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What we do... |
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All shows performed at Venables Theatre unless otherwise noted.
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 We are pleased to finally stage When the Wind Blows, by Raymond Briggs. Planning for this show began in 2019. It was originally scheduled for production in April 2021, before our season was fully cancelled by Covid. Now, here we are in the spring of 2022, presenting an anti-war play that was first written almost 40 years ago, at the height of the Cold War, when nuclear disarmament protests were at their height throughout western democracies. Some of you may remember the annual Mother’s Day ban-the-bomb marches held throughout Canada. Now, 40 years later, we are witnessing a devastating invasion of Ukraine, along with rising tensions between “The West” and the Russian government, arguably at an unprecedented level. What can we make of a play that is centred on a nuclear attack by Russia in these uncertain and worrisome times? How can we respond? Some of our patrons have suggested to us that current world events will turn this dark comedy into just something dark. But we take a different view. The threat of war, including nuclear war, was front and centre in our popular psyche in the 1980s. Anti-war protests were not uncommon. These worries and protests were the catalyst for Briggs to originally write When the Wind Blows. Now, as we contemplate the current world situation, we realize that not much has changed in 40 years. While the threat of war may have taken a back seat since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, and some say it was swept under the rug, we realize it has remained a real threat all along. So, we present this show in its original form, with its original message: Can any population really be prepared for a nuclear conflict? Are there any winners? Is war an answer to our worldly problems? All world leaders must hear this message loud and clear and cannot be supported in their pursuit of military conquest! The people of Ukraine are the most recent, living, eyewitnesses to the horrors of war. We dedicate this show to them and to all other peoples suffering from the effects of invasion, civil war, terrorist insurrection and all armed conflict around the world, including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ethiopia and Palestine, to mention only a few. You Can Help ..... Click on a logo, below, to donate:
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 Each year we strive to stage three productions (Fall, Winter and Spring).
We are looking for past, current and future directors and producers to come forward with show ideas for our Fall and Spring shows next season. (The winter show will be The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon, postponed from earlier this year.) If you have a favourite play you want to see staged in the South Okanagan, why not consider directing or producing it? It's a great chance to revitalize your artistic juices! Alternately, if you are interested in directing, but don't have your mind set on a specific play, let us know and perhaps we can explore some options together. If you have theatre experience but have not directed before, perhaps we can team you up with someone in our group be your mentor and assistant. Once we have a draft list of plays and proponents, the final selection is up our Board of Directors. We look to having our season locked in and ready to announce in early May. If you are interested please contact us by email at info@soplayers.ca. |
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