AlvegoRoot Theatre: A London urban legend, a coming sci-fi play

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A London theatre company marking its 15th anniversary plans to dive into an urban legend next season that refuses to die – that Eva Peron, the famed wife of an Argentine dictator, was treated for cancer in London after a 1951 medical milestone in the city.

AlvegoRoot Theatre, founded by artist director Adam Corrigan Holowitz, is holding anniversary events over several days this week at Manor Park Memorial Hall, including a free workshop on how to create independent theatre and a reading of one of the late poet James Reaney’s works by his son, former London Free Press writer James Stewart Reaney.

There’s also a birthday party Friday, with pizza, cake and games.

But it might be what Holowitz has up his sleeve that will attract the most interest – Medical Wonder, a science fiction play exploring how urban legends are born.

The play, scheduled Feb. 28 to March 3, will be based on the urban legend that Eva Peron – the Evita of books, film and a Tony Award-winning musical of the same name – was treated for cancer in London after the world’s first cobalt 60 radiation treatment was performed in the city in 1951.

Eva Peron, a political and cultural force in her own right in Argentina, was married to Juan Peron, the country’s longtime president-turned-dictator. Eva Peron died in 1952, less than a year after cobalt 60 radiation therapy was pioneered in London.

The rumour that she’d been treated in London is baked into its medical lore but was denied, its germ apparently rooted in a report that her doctor had phoned the London clinic to see if it could help save her life.

“It’s a completely fictional approach,” said Holowitz. “It’s around a central question: What happens if this foreign leader comes to our city for medical treatment? So it’s a completely fictional world.”

In the run-up to its birthday party Friday, the theatre company will present a reading of Reaney’s Gentle Rain Food Co-op on Wednesday, with admission by donation of non-perishable food or cash for the Manor Park Food Bank.

Thursday, the theatre will hold a free workshop, Producing: The A to Z of Independent Theatre, with Holowitz and associate artistic director Kydra Ryan.

“The idea is to give back,” Holowitz said. “We really believe in action, if you can make it a tangible impact, that’s way better than words.”

Proud to support the development of local stories, artists and plays, Holowitz said the company is focused on its growth.

“We want to develop a more robust commissioning program so that we can commission more local playwrights and support more local playwrights especially, but also actors and directors.”

Holowitz said he looks forward to premiering his new play next season.

“We want our work to look like London, and that means it doesn’t look like anywhere else,” he said.

Audiences have shown a desire to hear local stories produced by London playwrights, Holowitz said, and the next season will speak through “artistically adventurous” plays.

IF YOU GO

Wednesday: Gentle Rain Food Co-op reading, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday: Producing: The A to Z of Producing Independent Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: AlvegoRoot’s birthday party, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Manor Park Memorial Hall, 11 Briscoe St. W.
Registration: alvegoroottheatre.com