Rabbit in a Hat Productions
  • Home
  • About
  • Past Productions
  • Contact

Picture

The Trophy Hunt
​By Trina Davies
​Directed by Paul Van Dyck and Vanessa Rigaux
Presented at The Montreal Fringe Festival,
Montreal QC, June 2019 
Using mask, movement, and music, this outdoor expedition kicked off a National Consortium of theatre artists creating a different interpretation of Trina Davies’s new play across the country.

"A unique and immersive piece that allows an ever-growing audience to witness stories though a safari-like tour... This is a show for anyone who wants a (literal) breath of fresh air from classic theatrical settings."  Rahul Gandhi - Montreal Theatre Hub
"The open-air playing space is expansive enough to double as an African hunting reserve where three crisply written, splendidly performed monologues are delivered against various well-chosen backdrops." Jim Burke - Montreal Gazette

JONNO
By Alix Sobler
Directed by Paul Van Dyck
Presented at The Next Stage Theatre Festival, Toronto ON, January 2018

An angry comedy about a famous radio personality, the women he assaults, and Mr. Donkey Long-Ears, his only friend. 

“Paul Van Dyck directs with lots of tension and imagination.” 
Glenn Sumi - NOW Magazine
“This play focusing on the survivors of harassment and abuse is now about so much more than Jian Ghomeshi.” 
Jordan Bimm - NOW Magazine
​
​"Giving the last word where last word’s due in the startling, sharply pointed, satirical JONNO.” 
​Cate McKim - Life With More Cowbell 
Picture

Picture
King of Canada
A Staged Reading by Paul Van Dyck
Presented at lemonTree creations, Toronto ON,
​December 2017

When one of our “Greatest” Canadians participates in a ghostly séance, he soon discovers that the Spirit World has a vastly different standard for Greatness. In this irreverent and whimsical dramatization of the life of Prime Minister Mackenzie King, we are asked to re-examination the country we once had and the country we want to have.

​Made possible by The Ontario Arts Council, The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, and The Playwrights Guild Canada’s PlayConnect.

Picture
A is for Arsenic
​By Lexy Howe
Directed by Sara Rodriguez
Presented at The Shortstanding Festival, Freestanding Room,
​Montreal QC,
February 2016

Three unlikely women are drawn together by a sinister circumstance putting a triple dose of femme fatale in this film noir misadventure. 

"Cleverly directed by Sara Rodriguez"
​Byron Toben – Westmount Magazine
"So well done, so well performed, and so much fun to watch [...] a delight to follow." Angela Potvin – Montreal Rampage

​

Blood Wild 
By Paul Van Dyck
Directed by Paul Van Dyck and Sara Rodriguez
Presented at The Montreal Fringe Festival, Montreal QC, June 2014
The Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montreal QC, December 2015
The Next Stage Theatre Festival, Toronto ON, January 2016
​
Winner of "Le Prix Fred Barry for Best Production Design", June 2014

Hiding out in a town with no name, the Jackson gang has just pulled off the ultimate holdup. But when the money goes missing along with their leader, these outlaws are about to discover just how wild the West can get.
Picture
​“Authentically written, smoothly directed, well-acted and very, very funny […] this tale of robbery and betrayal is riveting.” – Pat Donnelly The Montreal Gazette
“Get your tickets now. This show is likely to sell out every single performance […] Paul Van Dyck is an unparalleled artist and one of Montreal’s greatest treasures” – Bloody Underrated
​
“First-rate Fringe entertainment, expertly performed and beautifully designed – Blood Wild’s aim is true.”  – Jim Burke Theatre Funhouse

Picture

The Harvester
Written & Directed by Paul Van Dyck
Present at The Montreal Fringe Festival,
Montreal QC, June 2012
The Atlantic Fringe Festival, Halifax NS, September 2012

