Villa Cabrini News for the Fall!

“They are all so honest…the seniors, when they tell their story and the actors, when they perform them.”  - First impression of Red Threads playback performance by a Villa Cabrini resident  

Four years of regular performances at Villa Cabrini and going strong!  Thanks to funding from Manitoba Community Services Council, LIFT and Healthy Together  the relationship between the troupe and seniors is blooming.  The warmth of the seniors has given the troupe safe ground to explore the storytelling of playback and take risks to grow artistically.  In the fall, we are planning evening performances so the residents can invite family and friends to dinner and theatre.

The invitation to dinner and theater will also be extended to other seniors’ residences in the area.  

Many Thanks to Manitoba Theatre for Young People!

The Red Threads of Peace troupe appreciates the generousity of Manitoba Theatre for Young People sharing their beautiful studio space with us.  The use of this space has allowed us to practice playback weekly in professional theatre studio space.  Many thanks to Neil Shah and all the MTYP staff for making us feel so welcome.

Red Threads at the Pathways to Reconciliation Conference

BRAVO says Dean Peachey….

On June 17, 2016 we did a workshop and performance at the Pathways to Reconciliation Conference at the University of Winnipeg.  This national conference followed up actions flowing from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  The aim of the gathering was to encourage steps towards achieving peaceful co-existence through restoration of  respectful relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.

Dear Dana,

Please convey my heartfelt appreciation to the all the members of the Red Threads Troupe for the wonderful workshop that you conducted at the Pathways to Reconciliation conference. We need more of this type of activity when dealing with difficult and heavy conversations. I hope that the troupe members were able to also attend some of the other conference sessions on Friday.

I am pleased to know that we have such a skilled resource in the Winnipeg community—don’t be surprised if we call on you in the future.

Warm regards,

Dean Peachey

Executive Director, Global College

Coordinator, BA in Human Rights

University of Winnipeg

Dawn Lavand opening our workshop with a song

Our fearless leader, Dana Rungay, receiving a story from one of the workshop participants

Red Threads members (L to R) Brad Leitch, Loc Lu, Dawn Lavand, and Bequie Lake

Feeling grateful, inspired, and hopeful at the end of an amazing day at the Pathways to Reconciliation Conference!

Newbie Night Moved to Dec 9th!

Hello, friends! 

Just a quick update that our newbie night has been moved to December 9th. We look forward to welcoming you! Newbie night will take place at Manitoba Theatre for Young People from 7 pm to 9 pm.

Join Us for Newbie Night on December 2nd!

Are you curious about playback theatre? 

Join us for our Red Threads Playback Newbie Night:

Wednesday, December 2nd from 7 to 9 pm 

Manitoba Theatre for Young People - Studio 1

Who is Newbie Night for, you ask? It's for people with interest in using the aesthetics of theatre for social justice and connection (while having tons of fun doing it!). Playback artists come from all different backgrounds.

Playback Theatre is improvisational storytelling of personal moments and experiences of the audience. At Newbie Night we will do warm ups, explore a few playback forms and do a short performance together. Red Threads always strives to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere, so that everyone present can explore playback in a supported environment.

If you are interested in playing with us on December 2nd, contact Dana Rungay at danarungay@gmail.com or (204) 231 1086.

Hope to see you there!

Come play with us!

MIRSSA Mental Wellness Forum

On September 25th, 2015, Manitoba Immigrant and Refugee Settlement Sector Association hosted a forum to explore mental wellness needs and resources in the newcomer community. Red Threads of Peace was invited to perform as the last activity of their day. Seventy-five participants reflected on both personal and professional experiences they have had in Canada. The opportunity to pause and celebrate the insights they have had through the playback performance was appreciated as part of closing their day. Some feedback from the evaluation forms included:

Playback Theatre was my favourite!

Playback Theatre: Great experiences, networking, service coordination. Great to see those emotions expressed in characters.

Photographer: Maricel Bucher

Playback Tuesdays at Selkirk Mental Health Centre

Selkirk Mental Health Centre, in collaboration with Artists in Healthcare and Gas Station Arts Centre, generously welcomed Red Threads of Peace Project facilitators Bequie Lake and Dana Rungay, along with movement therapist Karissa Martens to do “Playback Tuesdays.” Cairn Moore of Sarasvati Productions also attended the sessions as a writer and observer. The project kicked off with a playback performance on September 22, followed by six one-hour playback theatre workshops in each of the health centre areas. The final performance will be November 10th. The Red Threads performers who have participated include: Elena Anciro, Nick Kowalchuk, Bequie Lake, Dawn Lavand, Loc Lu, Dana Rungay, and Martial Tougas.

The participation of the patients and staff have been heartwarming. The groups warm up with movement to their choice of music from Karissa’s huge repertoire – and if Karissa doesn’t have it this week, she gets it for you next week! This individual attention and caring is really appreciated by the patients. Theatre games then build group safety, confidence, and esprit de corps between the patients, staff, and facilitators. Moments and experiences of the participants are offered for playback in one of the playback forms.

Participants tell of past experiences and present day happenings and feelings. Playback Theatre honours the individual voices in the group through the simple improvisational performance. Often these stories resonate with other members of the group. It is gratifying to see the patients enjoying their involvement; seeing their story performed; playing the music; or performing with the troupe. Several patients and staff have spoken about how much having Playback Tuesdays has meant to their well being and the need for these types of programs in the health centre.

“Playback Tuesdays” has deepened our awareness, insight, understanding, and compassion of issues in mental health. When a participant says, “I’ll never forget you (Playback Tuesdays team),” we are reminded of our gratitude for the opportunity to touch lives through playback.

From bottom left to right: Cairn Moore, Dana Rungay, Bequie Lake, Karissa Martens