A 1s1 Theatre and Nightwood Theatre co-production in association with Modern Times Stage Company and Why Not Theatre, playwright Erin Shields’ poetic and at times gruesome one-act To A Flame is a visual treat and sensory rollercoaster set in a lush world of gothic horror, directed by Josette Bushell-Mingo with additive beauty to be fully accessible to deaf audiences (with ASL translation by Dawn Jani Birley).

Birley signs her role as the play’s enigmatic eldest captive. She’s joined in narrating the events of their story by her two declared sisters Juliana Monk and a particularly memorable Nickeshia Garrick who speak their roles in addition to signing. Live cellist Beth Silver further adds to the play’s complete atmosphere.

Laura Warren’s projection work and André du Toit’s lighting combine to brilliant effect in the new Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre on Yonge, keeping the action onstage engaging even as the tell-don’t-show storytelling style dominates the short 80-minute performance.