High-octane crime caper makes Ontario premiere at London’s Grand Theatre

The Grand Theatre in London, Ontario is diving into the world of diamonds, deals, and deceit with Arun Lakra’s Heist — an Ocean’s Eleven-inspired crime caper playing from January 14 to February 1 on the Grand’s Spriet Stage.

In Heist, five skilled thieves come together for one final job. But, naturally, not everything goes to plan, and their heist ends up riddled with twists, turns, and unexpected betrayals. 

Director Haysam Kadri, who’s returning to the script after directing its 2024 world premiere at Calgary’s Vertigo Theatre, is planning to bring drones, acrobatics, and a laser sequence to the stage. “It’s always a gift to be able to mount a second production,” said Kadri in a press release. “On the technical side, having access to bigger resources and tools means we can elevate the production value significantly. The set design [by Beyata Hackborn], for instance, is more ambitious, incorporating moving pieces and intricate lighting effects that amplify the suspense and spectacle of the story.”

Grand artistic director Rachel Peake shares Kadri’s excitement about this second staging, which is a co-production with Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre. “We at the Grand are deeply committed to second-run Canadian plays,” she said. “[It] means that once the dust has settled on a world premiere, the playwright can go back into their script… and imagine the show for a second time.”

In addition to Kadri and Hackborn, the creative team for the Grand production includes Jessica Oostergo (costume designer), Siobhán Sleath (lighting designer), Richard Feren (composer and sound designer), and Corwin Ferguson (projection designer). 

Five actors in Heist — Devin MacKinnon, Callan McKenna Potter, Gillian Moon, Priya Narine, and Emilio Vieira — will make their Grand debuts in the show. Belinda Cornish, who rounds out the six-person cast, was last seen at the Grand in its 2018 production of An Undiscovered Shakespeare.

“I wanted to create a sort of hybrid show, which grabbed elements from both film and theatre,” said Lakra. “Through my collaboration with [Kadri], who shared this vision, we have tried to create a cinematic experience on stage.”

Heist runs at the Grand Theatre from January 14 to February 1. Tickets are available here.

WRITTEN BY

Liam Donovan

Liam is Intermission’s publishing and editorial assistant. Based in Toronto, his writing has appeared in Maisonneuve, This Magazine, NEXT Magazine, and more. He loves the original Super Mario game very much.

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