Upstage - The Valley

UpStage THE BELFRY THEATRE · AN INSIDER’S GUIDE

FEBRUARY 2016 BOOKS / THIS EMOTIONAL LIFE THEATRE / WHY THIS PLAY ONLINE / TOWER TALKS BELFRY.BC.CA

Blurring the lines – how hard is it to do the right thing?

VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 3

Synopsis University-bound Connor is an

Hello!

aspiring author whose fantastical stories foretell his growing struggle with depression. Six

Welcome to the Belfry and

The Valley was inspired by real

The Valley, the third Mainstage

police incidents in Vancouver, and

drops out and returns home.

production in our 40th

explores the complicated and

When his erratic behaviour at a

Anniversary Season.

sometimes volatile interactions

intervention, Dan responds to the

The Valley marks the return of former Belfry

between law enforcement officers

call and makes the arrest, but the

and people in the grip of mental

incident. Is Dan guilty of police

Artistic Director Roy Surette, who is directing the production, and Colleen Wheeler, who starred in our past productions of Proof and My Chernobyl.

illness.

Actors Rebecca Auerbach, Matt Reznek, and Luc

A dramatic police encounter at a Vancouver

Roderique will all be making their Belfry debuts.

SkyTrain station binds four people together –

Naturally, it also marks the return of Joan MacLeod, one of Canada’s greatest playwrights - Michael waxes enthusiastically about Joan in his piece,

Connor, who has just dropped out of university due to a battle with depression; his mother, Sharon, who is trying to deal with his frightening

weeks after starting university, he

SkyTrain station requires police

E VA W IL MOT ON HOW

teen’s jaw is broken during the

JUSTICE SYSTEM.

in the media, while he remains silent, refusing to break protocol and tell his story.

with her own demons. She knows

Tickets for The Valley are on sale now at

the demands of motherhood. As their stories

how tough life can be but she

250-385-6815 or www.belfry.bc.ca.

intertwine and unfold, we learn just how hard it is

also knows how much Dan cares.

to do the right thing.

Thanks for being part of the Belfry and we look

At some point in our lives, we are all directly or indirectly affected

In this process, both the victim and the offender participate

by crime. We see some of the most serious cases unfolding in the

voluntarily. Each works with a counsellor who helps them prepare to

news on a regular basis, but the less sensational and newsworthy

meet face-to-face in the circle. Around the circle, everyone is given

aftermath is often left unreported. What becomes of the victims and

the opportunity to speak and share how the offence affected them.

the offenders? How are their lives changed in the months and years

forward to seeing you soon.

Who We Are

that follow, and do they ever find resolution? The process of finding justice and healing in the aftermath of an offence is a deeply personal journey. Many have found solace in telling their stories, and in doing so, found a path towards healing, and in some cases, forgiveness.

A common criticism of our justice system is that it focuses on the offender: what motivated the offence and how best to deal with the

Upstage is the Belfry Theatre’s in-house magazine. Our goal is

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 AT 11AM

Belfry Theatre, Studio A 1291 Gladstone Avenue Join us in Studio A for a live talk show hosted by

to give you a leisurely,

Greg Holmes of the Victoria Police Department.

Free Event

offender in a way that is sensitive to any contributing challenges from his or her past. This myopia leaves the victims standing outside of the process. In most cases, once the victim gives their report to police,

deeper look into our

they are no longer a part of the justice process. There is a shift from

productions. With your

concern for their emotional well-being directly following the offense

tablet or computer you

to a clinical, pragmatic procedure-based approach from which

can view an expanded

they are excluded. Victims are often left with a feeling of detached

digital version of Upstage on our website or at issuu.com/belfry-theatre.

CBC Radio’s Gregor Craigie, featuring Roy Surette (director), Joan MacLeod (playwright) and Sgt.

(Belfry Theatre 1991)

portrays Dan as a reckless cop

Janie, Dan’s wife, is struggling

B4Play

in Joan MacLeod’s Amigo’s Blue Guitar

Sharon, Connor’s mother,

officer; and Janie, his wife, who is struggling with

The Valley is generously supported by

Oscar Cruz and Jennifer Clement

W E C AN REMAKE THE

brutality?

behaviour; Dan, a new father and Vancouver police

Why I Chose This Play (Page 4).

Blurring the Lines

helplessness in their own healing.

However, despite imperfections in our justice system, changes are afoot.

Upstage is supported by

Restorative Justice, based on Aboriginal teachings, aims to “restore” the balance between all parties affected by an offence by engaging the victim, offender, and others affected by a crime.

As they tell their stories, offenders must take responsibility for their behavior, own their actions, and accept the outcome of the circle.

This often involves writing a letter of apology, or working with the people or community affected by the offence.

In the presence of the victims and in listening to their stories, offenders are often able to see how their actions have had a negative and often long-lasting impact on others; they can see how their behavior has caused anxiety, fear, physical and or emotional damage, and stress to others, and that this radiates throughout the community. Meeting their victims removes the anonymity of an offender’s actions as they see their victims as real people.

