What’s Left in the Fest

There are only three days (!) left of FemFest 2020: Engaging Community. With that said, these three days are also our busiest and most jam-packed with readings, cabarets, and workshops. Before we get into what’s to come, let’s do a brief wrap-up of some of the highlights from the last four days!

A sold out reading of Agency
Last year’s Bake-Off winner, barb m janes, developed her script Agency into a full-length show that was read Monday night as part of FemFest! The show had over 50 people watching the livestream and the in-person reading at The Dalnavert was sold-out. We’d call that a success for sure!

Marsha Knight wins the Bake-Off
Marsha’s play ‘Mary’ was about Mary Two-Axe Earley, a Mohawk woman and activist who advocated for Indigenous women’s rights – specifically for them to maintain their Indigenous status after marrying a non-status person. Marsha will receive dramaturgical guidance over the next year to develop ‘Mary’ into a full-length script, to be premiered at FemFest 2021!

Phenomenal feedback for bug
We heard incredible things about bug, which was originally one of our touring shows that pivoted to be offered online. Despite the new execution, the folks who saw the show commented that it was “an amazing and powerful show” – we agree!  

There have been so many more incredible moments over the last four days: if we were to write out each one, this blog post would be more like a chapter in a book! 

Here’s what’s left in the fest:

Tita Jokes premieres tonight
That’s right – the award-winning musical sketch revue, Tita Jokes, premieres tonight at 6:30PM! The show, which is Tita Jokes with a twist, will be offered virtually. Tickets can be bought here.

An embodiment workshop
Our last workshop of the festival: Embodied Storytelling takes place on September 26 from 11AM to 1PM. Hosted Facilitated by Sarah WaisviszEleanor Crowder, this dynamic workshop will invite participants to use techniques from storytelling, theatre, and choreography to narrate and embody their own biographical stories. We still have spots open! Register yours here.

Two free events
A collection of script readings by various local playwrights – “Shorts” is on today at 6:30PM7:45PM – 78:15:30PM live at the Dalnavert. Come Together, Oour Cclosing Cabaretevent takes place on September 26 at 8:30PM. The show, which also takes place at the Dalnavert, is officially a part of Culture Days. Both events are free, but in-person tickets need to be “purchased” on our website since space is limited! Both events will also be livestreamed on our Facebook and YouTube Pages if you prefer to watch from home!

An fabulous online raffle
That’s right folks! The FemFest raffle is back and there are some incredible prizes to win. All proceeds help us at Sarasvati host transformative theatre, workshops, and artists next year. 

Below is the full schedule for the next three days! Look it over, grab yourself some tickets, and enjoy the rest of FemFest 2020: Engaging Community.

Thursday, September 24 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm	The Launchpad Walking Tour TBA, Winnipeg
Thursday, September 24 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm	Tita Jokes ONLINE, from Winnipeg
Thursday, September 24 7:45 pm – 8:15 pm	Shorts Readings Dalnavert Museum, Winnipeg MB
Thursday, September 24 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm	Monstrous ONLINE, from Winnipeg
Friday, September 25 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm	Tita Jokes ONLINE, from Winnipeg
Friday, September 25 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm	The Launchpad Walking Tour TBA, Winnipeg
Friday, September 25 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm	Monstrous ONLINE, from Winnipeg
Friday, September 25 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm	Alice and the World We Live In Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg
Saturday, September 26 11:00 am – 1:00 pm	Workshop – Embodied Storytelling ONLINE, from Winnipeg
Saturday, September 26 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm	The Launchpad Walking Tour TBA, Winnipeg
Saturday, September 26 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm	Alice and the World We Live In Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg
Saturday, September 26 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm	Tita Jokes ONLINE, from Winnipeg
Saturday, September 26 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm	Coming Together – Closing Event Dalnavert Museum, Winnipeg MB

Everything You Need to Know About FemFest 2020

FemFest is right around the corner – seriously, it’s two days away! This year’s festival is unique for so many reasons. Not only is it Artistic Director Hope McIntyre’s final festival before Frances Koncan transitions into the role of Artistic Director, it’s also the first time we’ve had such an eclectic mix of in-person and virtual events.

