soulpepper lobby from Dec. 15 to 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.