YPT to Present Red Sky Performance's MISTATIM

Young People's Theatre is pleased to present Mistatim by Red Sky Performance, a moving story of reconciliation and friendship from Governor General Award-winning playwright Erin Shields. Based on a concept by Sandra Laronde and directed by Andrea Donaldson, Mistatim will be presented on the Mainstage from February 9 to 19, 2016.

Mistatim - the Cree word for horse - is about the taming of a wild horse and the forging of the truest of friendships. It is an intercultural story that combines dance, theatre, mask and music into one unforgettable experience. The Globe and Mail calls Mistatim"audacious, astonishing... magnificent in the scope of its imagination, mysterious in its beauty."

Under a prairie sky, only a simple wooden fence separates Calvin on his ranch and Speck on her reserve, but in many ways they are worlds apart. On his father's ranch, Calvin attempts to 'break' Mistatim - a horse no one else can tame - in order to prove himself to his father. On the other side of the fence, Speck, who is also struggling with her place in her family, discovers her uncanny ability to talk to horses. Working together to build a relationship with the wild horse, Calvin and Speck cross the divide of their own cultures, learning to communicate with their families, the free-spirited Mistatim, and each other.

Written by: Erin Shields and based on a Concept by Sandra Laronde; Directed by: Andrea Donaldson.

Original Cast: Carlos Rivera, Sera-Lys McArthur, and Brendan McMurtry-Howlett.

Choreography: Sandra Laronde and Carlos Rivera; Music: Rick Sacks with Associate Sound Designer Marc Meriläinen; Production Design: Andy Moro; Mask Design and Build: Karen Rodd; Costume Design: Elaine Redding, Charlene Senuik; Cree Translator and Cultural Advisor:Tyrone Tootoosis Sr.

Internationally renowned for its artistry and innovation, Red Sky is one of Canada's leading companies of Indigenous performance in dance, theatre and music. This multi-award-winning company was founded by Artistic Director Sandra Laronde in 2000. Red Sky creates, innovates, produces, and tours original newwork, and makes lasting connections anchored in Canada while making new inroads around the globe.