I love the smell of gasoline

What does it really mean to sacrifice and to survive? How can we harness our agency and responsibility in a global crisis?

Claren’s Dad worked in Albertan oil and gas and also the world is ending because of climate change, and sometimes, it’s hard to hold both. As deeply personal as it is deeply researched, the play picks apart why it’s so hard for her to let go of fossil fuels — all against a backdrop of whimsical projections masterfully executed live on stage by a team of analogue overhead projectionists. 

The project was born of a frustration with divisive Canadian politics, rampant hypocrisy, and a lack of team spirit when facing impending doom. It unpacks some of the forces that drive global warming and Western alienation in a personal account of what it is to live in a modern, capitalist environment, be a self-serving organism, and also care about the earth and fellow creature kind.

What does it really mean to sacrifice and to survive? How can we harness our agency and responsibility in a global crisis? 

Creator, Performer, Co-Director, Projection Designer: Claren Grosz 
 
Co-Director, Production Dramaturge: William Dao 
 
Production Stage Manager: Taylor Young 
 
Projectionists: Elyse Waugh, Caleigh Adams and Liz Der 
 
Original Set and Lighting Design: Echo Zhou 
 
Set Installation Artist: Jessica Hiemstra 
 
Set and Lighting Associate: Alison Yanota 
 
Composer: Christopher-Elizabeth 
 
Dramaturgical Support/Consultancy: Cherish Violet Blood
 
Consultant: Michelle Robinson 
 
Special thanks: Thank you to Theo Belc for technical support. The production features projected drawings courtesy of the talented Emily Jung. The performer has been styled by Ami Blaxland. I love the smell of gasoline has been developed with dramaturgical support from Andrea Donaldson, Cherish Violet Blood, and Keshia Palm. Premiered in 2023 with Elyse Waugh, Jesse Wabegijig and Stephanie Zeit as projectionists and collaborators and their participation helped shape the visual score of the piece. It was also influenced by the participation of Jay Northcott, Emily Jung, Taylor Young and Lu Linares as projectionists and collaborators during workshopping in 2021. 

INSTAGRAM: @pencilkitproductions 

FACEBOOK: /PencilKit 

TWITTER: @PencilKitProd 

Accessible Performance

Saturday March 29 @ 3pm: Live, open captioned and relaxed performance.

For more about Expanse Accessibility, visit: https://azimuththeatre.com/expanse-access/

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can. Suggested Price $35
At Azimuth Theatre, we believe art should be accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances. That’s why all of our tickets are based on a Pay-What-You-Can model. We understand that everyone’s situation is different, so we leave it up to you to determine the value of your experience.

While we suggest a ticket price to help cover production costs and support our artists, we understand that this may not be feasible for everyone. Whether you can give more or less, what matters most to us is that you join us in experiencing the magic of theatre together. No matter the amount, your contribution is valued and appreciated. Your support enables us to create meaningful connections, spark important conversations, and inspire change through the power of storytelling.