Whether you want to see readings, cabarets, or full-fledged productions, or whether you want to experience the magic of live theatre or watch comfortably from your home, there truly is something for everyone. 

Let’s get into what you need to know about FemFest 2020: Engaging Community.

All three touring shows are virtual.
If you’ve been following the news, this won’t come as a shock: for the safety of the performers and creative teams, each touring show will only be provided virtually. With that said, this is still a great opportunity to indulge in nationally regarded theatre from the comfort of your home. The three touring shows are so different in tone and genre, but they’re all great theatre. bug is a solo show about a young girl and her mother fighting the effects of colonialism in their bodies.

Tita Jokes

Tita Jokes is a musical comedy revue that centres the Filipinx folks in the Tita Collective’s lives. Monstrous is a show that integrates storytelling, multi-genre dance, music, song, and projections as the protagonist sifts through the facts and fictions of her mixed-up, mixed-race family history. A ticket for each show can be bought for $15, or all three can be enjoyed with a platinum pass for $30.

There are three locations where you can see live theatre.
For those of you wanting to experience live theatre in a safe and controlled environment, there are a few different events taking place in the great outdoors. The first is a “guided theatrical experience” that will take place in Downtown Winnipeg. The show, which is called To: Morrow, has been developed by our emerging artists unit, Launchpad. This promenade-style performance will include art in all forms in unexpected places. Short performances will tackle the theme of climate change while being situated in our own downtown environment.

The Dalnavert Museum in Downtown Winnipeg

Next is one of our featured shows Alice and The World We Live In which takes place at Assiniboine Park. Starring Elena Anciro and Ray Strachan, the play is an abstract and emotional exploration of a woman’s struggle to push through the grief of losing the love of her life to a random act of terror. Finally, there are quite a few events taking place at the national historic site, Dalnavert Museum. From a live-watch viewing party of the Opening Cabaret, to readings of Agency, Shorts, and The View From Here, there’s so much great theatre to take in. Cap it off with our Closing Cabaret, a free event live at the Dalnavert as part of Culture Days. Only a small group will be accommodated for live shows, so be sure to purchase your tickets ASAP!

There are virtual workshops and presentations galore!
If you’re someone who doesn’t just want to watch theatre, but also wants to participate in it or pick the brain of someone succeeding in it, we’ve got a few workshops and free(!) presentations for you to choose from. First off: we have the perfect workshop for theatre artists with a passion for climate change. “Theatre and Climate: What Stories Do We Want to Tell?” is a workshop hosted by Chantal Bilodeau that encourages participants to take stock of the kinds of stories that are put forward by mainstream media around climate change.

Yolanda Bonnell is our Real Thing lecturer

New narratives will be explored to find a different, more positive approach. Then short performances will be created using some of the ideas they came up with. Taking place on Sunday, Sept 20 at 12:00pm, this workshop costs $15 to participate. Next, an Embodied Storytelling workshop from Sarah Waisvisz. This dynamic workshop will invite participants to use techniques from storytelling, theatre, and choreography to narrate and embody their own biographical stories. This virtual workshop takes place on Saturday, September 26 @ 11 AM and is only $15. Finally, our free lectures include Real Thing Lecture with Yolanda Bonnell and One Playwright’s Journey Through the Climate Crisis.

Like we said earlier: there really is something for everyone. With FemFest starting so soon, we hope you’ll help us spread the word, attend some shows, and take this chance to reconnect as a community. You can view the whole schedule here.

Get to Know Our Emerging Artists

We’re so excited for the return of our emerging artists unit called Launchpad at FemFest 2020. With the support of RBC Foundation and the Graham C. Lount Foundation we’ve been able to continue this program in a safe and virtual manner. If you don’t already know, Launchpad brings together ten emerging women and non-binary artists whose creative mediums range from a variety of disciplines: directors, dancers, performers, playwrights, technical crew, etc… This year we even added a junior member for further mentorship! 

