World Premiere of New Play, The Flood

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Wednesday, June 18th, 2014
6:29 PM

Teaching strike aside, the timing couldn�t be more auspicious: in the week leading up to National Aboriginal Day, Victoria�s George Jay Elementary School is mounting their first school play in recent memory�the June 18th world premiere of The Flood, based on the popular Raven Tales series of books and videos.

Over a year in the planning, The Flood is the ideal play for George Jay�s diversely multicultural school. �I really wanted to do a play that would be recognizable by all students,� says Kate Wallace, president of George Jay�s PAC and the originator of the project. �Not only are the Raven Tales stories First Nations stories from around North America, but they are also folk tales recognizable by all cultures around the world.� The Flood brings the traditional Haida legend of the great flood to life thanks to the creative efforts of more than 50 school children.

A joint effort between George Jay�s Parent Advisory Council and the Belfry Theatre, the play has been adapted from one of Simon Daniel James� original Raven Tales stories by the Belfry�s Artistic Associate and Outreach Coordinator, Erin Macklem, But doing a play involving George Jay students meant finding the right script�no easy task, given the school has children from every continent and over 20 countries who speak more than 15 languages. �The Flood is very relevant to our neck of the woods, but also it is a story about community and how the voice of a child is strong, meaningful and poignant,� says Wallace, also the Belfry�s former stage manager.

The Flood, however, is not the Belfry�s first creative relationship with the Fernwood school. In 2009, the Belfry and Theatre SKAM co-presented the show Haircuts by Children by Toronto�s Mammalian Diving Reflex, in which grade 4 and 5 students from George Jay were mentored by professional artists & hairstylists; the students then set up shop for two days in a downtown salon and worked their haircutting magic on the general public. �All of the partner organizations agreed it was an amazing collaboration, and the most amazing contributors were the students at George Jay,� says Macklem.

The Flood offers a unique opportunity where a diverse group of students can come together with their school to showcase their spirit and creativity. It also allows the youth of Fernwood to appear on stage in one of Victoria�s leading arts organizations.

�Erin suggested the Belfry would be keen to work with George Jay students on other theatrical projects,� says Wallace. �I told them about my idea for a school play, Macklem offered the Belfry�s main stage, as well as staff support during the week leading up to National Aboriginal Day on June 21, and voila�a play is born!�

The Flood will continue regardless of strike action. The children of George Jay have worked too hard to not continue with their performance. It is our hope that George Jay families, staff and the greater community will come out and support the show during this time of labour unrest.

The Flood is at 6:30pm, Wednesday, June 18, at the Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Avenue. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for kids, available at the door. Audience members are welcome to bring their own drum for a post-show drumming circle.

The award-winning Raven Tales series includes 26 graphic novels and 26 television episodes aimed at children grades 4 to 6. Raven Tales offer popular interpretations of the traditional teachings of First Nations Peoples, with the intention of developing a sense of community, responsibility, respect, and interconnectedness of life.