For the victims, the experience of voicing their stories restores their power and feeling of control, and they may see their offenders in a more sympathetic light. The process of meeting face-to-face can foster understanding for both victim and offender. Many who have been through the restorative justice process have said there is no greater healing power than forgiveness.

We like to think of victim and offender as binary, mutually exclusive.

But people, their behaviors, and the justice system itself are not often belfry.bc.ca

The Belfry has had a long relationship with Joan, having produced or presented five of her plays: Toronto, Mississippi, Amigo’s Blue Guitar, The Hope Slide, The Shape of a Girl and Homechild. Joan MacLeod and Morris Panych share the distinction of being the two most produced playwrights in this theatre’s history. Including Joan’s latest play as part of our 40th Todd Duckworth and Ruth McIntosh

Anniversary Season makes total sense.

in Joan MacLeod’s

On a personal note, I have seen and loved Joan’s plays – most

Toronto, Mississippi

of them in their original productions – including Toronto,

(Belfry Theatre 1989)

– if ever – black and white. We see in The Valley how Connor blurs the line between victim and offender; the victim is not always void

Mississippi, Amigo’s Blue Guitar, and 2000 at the Tarragon Theatre, Homechild at Canadian Stage, and Another Home Invasion at Alberta Theatre Projects. As Artistic Director of the Grand

of blame, nor is the perpetrator always entirely in the wrong.

Theatre in London, Ontario, I programmed her play Little Sister.

This is especially important to remember as research indicates that

beautiful production of Homechild, as it was the first show that

most of us have committed an offence at some point in our lives,

I ever saw at the Belfry.

And I will always have a special fondness for Roy Surette’s

which, had it been discovered, would have resulted in some kind of intervention by the justice system. The Valley allows us to consider the various blurred lines between victim and offender, and the process of finding justice and healing in the aftermath of an offence.

Joan also lives in Victoria; she is part of this community. She teaches playwriting at UVic, sharing her wisdom and experience with her fortunate students.

Valley deals with a pervasive social issue, but one that is rarely

Justice Program.

spoken of in public. This is a great opportunity to help break the silence that surrounds mental illness.

Why I Chose This Play

On the second Thursday performance of each show, we bring the backstage experience onstage. After the curtain call, some of the

full interviews on our website (the respective show page) and our

actors return to the stage to answer your questions and offer insight

soundcloud page – soundcloud.com/belfrytheatre.

into the play you have just experienced. These Q & A sessions last 15

Select segments from B4Play will air (usually during our opening

Booksmack!

Tower Talks

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 AT 7 PM

Catch an in-depth conversation with an artist from each Mainstage production in our new video series, Tower Talks. We post these to our website and YouTube channel.

Springridge Early Childhood Centre at 1222 Gladstone Avenue.

and a spot for your kids, please call our Box Office at 250-385-6815.

Following every evening performance of The Valley (except Opening Night and Talkback Thursday), we’ll host Afterplay - this facilitated

and their moments of hope. Joan MacLeod’s heart is so much in evidence, that I wanted to give our audiences the chance to experience it. This is a very great piece of writing.

CONNOR

DAN

experience without missing any of the details. VocalEye performances at the Belfry are generously supported by Aroga Technologies.

Get Social Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to learn more during the run of The Valley

MICHAEL SHAMATA,

Belfry Librarian The wonderful librarians from the Greater Victoria Public Library have compiled a list of books to help you get even more out

Artistic Director

of our production of The Valley. List compiled by Hannah Mitchell, Greater Victoria Public Library.

Amigo’s Blue Guitar

Fifty Signs of Mental Illness:

BY JOAN MACLEOD (1990)

A Guide to Understanding Mental Health

Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction:

JANIE

of the show, allowing people with low vision to enjoy the theatrical

their needs, and their flaws, and their moments of connection

Cast & Creatives

Luc Roderique

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Trained Audio Describers provide descriptions of the visual elements

Afterplay

that runs through it is irresistible. I love these characters, and

Matt Reznek

Booksmack is presented in partnership with the Greater Victoria

Vocal Eye

Take advantage of free, professional childcare (ages 3–10) at the

current Belfry season.

Rebecca Auerbach

down, take off their glasses and speed review their favourite books.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14

thoughts with fellow audience members after the show.

the Betty Mitchell Award, and two Chalmers’ Canadian Play Awards.

librarians return to the Belfry for Booksmack. They will let their hair

Public Library and is generously supported by Munro’s Books.

beautiful play, beautifully written. The deep river of humanity

Governor General’s Award in Drama, the Jessie Richardson Award,

The librarians are back! Fast, furious and fun, Greater Victoria Public

Free Childcare Performance

There are a number of reasons why I chose The Valley for this

prestigious Siminovitch Prize for Theatre, and has also received the

– 20 minutes.

week) on CBC Radio’s On The Island.

discussion series offers patrons the opportunity to share their

and honoured playwrights. She was recently awarded the

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11

If you can’t make B4Play in person (see page 2), you can hear the

However, bottom-line, I really chose The Valley because it is a

To begin with, Joan MacLeod is one of Canada’s most acclaimed

Talkback Thursday

B4Play Podcasts

We only have a limited number of spots available. To book your tickets

Another reason to choose this play is the subject matter: The

Eva Wilmot is the Chair of Camosun College’s Criminal

Get Engaged

Colleen Wheeler

Joan MacLeod

Roy Surette

Pam Johnson

SHARON

PLAYWRIGHT

DIRECTOR

SET DESIGNER

How to Create out-of-this-world Novels and Short Stories

Relationship Saboteurs:

