History
MAMMALIAN’S EARLY YEARS
Mammalian Diving Reflex was founded in Toronto in 1993. Between 1993 and 2003, we primarily produced the stage-based performances of Darren O’Donnell. After moving away from script-based work and towards socially-engaged practices focused on performativity, Darren’s first book ‘Social Acupuncture’ was released in 2006. In the same year, Haircuts by Children premiered, cementing Mammalian’s new artistic scope, aesthetic, and methodology. Since 2011, the Young Mammal wing has been an integral part of Mammalian Diving Reflex, creating a set of practices for collaborating artistically with youth on performances and installations.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
2022
December
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Theater Neumarkt; Zürich, SwitzerlandNovember
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Emilia Romagna Teatro; Bologna, ItalyWalk With Me While I Remember You, Evergreen Brick Works; Toronto, CanadaOctober
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Seoul Performing Arts Festival; Seoul, South KoreaNightwalks with Teenagers, Collettivo Amigdala; Modena, ItalyThese Are The People In Your Neighbourhood, Zukker; St. Pölten, AustriaSeptember
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Freedom Festival; Hull, EnglandNightwalks with Teenagers, Brisbane Festival; Brisbane, AustraliaJuly
Nightwalks with Teenagers, The Bentway; Toronto, CanadaJune
Haircuts by Children, Schauspielhaus Bochum; Bochum, GermanyNightwalks with Teenagers, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM); Brooklyn, United States of AmericaNightwalks with Teenagers, Cork Midsummer Festival; Cork, IrelandNightwalks with Teenagers, Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione; Bologna, ItalyNightwalks with Teenagers, Salisbury International Arts Festival; Salisbury, EnglandMarch
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, MCA Chicago; Chicago, United States of AmericaFebruary
Haircuts by Children, Mois Multi; Quebec City, Canada2021
December
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Elephant’s Laugh; Gwangmyeoung, South KoreaThe Last Minutes Before Mars, Schauspielhaus Bochum; Bochum, GermanySeptember
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Schauspielhaus Bochum; Bochum, GermanySex, Drugs & Criminality, Homo Novus; Riga, LatviaSex, Drugs & Criminality, Muscarium#7; Sintra, PortugalThese Are The People In Your Neighbourhood, Motschnik; Vienna, AustriaJuly
The Lockdown Resolution, In Between Time Festival; Bristol, EnglandJune
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Dark Mofo; Hobart, AustraliaApril
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, True Colors Festival; Tokyo, JapanMarch
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Kyoto Experiment; Kyoto, Japan2020
October
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm; Frankfurt, GermanySeptember
The Last Minutes Before Mars, Schauspielhaus Bochum; Bochum, Germany
2019
December
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Vooruit; Ghent, BelgiumOctober
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Nuit Blanche; Brussels, BelgiumSeptember
Haircuts by Children, Ontario Culture Days; Burlington, CanadaSex, Drugs & Criminality, ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival; Kuopio, FinlandAugust
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Freedom Festival; Hull, UKNightwalks with Teenagers, La Teatrería & EI 77 for ESENICA; Mexico City, MexicoTeentalitarianism, Freedom Festival; Hull, EnglandJuly
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, National Performing Arts Centre; Taipei, TaiwanHaircuts by Children, Les Tombées de la Nuit; Rennes, FranceApril
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, This Time Tomorrow by Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center; Cincinnati, United States of AmericaNightwalks with Teenagers, CAOS Centro Arti Opificio Siri & Indisciplinarte; Terni, ItalyMarch
Teentalitarianism, CAOS Centro Arti Opificio Siri & Indisciplinarte; Terni, Italy2018
December
Nightwalks with Teenagers, 10 Nodi Festival; Cagliari, ItalyNovember
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Baltic Circle Festival; Helsinki, FinlandTeentalitarianism, 10 Nodi Festival; Cagliari, ItalyOctober
