Indigenous women’s stories explored

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This article was published 07/03/2024 (902 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Théâtre Cercle Molière, Prairie Theatre Exchange and Article 11 join forces for the world première of Rise, Red River, a locally set triple co-production directed by Tara Beagan.

Starring local actors Marsha Knight and Tracey Nepinak, alongside Calgary-based Caleigh Crow, the production sets off with one woman walking along the clay path of a desiccated Red River, hearing stories from Indigenous women throughout history as the story and the basin wind on.

Taking place several years after the Drag the Red volunteer movement, the matrilineal story of Rise, Red River promises to shed new light on a dark and important chapter in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls story on Treaty One land, with an added emphasis of climate awareness.

Opening Friday and running to March 23 at TCM, the show is scheduled to run on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., during that stretch. The production is recommended for audiences aged 16 years and older.

A former director of Native Earth Performing Arts and a Siminovitch Prize laureate, Beagan and Article 11 co-director Andy Moro last collaborated with Prairie Theatre Exchange on 2023’s digital production of Reckoning, which shared a trio of stories about the aftermath of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“There are few theatre companies who consistently program Indigenous work,” Beagan wrote in her playwright’s notes.

“Post-2020, there is a marked regression in this regard. Two venue holding companies with ADs who are brave enough to go well beyond are those we chose to partner with,” she added, referring to TCM’s Geneviève Pelletier and PTE’s Thomas Morgan Jones, who acted as artistic associates on the production.

Nepinak, who identifies as Cree/mix from Peguis First Nation, last performed for PTE in a digital version of Yvette Nolan’s Katharsis. But she has a long history with the company, appearing on stage in a 2019 production of playwright Ian Ross’ The Third Colour and in 2021’s The War Being Waged, a three-hander from Darla Contois — who was just nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for her role on the drama series Little Bird — that served as PTE’s return to live theatre after a pandemic-induced hiatus.

Rise, Red River reunites a few core members of that production, including sound designer MJ Dandeneau and Moro, whose set, light and projection design was called “absolutely stunning” in a review by the Free Press. Dandeneau and Moro return in the same capacities here, and the performance figures to be heavy on movement, with Anishinaabe choreographer Christine Friday serving as choreographic consultant.

Past work from Article 11, which bills itself as an Indigenous activism arts organization, includes Beagan’s Deer Woman and Ministry of Grace.

ben.waldman@winnipegfreepress.com