BY ORSON SCOTT CARD (2001)

Overcoming the Ten Behaviors that Undermine Love

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression

BY ANDREW SOLOMON (2001)

Vancouver Blue: A Life Against Crime

BY WAYNE COPE (2015)

Boy Meets Depression

BY KEVIN BREEL (2015)

Erin Macklem

Itai Erdal

Brian Linds

Nicholas Harrison

Sarah Jane Pelzer

Caryn Fehr

Jessica McLeod

COSTUME DESIGNER

LIGHTING DESIGNER

SOUND DESIGNER

FIGHT DIRECTOR

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

STAGE MANAGER

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

BY JAMES WHITNEY HICKS (2005)

BY RANDI GUNTHER (2010)

This Emotional Life [DVD] (2010)

Modern Canadian Plays: Volumes 1 & 2 EDITED BY JERRY WASSERMAN (2012)

The Shape of a Girl; Jewel

BY JOAN MACLEOD (2002)

belfry.bc.ca

Calendar

Saturday May 14, 2016 SONGS, STORIES, & SPECIAL GUESTS

The Valley

A gala event featuring performances from Belfry productions

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

such as Urinetown, Chelsea Hotel, The 25th Annual Putnam

February 2 – 28 · Tuesdays – Thursdays at 7:30 pm

County Spelling Bee and Stones in His Pockets, plus stories from special friends who love this theatre as much as you do!

Kevin Loring in rehearsal for Home Is a Beautiful Word

· Wednesday Matinees at 1 pm ( February 10, 17, 24 )

This once in a lifetime evening starts with wine and “small plates”

Celebrate 40 illustrious seasons at the Belfry

fine dining with sumptuous desserts at intermission. Please join us. Tickets, available at our Box Office, are $250 (a tax receipt for

(edited by Joel Bernbaum) in 2013 / Photo by Peter Pokorny

· Fridays + Saturdays at 8 pm

a minimum of $100 will be issued following the event).

· Saturday Matinees at 4 pm Gala sponsor:

· Sunday Matinees at 2 pm Audience Engagement Schedule B4PLAY · Saturday, January 30 at 11 am TALKBACK THURSDAY · February 11 CHILDCARE MATINEE · February 14 at 2 pm AFTERPLAY following evening performances VOCALEYE described performance · Feb. 21

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Parts

&

Labour

New Play Development is an important – and often unseen – part of our core activities at the Belfry. Significant resources, both human and financial, are dedicated to nurturing the creation of new plays by some of our community’s and our country’s greatest writers.

At any given time, we will be talking to writers about new ideas they are interested in exploring, commissioning playwrights to create

Kidd Pivot + Electric Company Theatre Betroffenheit MARCH 11 + 12 • 7:30 PM ROYAL THEATRE A personal story about living through tragedy.

Written by Jonathon Young. Choreographed by Crystal Pite.

TICKETS 250-386-6121 DANCEVICTORIA.COM Use promo code SPARK2016 for 25% off tickets.

SEASON SPONSOR

VENUE SPONSOR

PUBLIC SECTOR

MEDIA SPONSORS

Jonathan Young, Cindy Salgado, Jermaine Spivey, David Raymond, Tiffany Tregarthen, Bryan Arias in Betroffenheit. Photo © Wendy D. Photography

new plays, organizing readings to enable writers to hear their words spoken aloud, and workshopping scripts in their first or second

How to buy tickets By telephone 250 385 6815

Please have your credit card ready, as well as the date and time of the performance you wish to attend.

Online

Visit belfry.bc.ca/tickets and buy your tickets online, anytime.

In person

Drop by our Box Office.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, debit card, cheques, and, of course, cash.

drafts. This usually involves casts of actors, a director, and sometimes designers as the piece moves towards production.

This work is important. As a theatre dedicated to contemporary work, we look for plays that connect us with the here-and-now. We look for plays that provide perspectives on the world around us – especially the world in which we are currently living.

We also know that Canadian plays speak to us more directly. Plays from England or the United States may be written in the same language as ours, but the vocabulary of our hearts and souls are subtly – and sometimes not-so-subtly – different. New work that looks at the world from a perspective we understand can make for exciting and immediate theatre. This is the value of investing in and nurturing the creation of new plays by our own writers, from both local and far-flung Canadian communities.

MICHAEL SHAMATA

belfry.bc.ca

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BETROFFENHEIT

presented in partnership with Dance Victoria

Passes $80* / $100 Tickets $27

TIC K ETS ON SALE NOW

250 385 6815 / belfr y.bc.ca *Belfry Season Ticket Holders

40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON SPONSORS

PUBLIC FUNDERS

Belfry Theatre 1291 GLADSTONE AVENUE VICTORIA, BC

V8T 1G5

1291 Gladstone at Fernwood, Victoria