WE'RE BACK! UP AND COMING FOR THE FALL

Some of the Red Threads team at our first rehearsal of the season.

Red Threads will be leaping into a busy Fall season with many partnerships across the city.  Over the last six years, we have been building bridges of understanding and empathy by sharing personal stories through improvisational theatre.  Our workshops & performances have nurtured many connections in Winnipeg, and we're looking forward to all of these upcoming collaborations.  

This year, several of the workshops and performances will be part of a Playback documentary being filmed by Red Threads team member Brad Leitch of Rebel Sky Media.

Public Performances

September 23rd - "Let Me Tell You My Story" at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.  

Bonface Beti, cofounder of Amani Peoples Theatre in Kenya, will lead two workshops leading to a public performance.  Bonface has used Playback Theatre as tool for conflict transformation across central Africa. Bonface is also a two-year visiting member of Red Threads of Peace Playback Theatre troupe. The theme of his workshops and performances are newcomers' stories of home. The workshop will involve a group of 10 newcomers in Winnipeg who will also participate in the final public performance with Red Threads.  Admission is free.  We will be filming this process.

September 28th - "When I Moved to Manitoba" in collaboration with the Global College and the Umunna (Igbo) Cultural Association of Manitoba.

Red Threads will perform stories of immigrating to Manitoba — the good, the challenging, and the heart-warming — at this event co-hosted by Global College and the Umunna (Igbo) Cultural Association of Manitoba.  

Other upcoming Red Threads workshops

We also have other workshops and performances coming up with some of our community partners.   

In September we will be continuing our relationship with Rainbow Resource Centre as part of their seasonal volunteer training with a workshop and performance.  This is the first in a series of 3 workshop/performances.

Next up, in October, Red Threads will also have a performance at the International Expressive Arts Therapy Conference. We have been invited to film this event for the documentary and are excited about the collaboration.  We will also be offering a workshop to Drama Educators at their annual conference.

Last but not least, two members of the troupe, including one who was part of an Indigenous Doula program, will be leading a series of workshops and a performance on "birthing & mothering stories". This is in partnership with "The Mothering Project" at Mount Carmel Clinic. They are excited to participate in playback and the documentary.  

We are looking forward to a full fall.  Come join us for the public shows at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Global College - or connect with us about your ideas!  

Wow... What a Season of Playback!

Our Red Threads of Peace troupe is grateful for the many communities we have had the opportunity to perform during the 2016-2017 season:

Villa Cabrini Residence

Sarasvati Productions

Pathways to Reconciliation Conference

Artists Access Ability Network Manitoba

Rebel Sky Media Peace Days

Arthur Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice

Manitoba Storytellers’ Guild “Seeds of Hope”

Canadian Community Economic Development Conference

Studio Central

St Kateri Tekakwitha Church Reconciliation Dialogues

Eden Health Care Foundation

Mosaic Family Resource Network

Association of Religious of Manitoba

Rainbow Resource Centre

Friends and Family

Over 700 people shared moments and experiences from their lives this past season. We were honoured to perform them and will carry the warmth of their stories and hospitality with us.

Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Villa Cabrini Residence and the Gas Station Arts Centre generously gave us rehearsal and performance space. Funding for projects and training was received from Winnipeg Foundation, Manitoba Community Services Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, Healthy Together Now, and donations. It is this open flowing of support and caring that has nurtured and sustained the development of our troupe and our capacity to serve Winnipeg and the surrounding area of communities.

Having our first public performance on May 31 was a wonderful way to end our 2016-2017 season. With your help, we raised over $800 for our long time supporter, the Gas Station Arts Centre! We are fortunate to be part of a community so willing to engage in a spirit of compassion and respect for lived experiences through Playback Theatre.

To top it all off, our amazing troupe member, Brad Leitch of Rebel Sky Media, is working on a short documentary about what drives playback actors to take creative risks before live audiences, while handling difficult topics and stories. His film will give insight into the world of Playback through the eyes of Red Threads, as we discover stories, the beauty of art, the rituals of performance and the power of community arts practice. Stay tuned!

Red Threads is now on summer break and will return in the Fall. We look forward to returning with refreshed minds and hearts, ready to receive and honour your stories.

Performance Announcement!

We are excited to announce that on Wednesday, May 31st at 7:30 pm, Red Threads of Peace Playback will be presenting "Transitions: A Playback Performance" at the Gas Station Arts Centre. 

Admission is by donation, which will go to the Gas Station Arts Centre, a long time supporter and friend of Red Threads. 

It's our first open, public performance - we'd love for you to join us! Check out the details in the poster below and spread the word!

Help Save ARTBEAT!

Artbeat Studios must raise $150,000 by April 30th to continue providing services that directly benefit individuals living with mental illness. We have had the honour of collaborating with Artbeat Studio Inc and we've seen the power of the work they do. 

