THEATRE OF DREAMS
SUPPORTED BY
Kiki and Ian Delaney
Joan and Jerry Lozinski
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM
Dancers bring the human psyche to life in Theatre of Dreams. Manic and surreal, choreographer Hofesh Shechter transforms the stage into a fantastical world where dreams and nightmares collide. Enthralling, visceral, and self-reverent, witness the critically acclaimed Theatre of Dreams as it pulls you into the deepest depths of yourself.
PRESENTED BY Luminato Festival and TO Live
JUNE 4 at 7:30 PM
JUNE 5 at 7:30 PM
JUNE 6 at 7:30 PM
Bluma Appel Theatre
at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
RUN TIME: 90 minutes - No Intermission
ADVISORIES: Content warning: Some nudity, haze, intermittent loud music, and moments of blackout.
WELCOME
For two decades, Luminato has brought artists and audiences together to share bold, diverse, and thought-provoking art experiences. What began as an ambitious vision has grown into one of Canada’s leading international arts festivals that transforms the people, places and possibilities of Toronto.
This festival is particularly special. Across art experiences in theatre, circus, dance, music, opera, public art and film, we transform the city through the theme of PLAY. Running from June 3 – 28, 2026, we proudly present the longest festival in our history, featuring more than 50 free and ticketed events, over 140 performances and more than 25 locations across the city.Luminato 2026 showcases more than 1,000 artists, eight exclusive Canadian commissions and seven world premieres in a celebration that is distinctly Toronto, proudly Canadian, and totally Global.
We thank everyone who makes this celebration possible. We are grateful for everyone who participates in our festivities, whether local, from near or far. Thank you to our community of partners, donors, artists and volunteers.
This festival is a bright reflection of all that is great about Toronto. We invite you to join us in joyful celebration of this vibrant global city.
Can a festival truly PLAY its city? Enter our theme for 2026.
Be it experiences that evoke child’s play using imagination and whimsy; stories that spotlight justice and reconciliation by boldly addressing themes of equal play through to the uncertainty of shifting dynamics, the need to win and the imbalance of power play.
From playable public art that makes you smile and stare in wonder, hearing breakup stories that mirror the playback tapes of our youth, through to discovering the courage of feminists who feigned their own insanity to play for truth.
Play one, play all, play on.
Toronto becomes a stage this summer, and we invite you to join us.
At TO Live, we believe the performing arts connect communities, spark dialogue, and transform how we experience our city. Through commissioning and co-producing new work, supporting artists, and collaborating with local and international partners, we help create meaningful cultural experiences reflecting Toronto’s diversity.
We are proud to partner with Luminato Festival on presentations of 10 Days in a Madhouse, Play Dead by People Watching, Penn & Teller, and Theatre of Dreams by Hofesh Shechter Company, bringing artists to Toronto audiences and reinforcing the city’s status as a global centre for contemporary performance.
Congratulations to Luminato on this significant milestone anniversary.
WELCOME
For two decades, Luminato has brought artists and audiences together to share bold, diverse, and thought-provoking art experiences. What began as an ambitious vision has grown into one of Canada’s leading international arts festivals that transforms the people, places and possibilities of Toronto.
This festival is particularly special. Across art experiences in theatre, circus, dance, music, opera, public art and film, we transform the city through the theme of PLAY. Running from June 3 – 28, 2026, we proudly present the longest festival in our history, featuring more than 50 free and ticketed events, over 140 performances and more than 25 locations across the city. Luminato 2026 showcases more than 1,000 artists, eight exclusive Canadian commissions and seven world premieres in a celebration that is distinctly Toronto, proudly Canadian, and totally Global.
We thank everyone who makes this celebration possible. We are grateful for everyone who participates in our festivities, whether local, from near or far. Thank you to our community of partners, donors, artists and volunteers.
This festival is a bright reflection of all that is great about Toronto. We invite you to join us in joyful celebration of this vibrant global city.
A MESSAGE FROM
I would like to convey my warmest greetings to everyone taking part in the 2026 Luminato Festival.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of this much-anticipated annual event. I am certain that everyone in attendance will enjoy the many exceptional performances planned for this edition of the festival.
I would like to thank the artists taking part for sharing their talents with the community.
I would also like to commend the organizers for ensuring the success of this event, year after year, as well as the volunteers for their role in making this an unforgettable experience for everyone.
I wish you all a wonderful festival.
Hello and welcome to this year’s Luminato Festival.
Every year, Luminato transforms Toronto with bold, playful and extraordinary art experiences. This year promises to be its biggest one, as we celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary.
