No movement needed for actor's latest gig

[attach]981[/attach]It may seem unusual for an actress to ease back into theatre by taking on a show where she has all the lines.

But when Behind The Veil opens this month, that’s exactly what Joanne Redfearn will do.

Having moved to Toronto from the Australian theatre scene two years ago to be with her partner, the 28-year-old Leslieville actress has been slowly establishing herself, acting in several independent films and a Fringe Festival show this past summer.

Returning to the theatre as the narrator in the new show presented by Evolution Dance Theatre, the actress says she’s happy to sink her teeth into something larger.

“This is a wonderful opportunity that I was lucky to come across,” Redfearn says.

Set in the Middle East, the show is a multimedia dance drama that follows several characters through different eras, spanning thousands of years. Created by Armineh Keshishian, the story is told through belly dancing and other styles of dance, leaving much of the explaining to Redfearn as the narrator.

“The verbal storytelling is crucial to the telling of the story on the whole and adds to all the visual stimulation going on in the show, which includes film, beautiful costumes and lots of wonderful and sensual dancing,” says Redfearn.

Although she does have a dance background, no dancing was required for Redfearn’s role.

Beyond the stimulating challenge of playing a narrator who interprets the visual elements for the audience, Redfearn says the language itself poses an interesting challenge.

“It’s someone else’s artistic thought process. It’s not classical poetry. It’s distinctively Armineh,” Redfearn says. “In any case where you’re dealing with a very distinct, personal writing style, that’s always going to be a challenge.”

If she finds the role stimulating as an actress, Redfearn says the content and message of the show are equally appealing.

“I think what Armineh has done is she’s looked at the choice of following traditional values and breaking away from that and there’s no demonization of any one viewpoint.”

Redfearn stresses that although the show explores serious themes, there’s no agenda.

“I think any young, independent woman who values the way she lives and her freedom of choice is going to be attracted to this show. But I think it’s very accessible to all groups because it doesn’t preach.”

So what does she hope to gain from the performance?

“I always take part in shows I connect to and feel strongly about and can get passionate about and I certainly can with this show,” she says. “(I want) to entertain and be provocative and to affect people and I hope they will take it home and think about it for a long time afterwards.”

Behind the Veil shows at the Isabel Bader Theatre on November 28 and 29.