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ERASER: A New Normal

ERASER: A New Normal

Created and Co-produced by the company of Eraser Theatre
Directed and Choreographed by Bilal Baig and Sadie Epstein-Fine

Virtual School Tour Extended by Popular Demand! 

After visiting over fifty virtual classes and connecting with hundreds of students, ERASER: A New Normal continues to provoke important conversations as young people respond to the emotional, physical and mental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on them, their families and the wider community. 

With the generous support of Daytrippers Children’s Charity, Eraser: A New Normal is now touring to the TDSB Virtual School Learning Centre 1, grades 5-8 from the end of April through to June, reaching over 5000 students!


ABOUT THE SHOW

ERASER: A New Normal follows the lives of six elementary students as they navigate their way through this unprecedented time in the world. From Pakistan to Canada, the students deal with losing loved ones, isolation, new friendships and crossing borders all while dealing with the constraints of how to stay safe and socially distant. The students dance, sing and vlog their way through the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding new ways to connect while fantasizing about how things could be different in this “new normal”.

READ ABOUT ERASER: A NEW NORMAL IN THE TORONTO STAR

It’s really different from all the other plays that I saw. Just really different and really nice…I felt like I was talking to them myself.” 
– Samihah Khan, age 11

Some people gave some very personal examples of how the play resonated with them. And honestly, some of the things we talked about, I don’t know if I would have thought to ask those questions. Rather than just having a random discussion, there was something to relate it to” 
– Yoka Canriuns, TDSB Virtual School Teacher


The Eraser: A New Normal Team 

CAST
Tijiki as Afroze 
Christol as Whitney 
Nathan as Noah
Marina as Tara
Tony as Eli 
Bilal as Jihad
John as Voice of the Mayor 
Lisa Marie as Voice of Tara’s Mom

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM
Bilal Baig, Co-Director
Sadie Epstein-Fine, Co-Director 
Emily Soussana, Digital Content Designer 
Vanessa Magic, Costume Designer
Rebecca Vandevelde, Lighting Designer 
Maddie Bautista, Sound Designer and Composer 
Cole Vincent, Production Manager 
Steph Raposo, Video Editor
Lisa Marie DiLiberto, Script Consultant

Production History 
Eraser was originally presented as part of Why Not Theatre’s RISER 2019 Project. The following year it was in development in Theatre Direct’s season with play development support provided by Young People’s Theatre and Roseneath Theatre, Toronto, Canada. In 2020, Theatre Direct commissioned the Eraser team to create ERASER: A New Normal, responding to the pandemic and its effect on young people.