The Toronto Fringe Festival, Toronto ON, July 2016

Winner “MainLine Theatre – Next Stage Award” & “Freestanding Room – The FREEBIE Award”  Montreal Fringe Festival
Winner “Best Drama” & “Fringe Hit” Atlantic Fringe Festival
Winner "Patron's Pick" Toronto Fringe Festival

​In a future where time can be captured in a bottle, one man chooses to live forevereven though he may be the last person on earth.
“Normally, I’m not into science fiction. But Van Dyck is brilliant.” Pat Donnelly – The Montreal Gazette
“Anything written and/or directed by Paul Van Dyck is guaranteed to be good, and The Harvester is no exception.” Jake Smith – Rover Arts
“A beautiful play.” – Bloody Underrated

Cornered
By Jim Burke
Directed by Paul Van Dyck
Presented at Theatre Sainte Catherine, Montreal QC, November 2011
Bain St-Michel co-produced with Infintheatre, 
Montreal QC,​ March 2013

The Canadian premiere of Jim Burke’s award-winning play, set in the world of small-time boxing, where the fight for survival isn't confined to the ring.
​
Winner Best New Play Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards
Picture
“I recommend this to anyone who has the desire to see something really well written, beautifully directed and brilliantly performed.” Anna Fuerstenberg – Rover Montreal Arts Uncovered
“It’s like David Mamet parachuted into Coronation Street.”
 Neil Boyce – Montreal Mirror
“Catch it while you can.” Pat Donnelly – The Gazette

Picture
 Paradise Lost 
 By John Milton
 Adapted and Directed by Paul Van Dyck
 Presented at Theatre Ste-Catherine, Montreal QC, April 2009
 Just For Laughs, Zoofest, Montreal QC, July 2009
 Storyfest, Hudson QC, October 2009
 The New York Frigid Festival, New York City NY, February 2011

 The Atlantic Fringe Festival, Halifax NS, September 2011
 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Scotland, August 2014
 Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto ON, November 2015

 Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Winnipeg MB, July 2016
 Royal Theatre Thousand Islands, Gananoque ON, July 2017
 Toronto Fringe Festival, Toronto ON, July 2018
Winner “Festival Favorite Award” & “Sold Out Award” 2011 Frigid Festival New York City
Winner "Outstanding Show" & "Sold Out Award" 2011 Atlantic Fringe Festival
Winner "Patron's Pick" & NOW Magazine's "Outstanding Production" 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival

A new adaptation of the greatest epic poem ever written, containing spellbinding puppetry, state of the art computer animation, and a hell of a lot of rock and roll.

​“Inspired… Intense… It’s great!” Jeanette Kelly – Homerun, CBC Radio 
“Van Dyck works theatrical magic… Let's hope he comes back to New York lots of times” 

Martin Denton - nytheatre.com
“I can say without qualification that this is the best theater that I have seen in a long time.”  

W. Kenton - Cultural Capital (NYC) ​

Haunted 
Written and Directed by Paul Van Dyck
Presented at St. James United Church, Montreal QC, October 2009
Hudson Village Theatre, Hudson QC, October/November 2011

The incredible true story of Esther Cox, who, in 1879, became the subject of the most documented poltergeist event in Canadian history. 

“An amazingly good show… It has that magical quality of ease and insouciance that lets a good yarn unravel like a ball of wool.” Pat Donnelly – The Gazette 
“Haunted is riveting story-telling at its best; compelling, well-written, laugh-out-loud funny, imaginative, and downright horrifying… This production is not to be missed!”
Toula Foscolos – Westmount Examiner
“A well crafted, beautifully directed and brilliantly performed play.”  Anna Fuerstenberg - Rover Montreal Arts Uncovered
Picture

Picture
Miss Sugarpuss Must Die!
By Holly Gauthier-Frankel & Paul Van Dyck
Directed by Paul Van Dyck
Presented at the Montreal Fringe Festival, Montreal QC, June 2010
Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival, Montreal QC, January 2011

Segal Centre for the Performing Arts, Montreal QC, February-April 2012

Winner “Best Production” Centaur Theatre Company Award
(Montreal Fringe Festival)
Winner “Best Costume Design” Montreal English Critic Circle Awards 
​A hilariously dark vaudevillian romp revealing Montreal’s Queen of Burlesque and her alter-ego in the strip down of their lives.

