Exploring Justice Play Readings
March, May & June 2016
Gwaandak Theatre, in association with the Yukon Arts Centre and Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, present a series of readings showcasing intelligent, challenging new plays in development by Yukon playwrights. These compassionate stories bring to life characters grappling with complex situations around crime, justice, war, decolonization, personal responsibility and complicity.
Hidden Memories
By Lillian Nakamura Maguire
Old Fire Hall - March 10th
The daughter of Japanese immigrants sifts through her parents’ memorabilia, piecing together their early BC life and forced relocation. She tries to find peace with her parents’ choices during times of racial discrimination, her own identity, and what she passes on to her daughter.
Directed by Clare Preuss
Bystander
By Wren Hookey
Yukon Arts Centre Studio - March 12th
When an officer carrying a mysterious message comes to a citizen’s door requesting hospitality for the night, small talk turns dangerous as the intent and destination of the message becomes clear. Eventually both must decide what they can, and cannot live with as they struggle with their humanity and guilt in a society built on fear.
Directed by Patti Flather
Drunk
By Leonard Linklater
Artist Studio, Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre - March 23rd
This play looks at society through the eyes of an Indigenous person who has suffered through the processes and instruments of colonization and escaped into a life of alcohol abuse. They draw on the few traditional teachings that spring to mind to try make sense of a world bent on self-destruction.
Directed by Yvette Nolan
CREDITS
Featuring Charles Eshleman and Friends
Playwright | Lillian Nakamura Maguire
Playwright | Wren Hookey
Playwright | Leonard Linklater
Directors | Clare Preuss, Patti Flather & Yvette Nolan
Exploring Justice Play Readings & 15th Anniversary Celebration in Teslin
Join Gwaandak Theatre celebrating our 15th anniversary with a special presentation of the Exploring Justice Play Reading Series in Teslin! Enjoy two readings of intelligent, challenging new plays in development by Yukon playwrights. Free event with tea, bannock and appies! Presented in association with the Yukon Arts Centre and Teslin Tlingit Council.
Chance
By Melaina Sheldon
Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre - May 25th
A young First Nations woman goes out for a night on the town, but things do not go as planned. For her, a safe ride home will not come and protection does not lie where it should.
Directed by Yvette Nolan
Authentic Indian Ceremony
By Leonard Linklater
Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre - May 25th
This play looks at society through the eyes of an Indigenous man who has suffered through the processes and instruments of colonization and escaped into a life of alcohol abuse. He draws on the few traditional teachings that spring to mind to try make sense of a world bent on self-destruction.
Directed by Yvette Nolan
CREDITS
Featuring Christine Genier, Duane Gastant' Aucoin
Playwright | Melaina Sheldon
Playwright | Leonard Linklater
Director | Yvette Nolan
Exploring Justice Play Readings Series
Take in readings of compelling new plays during the Magnetic North Theatre Festival.
Authentic Indian Ceremony
By Leonard Linklater
Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre - June 14th
This play looks at society through the eyes of an Indigenous man who has suffered through the processes and instruments of colonization and escaped into a life of alcohol abuse. He draws on the few traditional teachings that spring to mind to try make sense of a world bent on self-destruction.
Directed by Yvette Nolan
Bystander
By Wren Hookey
Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre - June 15th
When an officer carrying a mysterious message comes to a citizen’s door requesting hospitality for the night, small talk turns dangerous as the intent and destination of the message becomes clear. Eventually both must decide what they can, and cannot live with as they struggle with their humanity and guilt in a society built on fear.
Directed by Patti Flather
Chance
By Melaina Sheldon
Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre - June 16th
A young First Nations woman goes out for a night on the town, but things do not go as planned. For her, a safe ride home will not come and protection does not lie where it should.
Directed by Yvette Nolan
Turpentine
Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre - June 16th
An alleyway encounter between a First Nations ex-con and his teacher from jail is both tense and unpredictable. Will Tor, a seemingly upright white citizen, agree to share a drink with his former client? A play that challenges our assumptions about people living on the margins, and those who are “respectable” in our society.
Directed by Patti Flather
By Kevin Kennedy
CREDITS
Featuring Cliff Cardinal, Brandon Wicke, Christine Genier, Jani Lauzon, Leonard Linklater, Douglas Mayr
Playwright | Leonard Linklater
Playwright | Wren Hookey
Playwright | Melaina Sheldon
Playwright | Kevin Kennedy
Directors | Yvette Nolan & Patti Flather
Stage Manager/Assistant Producer | Léa Roy
Exploring Justice Play Readings & 15th Anniversary Celebration in Haines Juction
Join Gwaandak Theatre in celebrating our 15th anniversary with a special presentation of the Exploring Justice Play Reading Series in Haines Junction as part of National Aboriginal Day. Free event with tea, bannock and appies! Presented in association with the Yukon Arts Centre and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
Chance
By Melaina Sheldon
St. Elias Convention Centre - June 21st
A young First Nations woman goes out for a night on the town, but things do not go as planned. For her, a safe ride home will not come and protection does not lie where it should.
Directed by Yvette Nolan
Authentic Indian Ceremony
St. Elias Convention Centre - June 21st
This play looks at society through the eyes of an Indigenous man who has suffered through the processes and instruments of colonization and escaped into a life of alcohol abuse. He draws on the few traditional teachings that spring to mind to try make sense of a world bent on self-destruction.
By Leonard Linklater
Directed by Yvette Nolan
CREDITS
Featuring Christine Genier, Leonard Linklater
Playwright | Melaina Sheldon
Playwright | Leonard Linklater
Director | Yvette Nolan
Exploring Justice Play Readings at Arts In The Park
As part of Arts in the Park, for the first time, Gwaandak Theatre, in association with the Yukon Arts Centre and Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, presents two new plays in development as part of its Exploring Justice Play Reading Series: Chance, by Melaina Sheldon, and an excerpt of Bystander, by Wren Hookey. Both plays have been nationally recognized in the past year.
Chance
By Melaina Sheldon
Arts In The Park - June 29th
A young First Nations woman goes out for a night on the town, but things do not go as planned. For her, a safe ride home will not come and protection does not lie where it should.
Directed by Yvette Nolan
Bystander
By Wren Hookey
Arts In The Park - June 29th
When an officer carrying a mysterious message comes to a citizen’s door requesting hospitality for the night, small talk turns dangerous as the intent and destination of the message becomes clear. Eventually both must decide what they can, and cannot live with as they struggle with their humanity and guilt in a society built on fear.
Directed by Patti Flather
CREDITS
Featuring Christine Genier, Brandon Wicke, Roy Neilson
Playwright | Melaina Sheldon
Playwright | Wren Hookey
Directors | Yvette Nolan & Patti Flather
Gwaandak Theatre acknowledges the support of: Canada Council For the Arts, Yukon Arts Operating Fund, Crime Prevention and Victim Services Trust Fund, Yukon Women's Directorate, What’s Up Yukon, Air North, The Mauro Family Foundation