Over the last month, this team of young artists have taken part in virtual workshops to develop skills and explore the intersection of art & climate change. Led by Launchpad coordinators Lindsay Johnson and Victoria Hill but with multiple guest artist guides, their workshops are building up to a performance of To:Morrow a guided theatrical experience taking place in Downtown Winnipeg. This promenade-style performance will includes theatre in unexpected places. Short performances will tackle the theme of climate change while being situated in our own downtown environment. A small audience will be able to take part in the tour in-person, while there are virtual tickets available for those wanting to follow from the comfort of their home. 

This year’s Launchpad team includes: Lindsey Taylor, Kate Willoughby, Anna Kerot, Caitlyn Bird, Taylor Gregory, Brittney Fredrickson, Sarah Luby, Emma Welham, Kristian Cahatol, Kimmy Martin, and Tara Streilen. Let’s get to know them a little better, shall we? 

How would you describe yourself to a stranger?   
Lindsey: I would describe myself as a listener who is naturally curious about other people’s stories, and as a daydreamer who is constantly excited by the question of “What if.” I’m someone who loves coffee, listening to the rain, and going on adventures!  
Kate: I would describe myself as someone who tries not to take themselves “too” seriously, someone who is outgoing, loves to laugh and tries to be conscious of living in the moment.  
Anna: A day dreamer with excessive interest in arts, wishing to change the world for better, but definitely starting with myself.  

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give your younger self?  
Caitlyn: Quit taking everything so literally, it’s not that bad. Just let your hurt out and move forward, everything will be alright. 
Taylor: Try not to worry too much about the future and have faith that you’re where you’re supposed to be.  
Brittney: Don’t be afraid of rejection or failure, the more it happens the more you’ll understand how to deal with it and grow. Cause trust me, you’re going to deal with it a lot and honestly: the outcome will be better than you expect.  

What’s your go-to karaoke song?   
Sarah: “Love of My Life”-Queen  
Emma: I’ve actually never done karaoke, but I will never say no to a good belt of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” when driving with friends.  
Kristian: My go-to karaoke song is a Filipino hit by Morrissette called Akin Ka Na Lang which I most certainly do not have the range for, but will sing nonetheless, with impassioned fervidity.   

Why should people be excited about your performance at FemFest?  
Lindsey:  Not only will the Launchpad members present pieces in the exciting format of a walking tour, the theme of these pieces will also be centered on the important issue of climate change. I’m positive that people will walk out of these performances with something impactful, whether it’s a new perspective, a new idea, or an inspired feeling! 
Kate: I think people should be excited about the possibilities of the important subject matter we are tackling. Climate change is happening right now and is rapidly changing our world that we live in. 
Anna: I will try my best to be as natural and free on stage as possible, mixing myself with the character I am playing and thus creating a unique personalized one.  
Taylor: It is my first show ever with Sarasvàti! 
Brittney: Because a lot of amazing talented people worked really hard on something we are super proud of.  
Emma: I am very excited to work with other emerging artists on a piece about climate change. In my generation I think there is a great push towards protecting the environment, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because we will be around to witness the effects of what will happen if we don’t. 
Kristian: People should be excited about my performance at FemFest because I think that the workshops and training leading up to the performances are the opportunity, I’ve been looking for to really discover and challenge my voice as an artist while exploring the critical topic of climate change.  
Sarah: Because an extremely talented group of female and non-binary artists are coming together, to create an exciting, provocative, and engaging piece bound not only to entertain, but educate, and engage audiences.  

As mentioned above, only a very small number of folks will be accommodated for the walking tour, so buy your tickets ASAP! The performances run on September 20, 24, 25, and 26. See Downtown Winnipeg through a new lens and support emerging artists! 

Meet the Playwrights of FemFest 2020

FemFest wouldn’t be possible without our incredible playwrights. These local writers vary in age and experience, but they have one thing in common: a talent for creating new worlds. Our “Shorts” playwrights include Jonathon Mourant, Sarah Flynn, Vicki Zhang, and Meredith Taylor-Parry. Two more local playwrights whose works are featured are barb janes, the Bake-Off winner for Agency, and Hannah Foulger, who’ll be premiering The View From Here. 

