The Unplugging

By Yvette Nolan

May 2018

Winner of Vancouver’s Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for Outstanding Original Script

“…an aboriginal – and feminist – perspective on how the lessons of the past can help us survive an uncertain future” – Globe and Mail

In an instant, the world changes. Electricity stops flowing and humanity is left in the dark. Two women – free-spirited Bern and cranky Elena – are exiled from their village for being too old to bear children. Under a winter’s moon they retreat to the bush, where they must rely on traditional knowledge to survive. When a charismatic young stranger from the village arrives seeking their aid, the women must decide whether to share their wisdom, and give the society that rejected them a chance at a future.

Inspired by the Gwich’in story Two Old Women, as told by Velma Wallis. By Yvette Nolan and directed by Reneltta Arluk.

Presented by the Yukon Arts Centre, Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, KIAC, Vuntut Gwitchin Government, First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, Junction Arts & Music

May 1st (Preview) – Old Fire Hall, Whitehorse

May 2nd-5th – Old Fire Hall, Whitehorse

May 9th – Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, Dawson City

May 10th – Community Hall, Old Crow

May 14th – Na-Cho Nyak Dun Government House, Mayo

May 16th – St. Elias Convention Centre, Haines Junction

CREDITS

Featuring Heather Majaury, Mary Sloan, Aaron M. Wells*

Playwright | Yvette Nolan**

Director | Reneltta Arluk*

Set, Properties & Costumes Designer | Daniela Masellis

Lighting Designer/Technical Director | Cimmeron Meyer

Sound Designer & Composer | K. Scott Maynard

Stage Manager | Liz King*

Production Manager | Erin Corbett

*The participation of these Artists are arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy.

**Member of Playwrights Guild of Canada

Gwaandak Theatre’s production of The Unplugging is generously supported by:

Funders – Canada Council for the Arts; Arts Operating Funds, Department of Tourism and Culture; Lotteries Yukon; Yukon Education: Culture Quest; Women’s Directorate; City of Whitehorse

Sponsors – Air North (Yukon’s Airline), What’s Up Yukon, Yukon News, Casey’s Bed and Breakfast, Archer Cathro & Associates (1981) Ltd., and Driving Force

Donors – Mauro Family Foundation, Lisanna Sullivan, Joy Waters & David Neufeld, Karen Walker, Bean North Coffee Roasting Co., Heather LeDuc, Nancy Campbell, Majdi Bou-Matar, Natascha Chatterton, Lillian Nakamura Maguire, and Patti Flather

The Unplugging is the inaugural work to come out of the Yukon Arts Centre’s performing arts residency, @YAC. The Yukon Arts Centre is excited about entering a new era in the support and development of original Yukon content. Yukon Arts Centre is supported by: Yukon Government, Department of Canadian Heritage, and Canada Council for the Arts