THE UNNATURAL AND ACCIDENTAL WOMEN
NAC INDIGENOUS THEATRE/ NAC ENGLISH THEATRE CO-PRODUCTION
BY MARIE CLEMENTS
DIRECTED BY MURIEL MIGUEL
SEPTEMBER 11 - 21, 2019
OTTAWA (Canada) – The Unnatural and Accidental Women marks the first production in the inaugural season of the NAC Indigenous Theatre. Partnering with NAC English Theatre, this powerful work begins the Mòshkamo Indigenous Arts Festival; an all-Indigenous takeover of the National Arts Centre’s performance and public spaces on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabeg territory, September 11 – 29.
Marie Clements’ tender and provocative The Unnatural and Accidental Women courageously demands that we never forget the continuing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls across Canada. In this remarkable play, the spirits of ten women bear witness to each other’s lives and deaths as they convene to support protagonist, Rebecca, in the search for answers about her own mother, who went for a walk and never returned.
Using humour and deeply rooted ancestral knowledge to tell their stories, The Unnatural and Accidental Women fearlessly walks Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, pushing us ever closer to truth and remembering.
“Marie’s work has been an enormous influence on me as an artist and human being. With this play, Marie was addressing the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls long before it made headlines. Her artistic vision transcends dimensions, to bring us a story of hope, beauty and resilience in the face of horror” – Kevin Loring, NAC Indigenous Theatre Artistic Director.
Featuring Columpa Bobb, Yolanda Bonnell, Pierre Brault, Jenifer Brousseau, Nimikii Couchie-Waukey, Lisa Cromarty, Olivier Lamarche, Cheri Maracle, Monique Mojica, Soni Moreno, PJ Prudat, Kelsey Wavey, Colleen Winton.
The creative team joining Director Muriel Miguel include Assistant Director/Choreographer Penny Couchie; Set Designer Andy Moro; Lighting Designer Jeff Harrison; Costume Designer Sage Paul; Sound Designer Troy Slocum; Composer/Choral Music Director Soni Moreno; Stage Manager Lisa Russell; Assistant Stage Manager Jane Vanstone Osborn and Apprentice Stage Manager Brody Halfe.
The Unnatural and Accidental Women
September 11 - 29, 2019
Babs Asper Theatre
Previews:
Wednesday, September 11 and Thursday, September 12
Opens:
Friday, September 13
Performance Schedule:
7:30 p.m. nightly Wednesday, September 11 through Saturday, September 14
and Tuesday, September 17 through Saturday, September 21;
Saturdays September 14 and 21 at 2 p.m.;.
(no performances Sunday or Monday.)
Tickets:
From $15 to $89
Tickets are available:
Online on the NAC’s website: http://www.nac-cna.ca
In person at the NAC Box Office at 1 Elgin Street
At all Ticketmaster outlets**
By telephone 1-888-991-2787**
**A service charge applies to all purchases made through Ticketmaster.
Groups of 10 or more contact grp@nac-cna.ca or visit http://www.nac-cna.ca
Find out more about the NAC Indigenous Theatre and NAC English Theatre on Facebook and YouTube. To discover some fascinating facts about The Unnatural and Accidental Women, visit nac-cna.ca/englishtheatre.
Culturally appropriate spiritual and emotional supports will be available in the Ruddy Lounge reflection room before, during, and after all performances of The Unnatural and Accidental Women. A worker trained in providing culturally appropriate supports will be present in the Ruddy Lounge during these times. For additional support, you may also contact one of the agencies who provide these services involved in the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s You Are Not Alone project, or pick up the bookmark listing these same support numbers at the Welcome Desk by Equator Coffee.
This production was made possible in part by donors to the NAC Foundation’s Inspiring Women fund.
A $15 Ticket Welcoming the Indigenous Community
Indigenous Theatre and all of our partners presenting at Mòshkamo are committed to welcoming the Indigenous community at the NAC. The $15 All My Relations ticket is available to all self-identifying members of the Indigenous community for all of Mòshkamo and throughout the Indigenous Theatre season. See full pricing and seating details, buy tickets, and learn more about what the All My Relations ticket means to us on our website.
Mòshkamo Indigenous Arts Festival
Come celebrate the launch of Indigenous Theatre’s first season at Mòshkamo Indigenous Arts Festival! Our story begins with an all-Indigenous takeover of the National Arts Centre’s performance and public spaces on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabeg territory!