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, HOTA (Home of the Arts); Gold Coast, AustraliaThe World is a Wedding: The Presentation of Unst in Everyday Life, National Theatre of Scotland’s FutureProof Festival; Shetland Islands, ScotlandSeptember
Haircuts by Children, HOTA (Home of the Arts); Gold Coast, AustraliaNightwalks with Teenagers, University of Reading & Szuper Gallery; Reading, EnglandAugust
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Mladi Levi Festival; Ljubljana, SloveniaJuly
A Survival Guide to the City, Mammalian Diving Reflex; Toronto, CanadaJune
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Hangö Teaterträff; Hanko, FinlandNightwalks with Teenagers, LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre); London, EnglandMay
Haircuts by Children, PROTOIPOAK, Azkuna Zentroa; Bilbao, SpainHaircuts by Children, Stadtmensch; Altenburg, GermanyNightwalks with Teenagers, Frascati Theatre; Amsterdam, NetherlandsNightwalks with Teenagers, Week 53 & The Lowry; Salford-Quays, EnglandNightwalks with Teenagers, ZONA K & Triennale Teatro dell’Arte; Milan, ItalySex, Drugs & Criminality, Week 53 & The Lowry; Salford-Quays, EnglandSex, Drugs & Criminality, ZONA K & Triennale Teatro dell’Arte; Milan, ItalyTeentalitarianism, Week 53 & The Lowry; Salford-Quays, EnglandTeentalitarianism, ZONA K & Triennale Teatro dell’Arte; Milan, ItalyApril
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Fusebox Festival; Austin, United States of AmericaEat The Street, Live Art DK; Copenhagen, Denmark2017
November
The Children’s Choice Awards, The Kyoto Experiment; Kyoto, JapanSeptember
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Melbourne Festival; Melbourne, AustraliaHaircuts by Children, Freedom Festival; Hull, EnglandAugust
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Ruhrtriennale; Duisburg, GermanySex, Drugs & Criminality, Ruhrtriennale; Duisberg, GermanyTeentalitarianism, Ruhrtriennale; Duisburg, GermanyJuly
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Colchester Arts Centre; Colchester, EnglandJune
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Festival des 7 Collines; Saint-Etienne, FranceThese Are The People In Your Neighbourhood, Wanas Foundation; Knislinge, SwedenHappy Eatium, Mammalian Diving Reflex; Toronto, CanadaMay
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Wiener Festwochen; Vienna, AustriaHaircuts by Children, Wiener Festwochen; Vienna, AustriaFebruary
Haircuts by Children, Art & Society Research Center; Tokyo, Japan2016
December
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Kampnagel; Hamburg, GermanyOctober
Haircuts by Children, Melbourne Festival; Melbourne, AustraliaSeptember
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Kaserne Basel & Theaterfestival Basel; Basel, SwitzerlandNightwalks with Teenagers, Ruhrtriennale; Gelsenkirchen, GermanyAugust
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Festival des arts vivants; Nyon, SwitzerlandTeentalitarianism, Ruhrtriennale; Gelsenkirchen, GermanyThe Children’s Choice Awards, Edinburgh International Festival; Edinburgh, ScotlandJuly
The Children’s Choice Awards, LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre); London, EnglandJune
Haircuts by Children, Hat Fair; Winchester, EnglandThese Are The People In Your Neighbourhood, University of Reading & Szuper Gallery; Reading, EnglandJanuary
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Sydney Festival; Sydney, AustraliaHaircuts by Children, Swallow-A-Bicycle/High Performance Rodeo; Calgary, Canada
2015
December
Millionen! Millionen! Millionen!, Ruhrtriennale; Bochum, GermanyOctober
Eat The Street, Teatro di Sardegna; Cagliari, ItalyTeen Thoughts, CBC Arts – The Collective; Toronto, CanadaSeptember
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Homo Novus International Festival of Contemporary Theatre; Riga, LatviaHomecooked Hemsbach, Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar; Rhein-Neckar, GermanyMillionen! Millionen! Millionen!, Ruhrtriennale; Essen, GermanyAugust
These Are The People In Your Neighbourhood, Helsinki Festival & Checkpoint Helsinki; Helsinki, FinlandJuly
Teens Talk Theatre in Toronto, The Theatre Centre; Toronto, CanadaApril
Textures of Toronto, Grow-up at The Gladstone Hotel; Toronto, CanadaMarch
The Hemsbach Protocol, Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar; Rhein-Neckar, GermanyFebruary
