We’re delighted to launch our 2021/22 season – to get back together with our patrons, artists, and a fresh slate of life-altering stories! First, let us introduce our major project this year:
We Treaty People
This new series of digital audio plays from a diverse group of artists explores the question, “What does it mean to embrace all our relations?” Be provoked by this original fiction podcast and hear the stirring call to truth and reconciliation in our neighbourhoods, all across Canada. Captivating, unsettling, refreshing.
Artists working on the project include Skyler Anderson, Lisa Bayliss*, Joel Bernbaum*, Jennifer Dawn Bishop, Brooklynn Bitner, Tim Bratton, Yulissa Campos, Darryl Dozlaw, Danny Knight, Alan Long*, Yvette Nolan, Curtis Peeteetuce, Joelle Peters, Marcel Petit, Shanda Stefanson, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, Amanda Trapp, Stephen Waldschmidt and many more to come.
We Treaty People premieres early 2022 with nine plays for the ear and nine artist interview episodes. Made possible by a grant from Canada Council for the Arts.
Other events coming this season:
Delft Blue
Back by popular demand, we’ll re-release our online reading of Andrew Kooman’s riveting WWII drama for Remembrance Day.
Christmas Presence
Join us in December for another unique mashup of stories and songs that explore the nativity with a messy but joyful hope. (date TBA)
My Little Plastic Jesus
Tim Bratton finds hilarity and heartache as he unpacks his upbringing in evangelical pop culture. Touring to living rooms again this spring.
Script Workshop Readings
Hear actors give voice to these new plays now in development (dates TBA):
- Breathe by Sienna Holden – This musical is a deep dive into the effects of trauma and opioid addiction that asks, does one moment define a life?
- Kneel Down by Wanita Bird – This script explores stories of systemic racism in our city of Saskatoon, based on historical events.
We’re growing with 3 new staff members!
Have you heard we’ve welcomed Brooklynn Bitner, Yulissa Campos and Danny Knight to our staff team? Read more about them here. We’re grateful for this significant expansion of our staff capacity, which is made possible through the support of SK Arts Professional Arts Organizations Program Lite funding, Canada Council for the Arts, and Creative Saskatchewan.
In the midst of a new season, I am mindful of the challenges we all continue to face, risks like COVID-19, but also the invitation to listen to truth and to work together for reconciliation across Canada. May you be well and take the next step in your life’s learning journey.
If you’d like to support our work, make a donation here (online, etransfer or by cheque). Thank you for joining us to keep telling stories that matter.
Take care of each other,
Stephen Waldschmidt, artistic director
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*The participation of these Artists is arranged by permission of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the provisions of the Dance Opera Theatre Policy (DOT)