Native Earth Presents World Premiere Of FINDING WOLASTOQ VOICE, 3/29-31

For this year's Niimi'iwe: Indigenous Dance Showcase, Native Earth Performing Arts is thrilled to present Theatre New Brunswick's production of Finding Wolastoq Voice, written and composed by Natalie Sappier-Samaqani Cocahq and directed by Thomas Morgan Jones. Following the World Premiere, the production will hit the road for a month-long provincial tour with a special stop in Toronto, Ontario as part of Native Earth's Niimi'iwe dance series from March 29 to 31 at Aki Studio.

A powerful solo dance-theatre hybrid performance, Finding Wolastoq Voice tells a story about a young Wolastoqiyik Indigenous woman who has been living in the dark for a very long time but is finally awakened by the voices of her ancestors. "This story is about healing relationships, family and my experiences as a young girl," describes Sappier.

Exploring personal discovery, identity and culture, Sappier collaborates with the Calgary-based multi-award winning production designer Andy Moro, choreographer and dancer Aria Evans, and award winning director Thomas Morgan Jones to bring her words and music to life. The world of Finding Wolastoq Voice is further enriched by the work of sound designer Michael Doherty, costume designer Sherry Kinnear, and stage manager Tammy Faulkner.

The multi-disciplinary artist Natalie Sappier-Samaqani Cocahq (The Water Spirit) makes her playwriting debut with Finding Wolastoq Voice. Her work is inspired by the teachings of her community, and the forests and waters that surround her land. As a leading Indigenous visual artist in New Brunswick, Sappier also uses spoken word, song and dance to tell the stories of her community and her ancestors.

Native Earth welcomes back recent Animikiig Creators' Unit and Weesageechak artist Aria Evans, as well as production designer Andy Moro to Aki Studio. Aria Evans works in film, dance creation and performance, drawing on her experiences as a woman of mixed race (Mi'kmaq, African, settler heritage). She is the Artistic Director of the Go To Company and her works have been presented in both Turtle Island and Europe, with a recent performance on a DanceWorks CoWorks. Andy Moro is a multi-award winning mixed European and Omushkego Cree "designaturge," and co-founder of the multi-disciplinary company ARTICLE11 with former Native Earth Artistic Director Tara Beagan. He works with companies from coast to coast, and has been a core creative faculty for the Indigenous Dance Residency at The Banff Centre for the Arts since 2012.

Thomas Morgan Jones is an award winning director, playwright, movement coach, dramaturge and teacher. He is currently the Artistic Director of Theatre New Brunswick, and the incoming Artistic Director at Prairie Theatre Exchange in Winnipeg. For over 15 years he has created theatre nationally and internationally with companies and schools, including The Stratford Festival, Theatre Direct, Theatre Passe Muraille, The Charlottetown Festival, Carousel Players and The Randolph Academy.

Theatre New Brunswick is one of Canada's oldest and longest running regional theatre companies. Its mission is to create extraordinary theatre that inspires and entertains the audience while celebrating New Brunswick's best theatre content and artists; while providing outstanding theatre training and performance that educates and awakens the imaginations of the provinces youth and emerging artists.

Native Earth Performing Arts is Canada's oldest professional Indigenous theatre company. Currently in our 35th year, Native Earth is dedicated to creating, developing, and producing professional artistic expressions of the Indigenous experience in Canada. Through stage productions (theatre, dance and multi-disciplinary art), new script development, apprenticeships and internships, Native Earth seeks to fulfill a community of artistic visions. It is a vision that is inclusive and reflective of the Indigenous community who actively participate in the arts.

Native Earth Performing Arts
NIIMI'IWE: Indigenous Dance Showcase
Presents

FINDING WOLASTOQ VOICE
A Theatre New Brunswick Production
Written & Composed by Natalie Sappier

March 29-31, 2018 @ 8pm
Aki Studio, Daniels Spectrum
585 Dundas Street East, Toronto

Directed by Thomas Morgan Jones
Choreographed & Performed by Aria Evans
Set & Lighting Design by Andy Moro
Sound Design by Michael Doherty
Costume Design by Sherry Kinnear
Stage Managed by Tammy Faulkner

Single Tickets $22-$25
Available online at www.nativeearth.ca or by phone 416.531.1402

For more information visit www.nativeearth.ca/1718niimiiwe.
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