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Contact Manchester; Manchester, EnglandNightwalks with Teenagers, In Between Time Festival; Bristol, EnglandJanuary
Haircuts by Children, Nakai Theatre & Pivot Festival; Whitehorse, Canada2014
December
The AGO Youth Receptiveness Assessment Initiative, The Art Gallery of Ontario; Toronto, CanadaOctober
Eat The Street, Fierce Festival; Birmingham, EnglandThese Are The People In Your Neighbourhood, Asian Arts Theatre; Gwangju, South KoreaSeptember
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art’s Time-Based Arts Festival; Portland, United States of AmericaHaircuts by Children, ANTI Contemporary Arts Festival; Kuopio, FinlandThe Children’s Choice Awards, Ruhrtriennale; Gelsenkirchen, GermanyJuly
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Wunderbar Festival; Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, EnglandA Drift in Gloucester, JOLT International Theatre Festival; Gloucester, EnglandAWKS: Awkward Dance Party Series, Gladstone Hotel; Toronto, CanadaJune
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Luminato Festival; Toronto, CanadaAWKS: Awkward Dance Party Series, The Theatre Centre; Toronto, CanadaHigh School Health, Luminato Festival; Toronto, CanadaMay
Nightwalks with Teenagers, FIDENA; Bochum, GermanyPromises to a Divided City, The Theatre Centre; Toronto, CanadaApril
AWKS: Awkward Dance Party Series, The Great Hall; Toronto, CanadaMarch
AWKS: Awkward Dance Party Series, Ground Level Cafe; Toronto, CanadaFebruary
Haircuts by Children, Live Art DK; Copenhagen, DenmarkAWKS: Awkward Dance Party Series, Gallerywest; Toronto, CanadaJanuary
Get Out of My Room, Gladstone Hotel; Toronto, Canada2013
December
Ameliorating the Amalgamated, Gallery 44 & Toronto Arts Council; Toronto, CanadaNovember
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, MOTUS, Alfred Ve Dvore Theatre; Prague, Czech RepublicAWKS: Awkward Dance Party Series, Gallerywest; Toronto, CanadaOctober
Haircuts by Children, Possible Futures Festival, Kunstencentrum Vooruit & Campo; Ghent, BelgiumThe Children’s Choice Awards, Ruhrtriennale; Duisburg, GermanyAWKS: Awkward Dance Party Series, Gallerywest; Toronto, CanadaDada Data, The Theatre Centre for Nuit Blanche; Toronto, CanadaSeptember
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, FringeArts Festival; Philadelphia, United States of AmericaJune
Eat The Street, Cork Midsummer Arts Festival; Cork, IrelandFuture Tastes of Toronto: At the Kid’s Table, Luminato Festival with Madeleine Collective; Toronto, CanadaHow to Hook Up, Mammalian Diving Reflex The Torontonians; Toronto, CanadaMay
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Behaviour Festival/The Arches; Glasgow, ScotlandThese Are The People In Your Neighbourhood, Come Out Festival; Adelaide, Australia2012
October
Eat The Street, Curtain Razors, The Movable Feast; Regina, CanadaNightwalks with Teenagers, Hamilton Artists Inc.; Hamilton, CanadaSmall Talk in Daft Hell, Ruhrtriennale; Essen, GermanySeptember
Eat The Street, Up to You – Festival Internazionale della Creazione Contemporanea; Terni, ItalyThe Children’s Choice Awards, Ruhrtriennale; Bochum, GermanyAugust
Haircuts by Children, Darwin Festival; Darwin, AustraliaThe Producers of Parkdale & Dare Night: Lockdown, Gladstone Hotel; Toronto, CanadaJune
Nightwalks with Teenagers, Psi#18 Conference & University of Leeds; Leeds, EnglandMay
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Auawirleben Festival/Schlachthaus Bern; Bern, SwitzerlandAll The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Singapore Arts Festival; Singapore, SingaporeThese Are The People In Your Neighbourhood, Art of the Danforth & Jane’s Walk; Toronto, CanadaApril
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Pazz International Performing Arts Festival & Oldenbugisches Staatstheater; Oldenburg, GermanyHaircuts by Children, Behaviour Festival/The Arches; Glasgow, ScotlandThe Children’s Choice Awards, Pazz International Performing Arts Festival; Oldenburg, GermanyMarch
Monster Makers, National Arts Centre; Ottawa, CanadaJanuary
Eat The Street, PuSH International Performing Arts Festival; Vancouver, Canada
2011
November
Haircuts by Children, Fusebox Festival; Austin, United States of AmericaOctober
