Hello Friends of Youtheatre Movement Society!
Welcome to our year-in-review Correspondence.
It’s hard to believe but it was almost a year ago that we hosted our first ever Interactive Christmas Cabaret, which was a true multimedia experience that included 6 actors, 4 live painters, 11 musicians, 5 dancers, and spectators enjoying wine and cheese, all culminating in capturing the true meaning of Christmas in an artistic way. In May 2023 we mounted Shalem’s Fair, and despite a heat wave in an unconditioned Jericho Arts Centre a wonderful adventure was had by all. This sensitive comedy follows the life of a lady who, in the early stages of dementia, sees things in a colorful way, as she searches for peace on her journey home.
Since then we have been identifying potential Foundations whom we align with, furiously grant writing, and researching corporate sponsors. The grant writing has been most stretching but we move forward in our efforts in order to get on with what we love most: uncovering identity through story.
We held a community event called StoryFest which brought many people out to share an original story of their own.
Most recently we kickstarted a PRAX·IS event for both writers and actors to collide on a regular basis.
Over the last few weeks we had the privilege of making a pilot episode for our 8 part DocuSeries called Voices. This project celebrates Indigenous community, culture and cuisine, capturing stories from Squamish to New Brunswick.
We are currently compiling an administrative team to assist us with the Fundraising and Research. This will give everyone a vision for the future and how we can work together.
Spring 2024 our focus is going to be the remount of Handcuffed. This play will be toured in High Schools, opening conversations surrounding the ongoing Opioid crisis that BC still finds itself in.
In 2025 we will embark upon our Truth and Regeneration Tour, which will include both Handcuffed and COM·PLIC·IT.
“HANDCUFFED” captures the descent of a young person who unravels quickly as he is tempted beyond what he is able to bear. After a series of severe bouts of addiction with alcohol, and then harder drugs, our hero suffers the ultimate demise of death by overdose. This downward depiction is meant to grab the attention of audiences of all ages, as it addresses the spiritual underpinnings surrounding the Opioid Crisis.
“COM·PLIC·IT” is a compelling story of how a young Indigenous girl befriends an unsuspecting teenage Prairie boy, and together they explore how and why their paths are crossing even if it’s only for 48 hours. This untold tale of identity and hope only skims the surface surrounding the hidden and Complicit Residential School era, circa 1971.
Through Live Theatre and our post show TalkBack Forums we will encourage participants to uncover the power identity through the story in their lives. Our goal is to cultivate a deeper understanding for Indigenous worldviews and challenges, as well as continue the conversation about the dangers of addiction, and how we can stand together as a community to bring healing.
The Truth and Regeneration Tour will host an ensemble of 14 actors, various crew members, a documentary team, apprentices, and our many loyal partners who made the impossible a tangible reality.
We will engage with high schools, first nations communities, retirement home, and church groups along the way, and through the use of these dramatic stories we will connect people within the communities themselves.
Lastly, on Friday November 17, 2023 – we will be embarking upon our first ever Dessert Fundraiser! If you haven’t received an invitation and would like to come please reach out to us for the details. If you can not make it but would like to donate to any of the above initiatives please also reach out to us through our Donation Page. All donations receive a tax deductible receipt.
Thank you to everyone who donated last year, your contributions are very meaningful to us.
Bless you for the year ahead!
Sincerely,
Lee and Jenn Bamberry
Youtheatre Movement Society
