selected theatre
the passage
*Winner of Best Solo Production - Montreal Fringe 2016*
“The all-Canadian Trail to the Klondike via Edmonton. Those looking to find their fortunes in the Golden Valley of the Yukon will find this route the best, shortest, and by all odds most pleasant way to travel. All one needs is ninety days, a good constitution, and one hundred and fifty dollars.”
1897- The world is seized with Gold Rush fever, and everyone is looking for a way to cash in. For the many adventurers seeking a quick route to reach the Yukon, the promise of the All-Canadian Trail from Edmonton seems a sure thing. However, as many travellers soon find out, the trail is not the simple and pleasant route that it has been purported to be…
The Passage is a one-woman show based on the true story of Nelly Garner, the first woman to attempt the Edmonton trail. Full of optimism and vigour, Garner set out with her party in the summer of 1897. The journey quickly became a test of her bravery and ambition - and her will to survive.
Winner of the Special Merit award in the 2015 Theatre BC Playwriting Competition and Best Solo Production at the 2016 Montreal Fringe, The Passage is a thoughtful examination of a fascinating period in Canadian history, and a rumination on the great risks involved in seeking great fortune. Accomplished performer Jen Viens brings her extensive experience on stage and screen to her performance as Nelly Garner. The production team includes Adriana Bogaard (writer/director), Gillian Nasser (costume/set designer), and Steven Smits (sound designer), all recent graduates of the National Theatre School of Canada. Osheen Harruthoonyan (projection designer) is an experimental photographer whose work has been featured on Bravo! Arts Channel, Space Channel’s InnerSPACE, and numerous national and international publications.
“I was completely mesmerized by the real-life adventure, [...] Jen Viens’ stellar performance, and the accompanying visuals.”
SEVEN - a documentary play
*Produced and Staged in Support of Y des Femmes Montreal by Moving Forward*
In March 2017 I had the privilege of directing a co-producing the Canadian premiere of this powerful play. The cast consisted of 7 men and 7 women, 'shadow-cast' to tell the stories of 7 real women who faced extreme adversity in their quests to fight for equality and survival.
"A riveting piece of documentary theatre, SEVEN tells the true stories of seven women who bravely fought for the well-being of women, families, and children around the globe: in Russia, protecting women from domestic violence; in Cambodia, rescuing girls from human trafficking; in Guatemala, giving voice to the poor; in Afghanistan, empowering rural women; in Nigeria and Pakistan, fighting for women’s education and rights; and in Northern Ireland, promoting peace and equality." - From seventheplay.com
Check out my interview with QDF HERE
