Lessons in Temperament

an Outside the March Film

“A memoir of minds gone out of tune” – The New York Times

Produced in Partnership with
Soulpepper Theatre Company, TO Live, The Rose Theatre, The Stratford Festival, Crow’s Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Mirvish Productions, The Harbourfront Centre and Talk is Free Theatre

Screening Live and Virtually, November 13th – 27th
100% of proceeds go to support
CAMH, Kerry’s Place, Stella’s Place, Homes First and EveryMind.

The story of four neurodiverse brothers, told through a cinematic escape into the art and science of piano tuning. An instrument goes out of tune whether or not anyone plays it – something that musician and theatre-maker James Smith knows all too well. So after months of being unemployed during the pandemic, he decides that he will spend his lockdown visiting shuttered theatres, and doing what he can to keep their pianos in tune. This ritual soon unlocks James’ own search for balance, growing up as one of four brothers living with obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. 

Adapted into a feature film by Smith and Director Mitchell Cushman from their award-winning play, Lessons in Temperament, offers an urgent and cathartic story that takes the audience inside James’ mind, inside his piano, and inside a dozen of Ontario’s most iconic theatres.  

LIVE SCREENINGS

November 13th 7:30pm @ Meridian Arts Centre (Toronto)
In Partnership with TO LIVE and Homes First
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November 23rd 7:30pm @ The Rose Theatre (Brampton)
In Partnership with The Rose Theatre and EveryMind
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November 27th 7:30pm @ The Young Centre (Toronto)
In Partnership with Soulpepper Theatre and Kerry’s Place
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VIRTUAL SCREENINGS

November 18th 7:30pm
In Partnership with Crow’s Theatre and CAMH
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November 22nd 7:30pm
In Partnership with The Stratford Festival and CAMH
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November 24th 7:30pm
In Partnership with Theatre Passe Muraille and Stella’s Place
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Each live screening will operate in accordance with the latest health and safety guidelines in regards to Covid-19. Each venue will require all audience members to be masked and show proof of vaccination; there will be reduced capacity and socially-distanced seating.


MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS
Lessons in Temperament may contain some triggering scenes about mental health crises, suicide, violence, homelessness. We recognize that some of this material may be difficult for our audience members. In response, all screenings of Lessons in Temperament will be staffed by an active listener who will offer trauma-informed emotional support and a list of resources for anyone who may need it.

 

  • November 13th - 27th 2021

Live Screenings at Meridian Arts Centre, The Young Centre and The Rose Theatre, as well as Virtual Screenings Available

a memoir of minds gone out of tune

The New York Times

Lessons In Temperament
2017-08-02T20:02:32+00:00

The New York Times

intimate, deeply felt and poignant… wise and heartfelt lessons for us all.

NOW Magazine

Lessons In Temperament
2017-02-27T21:26:17+00:00

NOW Magazine

Do yourself a favour and experience this show.

Mooney on Theatre

Lessons In Temperament
2017-02-27T21:26:36+00:00

Mooney on Theatre

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Lessons In Temperament

Creative Team

Writer and Performer – James Smith

Director – Mitchell Cushman 

Director of Photography – Gabriela Osio Vanden

Production Designer – Nick Blais 

Editor – Maria Todorov-Topouzov

Composer – Bram Gielen

Producers – Jenn McGouran, Laura McCallum, Rebeccah Love

Executive Producers
Josh Hellyer
David Daniels
Laurence Siegel
Judy Gladstone
Andrew Nicholas McCann Smith
Michael Levine