The global #Metoo and #TimesUp movements receive a local interpretation in April as Burning Passions Theatre presents a new play, Every Friday, that will tour local youth centres and schools in Lanark Highlands, Perth, Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, and Almonte. The play, written and directed by Laurel Smith, based on stories created by Mary Cowan, Ruby Davidson, Felix Evangelho, Ryan Kreissler, Winston Mavraganis, and Lu Williams, is an exploration of the experiences of a group of youth who come together to share their stories of survival in a violent world. Given the mature subject matter, it is recommended for ages 14+. “For lots of reasons, many people still have trouble understanding concepts like trust and consent, which are at the heart of so many ##Metoo stories. We want to show how these issues play out in real situations,” explains Smith, who notes that the play, Every Friday, is the fourth installment of the annual Listen Up! touring theatre project that addresses issues affecting rural teenagers. “To hear terms like assault, abuse and harassment without their full context can be alienating. By presenting characters who share their own journeys of survival, we hope to reconnect audiences to the very real emotions and effects of these terms.” Each performance will be followed by a talkback session in which audience members can dialogue with the actors and playwright. “This play is very important to me because it’s a huge problem, and is becoming even more relevant today as social media and people in power are portraying victims as liars,” says Grade 12 student Mary Cowan. “I believe everyone has a right to be believed. This play also gives the message to adults and teenagers alike that there is help, but it is also okay to not be okay.” For Ryan Kreissler, who has acted in previous Listen Up! projects, Every Friday is “a great opportunity to learn about topics that aren’t often discussed anywhere else. The plays we create are always informative, and they’re great for spreading awareness of an issue and explaining how to get help.” Grade 11 student Ruby Davidson agrees, noting “it is my goal for our shows to help in the community and spread awareness for the important issues that are not talked about enough in Lanark County.” “This is a great opportunity to spread a positive message,” says PDCI student Winston Mavraganis. “Access to a platform where people’s voices can be heard is a luxury not everyone is afforded.” As part of the play’s creation, group members will be meeting with renowned Governor-General’s Award-winning anti-violence consultant Julie Lalonde, a frequent media source on issues of violence against women whose work has appeared on Al Jazeera, CBC’s The National, TVO’s The Agenda, Vice, WIRED magazine and FLARE, among others. Every Friday plays in Perth on Tuesday April 17 at 5pm at YAK (1 Sherbrooke Street East); at the Mississippi Mills Youth Centre (134 Main Street East) on Thursday April 19 at 5pm; at Lanark Community Youth Centre (61 Princess… Continue reading

As part of the annual theatrical historic walking plays that enliven the streets of Perth each summer, the Classic Theatre Festival is looking to hire a group of young people with an interest in acting, singing, and dancing for its brand new 2018 street-level shows. Resumes will be accepted until March 15, 2018 at info@classictheatre.ca. While no prior experience is necessary, the Festival’s youth theatre training program hires and provides full-time paid work for students aged 15 to 29 during the summer months. Performers will also take part in the company’s inaugural Classic Dinner Theatre experience, which will take place Tuesdays from June 5 to August 28 at Michael’s Table, 110 Gore Street East in Perth. “It has been great to provide paid summer employment and co-op placements for young people who are interested in the arts,” explains Classic Theatre Festival Artistic Producer Laurel Smith. “Not only do they get training with professional theatre artists, they also help draw thousands of tourists to town who learn about Perth’s history in an entertaining fashion, and who also shop in local stores, eat locally, and stay overnight too, which is great for the economy.” While past walking plays have largely dealt with early Perth history – last year’s Perth through the Ages and the Lonely Ghosts Walk dealt with the town at Confederation – this year’s shows will feature more recent stories set during the Second World War. “The morning show will look at how local residents dealt with wartime tensions on the home front, including fears about escaped spies from the nearby prisoner-of-war camps in Kingston and Petawawa,” explains Smith, who will be writing the script. “It’s also an opportunity to remember that even though the war was pitched as a battle between democracy and fascism, the civil liberties of thousands of Canadian citizens were eliminated, including the jailing of hundreds of labour organizers without charge, as well as the internment of thousands of people of Japanese, Italian, or German heritage.” This year’s Perth through the Ages play (running Wednesday to Sunday morning at 11am beginning at Matheson House Museum on Gore Street) will bring back memories of Big Band swing music and popular dances of the day. Also on tap will be the annual Lonely Ghosts Walk (running Thursday and Friday evenings at 7pm), which will feature the spirits of British war brides who often faced their own challenges once they arrived in this country. Both walking plays are family-friendly. Students who sign on to the summer program will also be appearing in the Classic Dinner Theatre production of George Bernard Shaw’s connubial comedy Overruled, about two married couples facing a rather unconventional challenge. Smith, who worked at the Shaw Festival before founding the Classic Theatre Festival in Perth, is excited about bringing this hilarious take on married life to a brand new setting at Michael’s Table. The show will run from 5 to 7 pm and feature a three-course meal at the popular Perth dining spot. “When Michael’s Table was… Continue reading