They have proven that art saves lives, so let's band together and save Artbeat!

http://artbeatstudio.ca/go/artbeat-studio-fundraiser/

Stories of Transformation with Eden Health Care Services

On March 16th, six of our troupe members braved the blustery, icy highway to perform at Eden Health Care Services' "Stories of Transformation" Dessert Night in Steinbach, Manitoba. We were ready and excited to support Eden Health, which provides a range of services that empower people with mental health needs in Steinbach and the surrounding community.

We arrived at the Fellowship Hall of Steinbach Mennonite Church soaked and chilled, but were warmed and inspired by the courage of four individuals who shared their mental health journeys. Hearing their stories as well as meeting special guest, Dancing Gabe, was an honour for all of us. At the end of the night, Steinbach's city slogan rang true: It was definitely "worth the trip!"

Red Threads troupe members (L to R): Brad Leitch, Robin Shugart, Loc Lu, and Elena Anciro

Red Threads' fearless leader/ conductor, Dana Rungay, listening to Dancing Gabe's story.

In response to our performance, Eden Health's Director of Development, Earl D. Reimer said:

Thanks to the troupe for a well presented evening. What is notable for me is the fact that the ensemble presented highly sensitive and personal mental health stories in a compassionate manner and “never crossed the line." This was very well done. People I talked to all found different points of reference for their own stories. I also spent time watching the story contributors and it was noteworthy to see the level of engagement that each of them had with your presentation.

If you would like more information on Eden Health Care Services and the important work they do, visit their website: edenhealthcare.ca

How Training with Sheila Donio Deepened our Love of Playback

Playback newcomers and veterans joined international trainer Sheila Donio, February 18-21 at the Gas Station Arts Centre to explore, revisit, refine and deepen Playback Theatre forms.  

Participants included Red Threads of Peace troupe members as well as educators, actors, social activists, and therapists from diverse Winnipeg communities: Newcomer and refugee, theatre and school system.  

Veteran troupe members found themselves “falling in love” all over again with the classic playback forms and the depth of storytelling they offer. Newcomers wondered where playback had been all their lives and enthusiastically embraced the new learning.  

Sheila's guidance cultivated a sense of belonging and safety within the group that magnified our capacity to build confidence and artistically express. For Red Threads, it not only solidified our troupe, but created a renewed energy and excitement to our work, which has been evident in the discoveries we've made during our playdates/performances since the training!

A huge THANK YOU to The Winnipeg Foundation, the Montreal International Conference Committee and the Gas Station Arts Centre for making this international-level training accessible to us. And of course, we express our immense gratitude to Sheila for sharing her gifts, experience and knowledge. 

At the end of our workshops, we often close by asking each participant to summarize their experience in one word and it was no surprise that the response from all participants was “EXCELLENT!”

Feedback Friday!

We know you are dying to hear about our amazing adventure with Brazilian Playback Trainer, Sheila Donio, but first we want to share some feedback from two of our recent performances. Here's what people had to say about their Red Threads experience:

Studio Central Performance for the Writers’ Group

‘Red Threads of Peace Playback Theatre’ performance at Studio Central had a very profound effect on all of us in attendance. Thank you all for this. 

There were many highlights… firstly we were in awe by the spontaneous enactment of a story or a simple idea offered by a member of the audience. Secondly, your ability to tease out a story line from the audience for the actors to work with is so remarkable. I was very impressed by each of you who took time out of your busy schedules to bring this form of drama to our participants (especially the writers group). 

On behalf of all of us at Studio Central, thank you for this cathartic experience!" 

- Ernie Bart, Studio Central Board Member

Studio Central is a project of Artbeat Studio Inc. Programming at Studio Central aims to facilitate the production of art as a means of inspiring personal passion, connecting generations, bridging diverse groups, and serving as a catalyzing symbol of the people as a community. Alumni of Artbeat Studio’s core program gain ‘career path’ momentum by participating in the implementation of a comprehensive community-based arts program.

Reconciliation Dialogues in Multicultural Parishes Performance

"I take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Playback Theatre for helping us to dialogue between diverse cultures that are represented in our faith communities: St. John Cantius and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parishes.

Personally, I was impressed how they played back peoples’ stories in a synchronized manner and well minded way, capturing and expanding the meaning of the stories. They created a space of comfort and trust before we went to work in the small groups. I am hoping that they will continue to help us in our future dialogue events.

Thanks a million to each one of you."

- Fr. Nicanor Sarmiento, OMI & St. Kateri Tekakwitha Aboriginal Parish

The interaction helped everyone get connected to the emotions of the person who was telling their story. I found a lot of connection! I am a blind person, but I was able to see it all in my head -- like a slide-show in my head. I even felt the music. The music is what brought everything together. The way he played the music made me really feel the emotion that was being played by the actors. 

- George, audience member