Kudos to the unfailingly creative team behind Luminato for, once again, bringing us this celebration of creativity. Thank you for helping make our province a great place to live and a destination for lovers of art and culture everywhere.
Best wishes for a memorable festival.
It is my pleasure to welcome everyone attending the 20th anniversary edition of the Luminato Festival.
This festival will span nearly a month and showcase exceptional performances in collaboration with some of Toronto’s leading arts organizations. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Luminato Festival is focusing on a city-wide celebration of art, light and music, highlighting community-focused experiences.
I am pleased that this event is taking place in Toronto and strives to create inclusive experiences and support access to arts and culture.
On behalf of Toronto City Council, please accept my best wishes for an successful and enjoyable event.
Yours truly,
Hofesh Shechter
CREATOR'S NOTE
Hofesh Shechter Company is a boundary-breaking dance company that produces exceptional work created by Artistic Director Hofesh Shechter OBE, with, at its core, an extraordinary company of internationally diverse dancers.
In all our work, we strive to move ourselves, and our audiences, beyond reason.
Founded in 2008, the UK company’s repertoire includes Uprising (2006), In your rooms (2007), The Art of Not Looking Back (2009), Political Mother (2010), Political Mother: The Choreographer’s Cut (2011), Sun (2013), barbarians (2015), Grand Finale (2017), Double Murder (2021) and Theatre of Dreams (2024) with SHOW (2018), POLITICAL MOTHER UNPLUGGED (2020), Contemporary Dance 2.0 (2022), From England with Love (2024) performed by Shechter II, its young company. Hofesh Shechter Company has played in cities around the world including Paris, New York, Melbourne, Tokyo, Berlin, Montreal Rome, Seoul, Rio de Janeiro and many more.
The company collaborates on exceptional, world-leading, large-scale stage and film projects including a revival of Hofesh’s production of Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice at La Scala, Milan (2018), co-directed with John Fulljames; East Wall (2018) at Tower of London, in partnership with East London Dance, Historic Royal Palaces and LIFT; LIGHT: Bach dances (2021) winner of the FEDORA – VAN CLEEF & ARPELS Prize for Ballet 2020, produced in collaboration with Royal Danish Opera; Oedipus a prodcution with the Old Vic, London; short films - Hofesh Shechter’s Clowns (2018), broadcast on the BBC, POLITICAL MOTHER: The Final Cut (2021) and Return (2023); feature film - En Corps (2022)
Central to its belief that dance can bring about meaningful change is Shechter Moves, the company’s learning, engagement and development programme. Primarily aimed at young people age 14+, this programme shapes opportunities for everyone to experience the life-enhancing potential of their creativity.
Hofesh Shechter Company is Associate Company of the Brighton Dome, is supported with public funding through Arts Council England and benefits from the support of BNP Paribas Foundation for the development of its projects.
www.hofesh.co.uk
@hofeshco
BIOGRAPHIES
Hofesh Shechter OBE, choreographer, composer, filmmaker and Artistic Director of Hofesh Shechter Company, is Co -Director of the L’Agora - Cité internationale de la Danse, Montpellier, Associate Artist at Sadler’s Wells and Artist-in Residence of Gauthier Dance (2021-2026). Renowned for his raw movement and atmospheric scores, his repertoire includes Political Mother, (2010) Grand Finale (2017), Double Murder (2021) and Theatre of Dreams (2024).
He choreographs worldwide for stage, opera and television, with credits at the Metropolitan Opera, Broadway, the National Theatre and Channel 4’s Skins. With John Fulljames he co-directed Orphée et Eurydice (ROH/La Scala) and LIGHT: Bach Dances (Royal-Danish-Opera), and with Matthew Warchus, Oedipus (Old Vic). His works are performed by leading international dance companies.
Shechter directed award-winning films (Clowns, Political Mother: The Final Cut), collaborated with Cédric Klapisch on En corps (2022), and received Cannes (2023), Tony and Olivier nominations, plus an honorary OBE (2018).
Irish lighting designer Tom Visser joined Shechter’s team for Grand Finale for their first creative collaboration. Recent work includes Crystal Pite’s new creation, Flight Pattern, for the Royal Ballet season 16/17. His work with other choreographers includes for Alexander Ekman, Johan Inger and Joeri Dubbe.