In ceremony with Elders from Kitigan Zibi, the name Mòshkamo was gifted to us in honour of the work we are presenting. Mòshkamo embodies the art of appearing out of water and invites others to bear witness to its arrival.
We proudly claim space at the NAC with contemporary, traditional and culturally-specific Indigenous activities and events. Including:
Grand Entry
Indigenous Culinary Experience
Artist Talks
Free Family Cultural Activities
Arts Workshops
Free Public Performances
Indigenous Music Showcases
Visual Arts Exhibits
VR Experience
Embark on our shared journey. Join us for two and a half weeks of immersion in Indigenous arts and community at Mòshkamo Indigenous Arts Festival.
Presenting Sponsor Facebook
Supporting Partner Bell Let’s Talk
For full Festival information, click on moshkamofestival.ca
ABOUT THE NAC’S INDIGENOUS THEATRE
Since opening its doors on June 2 1969, the National Arts Centre has acted as a national, bilingual and multidisciplinary performing arts centre, located in the nation’s capital, on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation. In its first year, almost 50 years ago, the NAC presented The Ecstasy of Rita Joe by George Ryga, a play that was ground breaking because it reflected an Indigenous experience. Since then, the NAC has continued to feature Indigenous artists and productions on its stages.
The idea of establishing a national Indigenous Theatre department arose in recent years. The need has become ever more urgent, as the Indigenous community has asserted that creating Indigenous works without the full involvement of Indigenous voices and actors, playwrights and directors is no longer acceptable. Consultations with Indigenous artists and leaders led to establishing an advisory committee involving recognized Indigenous artists, youth and Elders and NAC representatives. Stakeholders identified the need to create a permanent national stage for Indigenous stories at the NAC on an equal level with the already-existing English and French Theatres.
As part of the celebrations of its 50th anniversary in 2019, the NAC is acknowledging its longstanding commitment to Indigenous artists and their work with the launch of the first national Indigenous Theatre in the world. The first season will commence in September 2019, bringing the artistic stories, vision and experience of Indigenous Peoples to the forefront.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
The inaugural season of Indigenous Theatre at Canada’s National Arts Centre is made possible through the support of many generous individuals and organizations from across the country. The National Arts Centre Foundation wishes to acknowledge the leadership support of Shirley Greenberg, C.M., OOnt, the late Dr. Paul and Mrs. Elsje Mandl, Frank and Debbi Sobey, and an Anonymous Donor. Thank you to Season Sponsor BMO Financial Group, Major Partner The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, Supporting Partner, Bell Let’s Talk, Hotel Partner The Embassy Hotel and Suites, Official Rail Partner VIA Rail, and Presenting Sponsor of Mòshkamo, Facebook, as well as The Printing House. We also express our sincere gratitude to the Government of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts for their longstanding support of the NAC and the arts in Canada.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
The National Arts Centre collaborates with artists and arts organizations across Canada to help create a national stage for the performing arts, and acts as a catalyst for performance, creation and learning across the country. Founded on June 2, 1969, the National Arts Centre is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019 with an array of special programming and activities throughout the year. A home for Canada’s most creative artists, the NAC strives to be artistically adventurous in each of its programming streams – the NAC Orchestra, English Theatre, French Theatre, Dance and NAC Presents. NAC Indigenous Theatre will begin its first season of programming in the fall of 2019. The NAC’s National Creation Fund invests up to $3 million of privately raised funds every year in 15 to 20 ambitious new works by Canadian artists and arts organizations. The NAC building has recently undergone two extensive renewal projects, generously funded by the Government of Canada that have re-oriented the NAC to the city; allowed the NAC to become more welcoming and accessible; and returned its performance halls and production facilities to contemporary standards. The NAC is at the forefront of youth and educational activities, offering artist training, programs for children and youth, and resources for teachers in communities across Canada. The NAC is also a pioneer in new media, showcasing the performing arts across the country through the Kipnes Lantern, the largest transparent LED installation in North America; using technology to teach students and young artists around the globe; creating top-rated podcasts; and providing a wide range of NAC Orchestra concerts on demand. The NAC is the only bilingual, multidisciplinary performing arts centre in Canada, and one of the largest in the world.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Annabelle Cloutier
Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs
National Arts Centre
613 947-7000 x260
Carl Martin
Senior Advisor, Communications
National Arts Centre
613 947-7000 x560
carl.martin@nac-cna.ca
Amy Ede
Marketing/Communications Officer
NAC Indigenous Theatre
613-947-7000 x540