“When director Paul Van Dyck gets together with local burlesque queen Miss Sugarpuss to do a thriller, it's not going to be boring.”  Pat Donnelly – The Gazette
“Holly Gauthier-Frankel is terrifyingly talented… Paul Van Dyck directs this piece flawlessly.” 
Anna Fuerstenberg – Rover Montreal Arts Uncovered

Mission Drive 
By Ned Cox
Directed by Paul Van Dyck
Presented at Mainline Theatre, Montreal QC, April 2010


​An Episcopalian church is on the verge of financial ruin when a mysterious billionaire arrives and offers to save the church in exchange for saving his soul. 

​“Brilliant… An absolute must-see!” 
​
Julie Ogang – CKUT The Theatre Review Corner
“Hilarious” Pat Donnelly – The Gazette
“Mission Drive is a black comedy spiced with irreverent violence and divine aspirations to save your mortal soul.” MJ Stone – Hour ​
Picture

Picture
penumbra 
By Katharine Dempsey
Directed by Paul Van Dyck
Presented at the Montreal Fringe Festival, Montreal QC, June 2009
Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival, Montreal QC, January 2010


Fantasy, voyeurism, love, and lust drive four separate lives to find each other within the hazy realms of modern romance.

“This is serious theatre that takes on a provocative topic”  
 
Pat Donnelly – The Gazette
“Penumbra is the kind of play which defines modern theatre as much as it defines our own lives”  P.A. Sevigny - The Suburban 

Sahara Crossing
By Paul Van Dyck
Directed by Robin Henderson
Presented at Theatre Ste-Catherine, Montreal QC, November 2007
The Montreal Fringe Festival, Montreal QC, June 2008 
The Toronto Fringe Festival, Toronto ON, July 2008 
Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival, Montreal QC, January 2009

The true account of one man’s perilous and ill-conceived journey from Morocco to the Pyramids of Egypt.
Picture
“Inventive and honest and no holds barred, watching Van Dyck recall his trip is a trip in itself” 
​Dave Jaffer – Hour
“This Paul Theroux type journey through Africa is a hit” Byron Toben - The Senior Times
“I’d recommend local actor Paul Van Dyck’s Sahara Crossing” Amy Barratt – Mirror

Picture
The Cyclops 
Written, Directed, & Composed by Paul Van Dyck
Presented at Geordie Space, Montreal QC, December 2004
Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival, Montreal QC, January 2008

When a patient at a psychiatric hospital falls in love with a young nurse, only in his imaginary world of music and magic can they be together.

“A cabaret-style freak-show fantasy, with good live music and a four-member cast sparkling with talent.” 
Pat Donnelly - The Gazette
“The Cyclops, a fantastical new script by Paul Van Dyck, is not your mother’s musical.” Amy Barratt - Mirror
“What a delightful play! The Cyclops does not disappoint.” 
​
Sarah Pearso - Indyish

The Adventures of Mouse & Crab 
Written & Directed by Paul Van Dyck
Presented at The Montreal Fringe Festival, Montreal QC, June 2001
The Ottawa Fringe Festival, Ottawa ON, July 2001

A Darwinian fable pitting friendship against survival as a mouse and a crab find themselves trapped in a hot air balloon set for the sun.

“Van Dyck explores the dynamic of survival: the characters become friends, betray each other and use tactic after tactic, however brutal to get what they want from each other, just as humans do.” 
Mary Gordon - The Ottawa Citizen
Picture
“The story started off as a cute children’s fable, but quickly took on dark themes... The result is a play about two approaches to evolution, pitting the mouse character’s core morality against the crab’s Darwinian view. ”  Ronald Zajac – The Recorder and Times
  • Home
  • About
  • Past Productions
  • Contact