Haircuts by Children, Grenswerk Festival; Enschede, NetherlandsHaircuts by Children, MOTUS, Aldred Ve Dvore Theatre & 4+4 Days in Motion; Prague, Czech RepublicThe Children’s Choice Awards, ANTI Contemporary Arts Festival; Kuopio, FinlandFarmer’s Market 2050, Justina M. Barnicke Gallery for Nuit Blanche; Toronto, CanadaMonster Makers, Harbourfront Centre; Toronto, CanadaSeptember
Faith Exchange, Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area for Survive.Resist; Kitchener-Waterloo, CanadaAugust
Haircuts by Children, Festival des arts vivants; Nyon, SwitzerlandNightwalks with Teenagers, Amish Morrell & Inverness Municipal Council; Inverness, CanadaJuly
Playgrounds on Fire, Skagastrond, Iceland; Skagastrond, IcelandMay
The Children’s Choice Awards, Kunstenfestivaldesarts; Brussels, BelgiumThe Children’s Choice Awards, Norfolk & Norwich Festival; Norwich, EnglandApril
How to be a Brown Teen, Toronto and the Niagara Artists Centre; Toronto, CanadaMarch
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Oldenbugisches Staatstheater; Oldenburg, GermanyHow to be a Brown Teen, SAVAC’s MONITOR 7: New South Asian Short Film + Video; Toronto, Canada2010
October
Nuit Market, Nuit Blanche; Toronto, CanadaAugust
Haircuts by Children, Arts Australia & Junction Arts Festival; Launceston, AustraliaJuly
Haircuts by Children, LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre); London, EnglandJune
Haircuts by Children, Cork Midsummer Arts Festival; Cork, IrelandThe Children’s Choice Awards, Magnetic North Theatre Festival; Kitchener-Waterloo, CanadaMonster Makers, Magnetic North Theatre Festival; Kitchener-Waterloo, CanadaMay
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Pazz International Performing Arts Festival & Oldenbugisches Staatstheater; Oldenburg, GermanyHaircuts by Children, Norfolk & Norwich Festival; Norwich, EnglandHorizons Youth Ambassadors at UCC, Upper Canada College; Toronto, CanadaMarch
Haircuts by Children, Curtain Razors, The Movable Feast; Regina, CanadaFebruary
All The Sex I’ve Ever Had, Justina M. Barnicke Gallery; Toronto, CanadaHaircuts by Children, Perth International Arts Festival; Perth, AustraliaThe Children’s Choice Awards, Perth International Arts Festival; Perth, AustraliaJanuary
Playgrounds on Fire, The National Theatre School of Canada; Montreal, Canada2009
October
Eat The Street, Streets Alive Youth Festival; Launceston, AustraliaHaircuts by Children, Wunderbar Festival; Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, EnglandSeptember
Haircuts by Children, Galerie B312; Montréal, CanadaHorizons Youth Ambassadors at UCC, Upper Canada College; Toronto, CanadaJune
Haircuts by Children, Context Gallery; Derry, Northern IrelandMay
Haircuts by Children, UOVO Performing Arts Festival; Milan, ItalyApril
Eat The Street, Parkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West II; Toronto, CanadaMarch
Haircuts by Children, At the Spark Festival by Theatre Skam & Belfry Theatre; Victoria, CanadaJanuary
The Children’s Choice Awards, PuSH International Performing Arts Festival; Vancouver, Canada2008
November
Haircuts by Children, Arts Council Norway, Theatre Avant Garden & the Showbox Conference; Oslo, NorwayHaircuts by Children, Arts Council Norway, Theatre Avant Garden & the Showbox Conference; Trondheim, NorwayOctober
The Children’s Choice Awards, Melbourne International Arts Festival; Melbourne, Australia[boxhead], Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; Toronto, CanadaSeptember
Haircuts by Children, Es-Terni Performing Arts Festival; Terni, ItalyNaptime, Les Escales Improbables; Montreal, CanadaAugust
Parkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, Parkdale JK to 8 vs. Show Biz; Toronto, CanadaJuly
Accepting the Possibility that I May Ruin My Eyes: Reading in Darkness, The Toronto Free Library; Toronto, CanadaJune
Parkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, The A.D.D. DJs vs. LAL; Toronto, CanadaParkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, The Parkdale Art Club vs. Mercer Union; Toronto, CanadaParkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, The Parkdale Baking Club vs. Chef Nathan Isberg and Coca Restaurant; Toronto, CanadaParkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, The Parkdale Strings vs. Blocks Recording Club; Toronto, Canada[boxhead], Crow’s Theatre; Vancouver, CanadaMay
Parkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, Parkdale Geography Classes vs. Jane’s Walk; Toronto, CanadaParkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, The Parkdale Primaries vs. The Artsters; Toronto, CanadaApril