Tom was born to a theatrical family. He began his career in musical theatre and later turned to contemporary dance as a member of Nederlands Dans Theater. He began his career as a lighting designer in the mid-2000s and has since worked extensively as a designer for dance, working with companies including Nederlands Dans Theater, Royal Swedish Ballet, Compañía Nacional de Danza, Norwegian National Ballet, Ballet Vlaanderen, Sydney Dance Company, Göteborg Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and Balé da Cidade de São Paulo.
Osnat Kelner is a rehearsal director at Gothenburg’s Opera’s Dance Company since 2018. She has worked with Batsheva Dance Company, both as a dancer and a rehearsal director, as an assistant choreographer for Sharon Eyal and Barak Marshall, and has staged their works with dance companies worldwide.
Osnat has designed costumes for various dance productions in Israel and has collaborated with Hofesh Shechter as costume designer twice in GöteborgsOperans Danskompani.
Osnat Kelner has a background as a choreographer, visual artist and costume designer. She has a bachelor's degree from the Betzalel Art Academy in Jerusalem and has also studied at the University of the Arts in Helsinki as well as costume design at the Israeli Shenkar College for Engineering & Design.
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Choreography and Music
Hofesh Shechter
Lighting Design
Tom Visser
Costume Design
Osnat Kelner
Associate Artistic Director
Bruno Guillore
Music Collaborator
Yaron Engler
Set Collaborator
Niall Black
Dancers
Alex Haskins
Robinson Cassarino
Tristan Carter
Frédéric Despierre-Corporon
Cristel De Frankrijker
Rachel Fallon
Mickaël Frappat
Justine Gouache
Zakarius Harry
Keanah Faith Simin
Juliette Valerio
Chanel Vyent
Musicians
Yaron Engler
Sabio Janiak
James Keane
Technical Manager
Paul Froy-Michel
Re-lighter
Andrej Gubanov
Sound Supervisor
Amir Sherhan
Technical Stage Manager
Oran O'Neill
Stage Manager
Leon Smith
Company Stage Manager
Becca Moore
Artistic Director
Hofesh Shechter OBE
Executive Director
Colette Hansford
Associate Artistic Director
Bruno Guillore
Head of Development
Claire Lee
Head of Education and Learning Partnerships
David Steele
Executive Assistant and Senior Administrator
Melanie Clark
General Manager
Emma Baker-Griffin
Project Administrator
Chi-chi Hsiao
Shechter Moves Administrator
Tristan Carter
Publicist (UK)
Clióna Roberts for CRPR crpr.co.uk
Rehearsal Director
Frédéric Despierre
Rehearsal Assistant
Rachel Fallon
PRODUCTION CREW
Produced By
Hofesh Shechter Company
Head of Production and Touring
Adam Hooper
Producer - Artist Development
Lucy Moelwyn-Hughes
Digital, Comms and Content Producer
James Shaw
Senior Producer
Lucy Monkman
Producer Theatre of Dreams
Niamh O’Flaherty
LUMINATO FESTIVAL TEAM
Lead Producer
Lani Milstein
TORONTO LIVE TEAM
Lead Producer
Kafi Pierre
THANK YOU TO LUMINATO PARTNERS
Founding Government Partner
Majors Partners
Program Partners
Government Partners
Official Partners
Major Media Partners
Media and Agency Partners
Supporting Partners
Festival Partners
Bullfrog Power
Bureau du Québec à Toronto
Courtyard Toronto Downtown
Stay at U of T
Encore Canada
The Fairmont Royal York
Green and Spiegel LLP
Stikeman Elliott
Hart House Theatre
THANK YOU TO LUMINATO SUPPORTERS
Major Donors
The Azrieli Foundation
Kiki and Ian Delaney
Donald K. Johnson, O.C. LLD
The Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Family Foundation
The Michael Young Family Foundation
Artistic Director’s Circle
The Bennett Family Foundation
Burstyn-Pecaut Family
Linda Chu and John Donald
La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso
The William and Nona Heaslip Foundation
Lucille Joseph
The Michelle Koerner Family Foundation
Joan and Jerry Lozinski
McLean Smits Family Foundation
The Sabourin Family Foundation
The Slaight Family Foundation
Eli and Phil Taylor
20th Anniversary Supporters
The Polar Foundation
The Sabourin Family Foundation
Program Supporters
Alexandra Baillie
The Canavan Family Foundation
Denton Creighton and Kristine Vikmanis
Lindy Green Family Foundation
Gretchen Ross
Immersive Circle
Alice Adelkind
Shelley Ambrose and Douglas Knight, C.M.
Catharine and Greg Barnes
Guy Beaudin
David Binet
Balfour Bowen Family Foundation
The Max Clarkson Family Foundation
Holly Coll-Black and Rupert Duchesne, C.M.
