We went for a walk amongst the crunchy leaves and auburn palette of autumn in anticipation for our Season Launch for Winter.
Why would an ecological performance company choose to launch in winter? It is the opportunity to align our season to the current arts landscape. Let us venture into the scarcity of the season to find the tenacity of the artist. We are in a hostile environment after all, wherein our storytellers and patrons require sanctuary. A time where we rely on our harvest of previous years to see us through to the vernal spring at the other side--should it ever come. We have chosen our first site of significance: The Spire Kingston.
The Spire is a sanctuary whose silvered spire has towered over the Kingston landscape and its complicated history for over 160 years. Weathering the elements of the ecology of the eastern shores of Lake Ontario, at the foot of the Frontenac highlands. It is here that we premiere our production workshop of (Saint) Joan by George Bernard Shaw. In this sanctuary of echo and sonic revelry, our production explores the idea of seven different Joans meeting to characterize the many architects of her icon and agents of her execution. Through this staged reading with the direction of Jo Pagnan, the company of women and non-binary performers portraying Joan includes Clarke Blair, Avery-Jean Brennan, Germaine Konji, Maja Ardal, Amelia Sargisson, Fatuma Adar, and Starr Domingue. Complimenting the iconic cast is the stage management team Heather Bellingham and Frankie Mulder; and the production management of Jeff Braunstein. In addition to Pagnan the creative team includes assistant director Avery-Jean Brennan, sound designer Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski and costume designer JB Nelles.
(Saint) Joan is set in France in the 1400s, during the Hundred Years' War. The main story charts the rapid rise and fall of this charismatic young woman, Joan, who claims she has been instructed by God to liberate the captive city of Orléans, and lead the heir to the throne, the Dauphin, to become King of France. Culminating in the historic trial of Joan of Arc.
Tickets are on sale now through the Living Edge website for Dec 13 (preview) and Dec 14, 2024 at 7:30pm. This project is generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and our rehearsal sponsor Thousand Islands Playhouse.
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