Haircuts by Children, XING International Festival of Performance Art; Bologna, ItalyFebruary
Parkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, The Beautiful and Hungry City; Toronto, CanadaJanuary
Haircuts by Children, PuSH International Performing Arts Festival; Vancouver, CanadaHaircuts by Children, Sydney International Arts Festival; Sydney, Australia
2007
November
Haircuts by Children, Art in General at Performa 07; New York City, United States of AmericaDiplomatic Immunities, World Performing Arts Festival; Lahore, PakistanOctober
Please Allow Us the Honour of Relaxing You, First Nations University The Open Engagement Conference; Regina, CanadaSlow Dance with Teacher, Nuit Blanche; Toronto, CanadaSeptember
Haircuts by Children, Dublin Fringe Festival; Dublin, IrelandHaircuts by Children, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art’s Time-Based Art Festival; Portland, United States of AmericaFree Skipping, Potential Toronto at Toronto Free Gallery; Toronto, CanadaAugust
The Children’s Choice Awards, Alley Jaunt; Toronto, CanadaParkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, The Children’s Choice Awards; Toronto, CanadaParkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West, The Children’s Choice Dinner; Toronto, CanadaJuly
Ballroom Dancing, As Balloonroom Dancing: Harbourfront Centre; Toronto, CanadaJune
Diplomatic Immunities, Magnetic North Theatre Festival; Kitchener-Waterloo, CanadaMay
Haircuts by Children, Fierce Festival; Birmingham, EnglandFebruary
Diplomatic Immunities, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; Toronto, Canada2006
October
Haircuts by Children, Outpost for Contemporary Arts; Los Angeles, United States of AmericaQ&A, Lakeshore Collegiate Institute & Malvern Collegiate Institute; Toronto, CanadaSeptember
Ballroom Dancing, Nuit Blanche; Toronto, CanadaAugust
Naptime, Trinity Bellwoods Park; Toronto, CanadaThe Floating Curator, Christine Shaws Public Arts Project; Toronto, CanadaJune
Diplomatic Immunities, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; Toronto, CanadaQ&A, Earth: an urban arts festival; Vancouver, CanadaMay
Haircuts by Children, Harbourfront Centre Milk International Children’s Festival; Toronto, Canadapppeeeaaaccceee, Downstage Theatre; Calgary, CanadaFebruary
Diplomatic Immunities, Alberta Theatre Projects; Calgary, Canada2005
November
Q&A, Hotel Canzine’s Upbag; Toronto, CanadaAugust
Beachballs41+all, Alexandra Pool; Toronto, CanadaHome Tours, SummerWorks Festival; Toronto, CanadaJune
Q&A, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; Toronto, CanadaMarch
A Suicide-Site Guide to the City, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; Toronto, CanadaFebruary
Q&A, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s Rhubarb! Festival; Toronto, Canada2004
October
The Talking Creature, Parkdale Collegiate; Toronto, CanadaSeptember
Toronto Strategy Meetings, Project Toronto & Toronto Free Gallery; Toronto, Canadapppeeeaaaccceee, Theatre Passe Muraille; Toronto, CanadaAugust
A Suicide-Site Guide to the City, The Assembly Rooms; Edinburgh, ScotlandThe Talking Creature, Mammalian Diving Reflex; Edinburgh, ScotlandMay
The Talking Creature, Latitude 53s VisualEyez Performance Art Festival; Edmonton, CanadaFebruary
pppeeeaaaccceee, St. Catherine’s Dennis Morris High School; Toronto, CanadaJanuary
A Suicide-Site Guide to the City, PuSH International Performance Festival & The Firehall Theatre; Vancouver, CanadaA Suicide-Site Guide to the City, The Belfrey by Intrepid Theatre; Victoria, Canada
2003
September
Over, As-Q; Vancouver, CanadaJune
The Talking Creature, Mammalian Diving Reflex; Toronto, CanadaFebruary
pppeeeaaaccceee, Theatre Passe Muraille’s Six Stages Festival; Toronto, Canada2002
June
[boxhead], Theatre Passe Muraille; Toronto, CanadaMarch
White Mice, CUSO (Canadian University Services Overseas); Gatineu, CanadaFebruary
White Mice, Rumble Productions & The Vancouver East Cultural Centre; Vancouver, CanadaJanuary
White Mice, One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo; Calgary, Canada2000
October
White Mice, Theatre Passe Muraille; Toronto, CanadaJune
[boxhead], Go-Chicken-Go at Factory Theatre; Toronto, CanadaApril
White Mice, DuMaurier World Stage Festival ; Toronto, Canada