Let’s get to know them a little better through a little Q&A. 

If you weren’t working in theatre, what would you be doing instead?  
Jon: I would likely get involved in politics or criminal justice, secretly trying to destroy both from the inside. And by destroy, I mean radically change in order to better serve the people that they currently exploit.  
Sarah: I wanted to be a vet as a kid but as I grew up I found out I was afraid of animals larger than the average house cat.   
Vicki: I’ll still be writing – non-fiction, short stories, novel. In fact that’s what I do.  
Meredith: I have always loved kids, babies and preschoolers are particularly amazing … maybe a preschool teacher? (Although I started out in education but found it didn’t suit me … maybe I could just be a baby-holder?) I have thought about writing books for this age group… 
barb: Attending theatre, volunteering in theatre! Writing a novel, playing pickle ball, watching birds (how many kinds of sparrows ARE there??!)  
Hannah: I would be living off the grid living on a mountain somewhere. 

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give your younger self? 
Jon: Lean into how weird and different you know you are.  
Sarah: Memorizing more than the first 5 numbers of Pi won’t actually impress anyone.   
Vicki: Don’t worry about how others and the world see you. Be yourself and love yourself. 
Meredith: You knew you wanted to be in theatre since you were 4 years old. Don’t let ANYONE talk you out of it.  
barb: Don’t settle – go for it, and trust your gut.  
Hannah: Buy bitcoin?   

Why should people be excited about your piece at FemFest?  
Jon: I can promise that my show at FemFest is unlike anything that’s been seen in Winnipeg theatre before. It’s funny, touching, weird, and glam rock, baby.  
Sarah: I believe one can always be excited about a new playwright. This will be my first time having something I wrote performed by someone other than me. So, I am super new to this whole playwriting thing. Meaning that there’s so much possibility from here. You could see this reading of my first real play at FemFest and one day maybe you’ll be able to tell people you were at the first public reading of the first script by a now famous playwright! What? Anything could happen, right?  
Vicki: This short performance piece is an “autofiction” monologue that was inspired by my encounter in 2019 with Chinese and Hong Kong protesters, as well as a reporter on the scene. I am a female Chinese-Canadian writer. As an immigrant and POC living in diaspora, I aim to draw attention to the personal, messy, complex grey area in the black-and-white narratives that dominate our cultural reporting on foreign affairs. Such perspectives, so hard to be put into neat boxes, have been largely missing in the mainstream discussion of those important issues of our day. I am so excited that FemFest 2020 has welcomed such voices and perspectives that have the potential to bridge politically-fractured communities. I hope the audience will find inspirations and questions from viewing this piece.  
Meredith: There is a puppet in it? I am hoping it will resonate because there is a big piece of me in it, and in my experience, the more human the story the more audience members will connect to it.  
barb: Agency opens an overdue conversation on child welfare by exposing the parallels in three generations (British Home Children, 60’s scoop, inter-country adoptions) in a surreal, funny and poignant story.  

What’s your go-to karaoke song?   
Jon: Mr. Brightside  
Sarah: Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield  
Vicki: In English, anything from the Carpenters because theirs was one of the few bands that got introduced to China in the 1990s when I was coming of age. In Chinese, there will just be too many songs I’ll be happy to sing.  
Meredith: I would like it to be Don’t Stop Believing (Journey) but I can’ t hit the high notes.  
barb: R-E-S-P-E-C-T (Aretha Franklin), Rise Up (Parachute Club)  
Hannah: Somebody to Love – Queen  

Tickets to see Shorts, Agency, and The View From Here are on sale now. The Shorts are taking place on Thursday, Sept 24 – 7:45pm, Agency is on Monday, Sept 21 – 8:30pm, and The View From Here is Saturday, Sept 19 – 2:00pm. All readings will be taking place in-person at The Dalnavert with social-distancing measures in place. Only a small, limited audience will be accommodated so buy your tickets fast! Possible livestreaming is also in the works so stay tuned if watching from home is more your speed.