Manitoba-set play for kids wins national award

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This article was published 26/10/2021 (1779 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A children’s play set in Manitoba about First Nations and settler relationships has won a national theatre award.

On Sunday, Frozen River received the Sharon Enkin Plays for Young People Award during a virtual ceremony for the 2021 Tom Hendry Awards, hosted by the Playwrights Guild of Canada.

Written by Michaela Washburn, Joelle Peters and Carrie Costello, the play follows the story of two 11-year-olds — a Scottish girl named Eilidh and a Cree child named Okânawâpacikêw — who were born under the same blood moon in different parts of the world. Their stories intersect during the creation of the province of Manitoba, with each sharing a different perspective on the political conflicts of the day.

“We’re asking big questions that address issues that are very relevant today,” Washburn said following the award presentation. “How do we guide our young audiences to an understanding that reconciliation is an action, it’s not just words?”

Washburn is a Métis artist living in Toronto, Costello is a Winnipeg-based artist and founder of Castlemoon Theatre, and Peters is an Anishinaabe/Miami artist from Walpole Island First Nation. Collaboration was at the core of Frozen River and each playwright had an equal say in the direction of the story.

“The work we’re interested in isn’t easy; the writing process, like the play itself, struggles with big questions that are hard for adults,” Costello said. “But we know our young people need to see and understand these questions.”

The play was set to make its world première at Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) this past spring, but was postponed owing to the coronavirus. The local theatre company plans to present Frozen River as a live production for Manitoba audiences and will be announcing details about a rescheduled run in the near future.

“We cannot wait to share this powerful and timely play with Manitoba audiences. Frozen River will make this part of our history accessible to young people and their families,” says Pablo Felices-Luna, MTYP’s artistic director via email.

“Congratulations to the three playwrights on this recognition of their work; our thanks go to them for their passion and commitment to this project and to all the artists and knowledge keepers who have helped them get the play to where it is now.”

During the award ceremony, Peters commented on the challenges of creating theatre during the pandemic: “(It) has been both a struggle and a joy,” she said. “Our hope is that young people can see themselves onstage in a way that makes them feel empowered and maybe, just maybe, that experience alters their trajectory.”

The award jury noted that Frozen River had power in its specificity, and that it invited children and youth to discuss a challenging topic while remaining gentle and respectful.

eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @evawasney