Eva Czigler
Lisa De Wilde
The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
Tony and Lina Gagliano
Richard and Donna Ivey
Jennifer Laidlaw
Jim Leech
Brian Levitt and Portia Leggat
The Janice Lewis and Mitchell Cohen Foundation
Mitchell Marcus and Orrin Wolpert
Helen and Donald McGillivray
Leslie Milrod and Jonathan Guss
John Monahan and Michael Charles
Rob Sandolowich
Celia and Whitney Smith
Laurie Smith
Catherine Wong
Thank you to TO Live Major Partner
Thank you to TO Live Major Supporters
Major Donors
Anonymous (1)
Canada Council for the Arts
City of Toronto
Government of Canada
Government of Ontario
Greenwin Inc.
Meridian Credit Union
Major Program Supporters
Anonymous (1)
Armenian General Benevolent Union
The Azrieli Foundation
The Barry and Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust
Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang
Meridian Credit Union
Miziwe Biik
Power Corporation of Canada
Renokrew
TD Bank Group
Yorkville Education LP
Venue Sponsors & Partners
Arterra Wines Canada
The Earth Group
Mark Anthony Group
Muskoka Brewery
SpotHero
In-Kind Supporters
Cheekbone Beauty
Element Event Solutions
Federation of Black Canadians
Getwrapped
Imperial Coffee and Services Inc.
KI Electrical Solutions Inc.
Novotel Hotels
St. Joseph Media
TO Live Champions
Aina Arro
Brian Astl
Barbara Basta
Sandra Bellisario
Paul Bernards
Joseph Bersani
Paul Borg
Elspeth Bowler
Famille Boyer
Cindy Breslin-Carere
Chris Browne
Ayesha Chatterjee
Neera Chopra
Jason Clark
Diana Cockburn
Bruce Dean
Donald Dedrick
Suzanne Denis
Paul Ezers
Matt Farrell
Anne Fleming
Benefaction Foundation
David Friend
Linda Galen
Myriam Gafarou
Greg Gaudet
Jamie Golombek
Carol Hensley
Elizabeth Howson
David Hurlbut
Geanina Iorga
Zahra Jamal
Shone Joos
Isabelle Kaczmarek
Megan Kotze & Michael Longfield
Guy Lacasse
Cary Lavine
Sean Lee
Yuchenke Liu
Antoine MARCIL
Sarah Margles
Honora McCabe
David McCracken
Kathy McKenna
Marc McNamara
Isabel Vicente Menanno
William Milne
Susan Moellers
Jimmy Molloy
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)
Sorina & George Oprea
Jennifer Parkin
Sabrina Pennesi
Leanne Petroff
Grant Ramsay
Ross Renzetti
Jeffrey Rohrer
Rob Sandolowich
Elizabeth J Shropshire
Maryam Siddiqi
Suzanne Simzer
Kyle Spencer
Karl Sprogis
Veronica Tennant C.C.
Jonathan Tolkin
Vida Peene Fund
Clyde Wagner & Steven Tetz
TO Live Corporate Champions
Area Construction Inc.
Incredible Printing Co. Inc.
KI Electrical Solutions Inc.
Renokrew
Roy Turk Industrial Sales Ltd.
TruGrp Inc.
Pearson Airport Limousine
Harrison Staffing
TO Live Donors
Myah Amenda
Stewart Arnott
Liliana Bacila
Peggy Baker
Aaron Barnett
Brian Beagle
Eva Bednar
Zoe Carpenter
Stephanie Chan
Sally Chatfield
Mimi Chiu
Soyoung Cho
Judith C. Cole
Penelope Evans
Aviva Fleising
Joanne Findon
William Found
Kimberley Gadwah
David Gregor
Paul Herman
Barbara Hershenhorn
Frances Humphreys
Radi Huq
Elaine Iannuzziello
Janice Johnson
Sherry Kaufman
Lenita Karhunen
Sebastian Kim
Wendy King
Lindy Kinoshameg
Serge Lalonde
Allison Langton
Lily Lee
Edith Lo
Anthony Lyons
Lynn Mcdonagh
Livia Micoli
Mary Nagel
Bernardine Nelligan
Aleks Ottonen
Kate Poehlmann
Principles
Julia Spellman
Katie Sultan
Anisa Tejpar
Peter Tsatsanis
Alicja Turner
Asha Varadharajan
April White
Amy Widdifield
Johanne Wilkins
K. R. Wilson
Stephen Zener
Ruth Zuchter
