Pop-Up Love Party
Story
What is love?
Pop-Up Love Party reimagines Plato’s Symposium in its quest to define love with all its plagues and pleasures by employing aerobics, holding a kangaroo court, exposing audience passion, and pumping out an infectious pop ballad that will mend broken hearts around the world.
Enriching this roller coaster ride through the depths of desire is a 7-course snack menu created by Dartmouth-born, Michelin-starred chef, Daniel Burns. Burns created the menu specifically for Pop-Up Love Party with flavours and textures to heighten moments of the production.
To be certain, this ain’t no dinner theatre. It’s a philosophical feast, a sensory slip n’ slide, and a theatrical experience so unique it could only come from deep in the pulsing Zuppa heart.
Pop-Up Love Party was developed in part through The Collaborations at Canada’s National Arts Centre.
Pop-Up Love Party was developed by Zuppa Theatre Co. while they were Eastern Front Theatre’s HRM Artist in Residence.
Press
“A generous, playful, unexpected delight” Andy Field, Forest Fringe, Edinburgh
“It’s glorious […] a transformative night at the theatre” Meg Hubley, The Globe and Mail
“Makes each mouthful feel like a meal, and each uttered thought feel like a magic spell” DARTcritics, St. Catharines
“You need to see Pop-Up Love Party now!” — Lia Rinaldo, Devour! The Food Film Fest (Wolfville, NS)
Company
A Creation of Zuppa
The Team 2015-2021
Alex McLean (Director / Writer)
Susan Leblanc (Actor / Writer)
Stewart Legere (Actor/ Writer)
Ben Stone (Actor / Writer)
Brian Riley (Technician / Sound Design)
Stewart Legere, David Christensen (Original Music)
Nick Bottomley (Video Design)
Dennis Johnston (Head Chef)
Daniel Burns (Executive Chef)
Leesa Hamilton (Costumes)
Kathryn McCormack (Beloved)
with special guest appearances (over the years) by Amy Reitsma, Genevieve Steele, Sarah Deller, Petra O'Toole
early creation phases also involved Patrick Blenkarn, Dan Bray, Gillian Clark
The Team 2026
Alex McLean (Director / Writer)
Susan Leblanc (Actor / Writer)
Stewart Legere (Actor/ Writer)
Ben Stone (Actor / Writer)
Leesa Hamilton (Costumes)
Stewart Legere w/ David Christensen (music and sound design)
Brian Riley (Technician / additional Sound Design and live sound engineer)
Nick Bottomley / Christian Ludwig-Hansen (Video Design)
Jessica Lewis (Lighting Design)
Jamie MacAulay (Executive Chef)
Sophie Schade (Producer)
Photos
