NIGHT OF DREAD
Saturday October 27, 2007: 5.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The eighth annual community parade and celebration. Assemble from 3 p.m. on, parade leaves Dufferin Grove Park at 5.45 pm.
Black and white dress code. (Note: please don’t come as Batman unless you really have to!).
Organized by Clay and Paper Theatre, with David Anderson as the parade master.
This is the annual parade that everyone gets to be in!
Imagine a small-town community coming together except it happens in a residential area smack in the middle of out big city.
In past years, between 400 and 500 people gather in Dufferin Grove Park by the rink and basketball court and then parade along Bloor Street, south down to College, and then back to the park. There are performances and bonfires at the park, wonderful bake-oven food (from 3.30 p.m. on), and music.
The Night of Dread ain't Hollowe'en. It's something communal and organic. Over the many many weekends and evenings leading up the last Saturday in October, Clay and Paper Theatre has been using their base in Dufferin Grove Park to build Giant Puppets, paint banners and paradey type things, design and put together costumes.
Neighbours and Friends begin gathering in the north end of the park later in the afternoon. By sunset, around 6 p.m., David Anderson, the Parade Master, makes preparation to start the parade. The parade route has taken minor twists and turns of the past 7 years, but it roughly includes Bloor STreet west, Ossington Avenue, some parts of Little Italy along College Street, then back into Dufferin Grove Park where a giant bonfire awaits.
A giant circle of people is formed and performers step into the circle and delight everyone with their act. Stilt walkers, fire jugglers, Giant Puppets, and dancers do their thing until it time for the big bonfire where we all burn away our fears.
For more information, or to help make masks, wear a giant puppet, or bang a drum, call 416 537-9105, or visit http://www.clayandpapertheatre.org, or e-mail .
Here's a wonderful visual taste of last year's Night of Dread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhXyiiMV-WI
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Photo taken during Clay and Paper Theatre's 4th Annual Night of Dread community parade and celebration held on October 25, 2003.
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Photo taken during Clay and Paper Theatre's 4th Annual Night of Dread community parade and celebration held on October 25, 2003.
Photo taken during Clay and Paper Theatre's 4th Annual Night of Dread community parade and celebration held on October 25, 2003.
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David Anderson is Parade Master for the annual Night of Dread community parade and celebration in and around Dufferin Grove Park. David is the Creative Director of Clay and Paper Theatre.
David Anderson is Parade Master for the annual Night of Dread community parade and celebration in and around Dufferin Grove Park. David is the Creative Director of Clay and Paper Theatre.
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Photo taken during Clay and Paper Theatre's 4th Annual Night of Dread community parade and celebration held on October 25, 2003.
Photo taken during Clay and Paper Theatre's 4th Annual Night of Dread community parade and celebration held on October 25, 2003.
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Photo taken during Clay and Paper Theatre's 4th Annual Night of Dread community parade and celebration held on October 25, 2003.
Photo taken during Clay and Paper Theatre's 4th Annual Night of Dread community parade and celebration held on October 25, 2003.
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Henry Martiniuk of PaperFire Arts Collective peeks out from under one the Giant Puppets known as the Plagues of the New World Order during the 2003 4th annual Night of Dread in Dufferin Grove Park.
Henry Martiniuk of PaperFire Arts Collective peeks out from under one the Giant Puppets known as the Plagues of the New World Order during the 2003 4th annual Night of Dread in Dufferin Grove Park.
