Women’s Work Festival 2010:
Staged readings of works-in-progress by, for and about women
In Celebration of International Women’s Week
Co-produced by She Said Yes!, RCA Theatre and White Rooster Theatre
Eastern Edge Gallery, 7 pm. Admission is Pay What You Can, all proceeds go to Marguerite’s Place: Transitional Housing for women and children
Monday, March 1st: The Collectors, by Shannon Bramer, dramaturged by Andy Jones, featuring Sylina Jones, Wendi Smallwood, Paul Rowe, Dave Sullivan, Steve Lush and Mark Bath
Tuesday, March 2nd: Like a Mustard Seed, by Dian Vanden Hoven, dramaturged by Donna Butt,
featuring Andy Jones, Monica Walsh, Katie Butler and Colin Furlong
Wednesday, March 3rd: Bound by Megan Coles, dramaturged by Lois Brown,featuring Kay Anonsen, Steve O’Connell, Mary-Lynn Bernard, Emily Bridger, Neil Butler, Nicole Rousseau
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Women’s Work Festival 2009
March 8-11th, 2009
MONARITA by Shannon Bramer
With Ruth Lawrence and Sara Tilley
Dramaturgy Robert Chafe
Kill Zone: A Love Story by Wanda Graham
With Darryl Hopkins, Wendi Smallwood, Katie Butler, Karyn Dwyer, Luke Major and Dave Sullivan
Dramaturgy Anne Chislett
Sweets by Amy Anthony
With Nicole Rousseau, Willow Kean, Monica Walsh and Bridget Wareham
Dramaturgy Sara Tilley
Tree by Lois Brown
With Nicole Rousseau and Dave Sullivan
Dramaturgy Mark Bath
Bare ruint choirs by Michelle Butler Hallett
With Susan Kent, Brad Hodder and Rick Boland
Dramaturgy Amy House
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Women’s Work Festival 2008
March 2-4, 2008
Split Ends by Megan Coles
With Melanie Caines, Monica Walsh, Nicole Rousseau, Philip Goodridge, Phil Churchill, Jody Richardson
Dramaturgy Lois Brown
Drinking Song by Amanda Jernigan
With Kemo Schedlosky, Mary Lynn Bernard, Philip Goodridge, Jody Richardson
Dramaturgy Berni Stapleton
Containers by Dawna Wightman With Amy House, Berni Stapleton, Sheilagh Guy-Murphy, Lois Brown, Kay Anonsen, Mary Lynn Bernard, Ruth Lawrence, Nicole Rousseau
Dramaturgy Anne Chislett
Aphasia by Michelle Butler Hallett With Willow Kean, Phil Churchill, Dave Sullivan, Jody Richardson
Dramaturgy Robert Chafe
“Each actor had helpful commentary, and each actor, through his or her skill, brought me a new understanding of the characters’ potentials. Robert’s Chafe’s dramaturgy, and most of all his encouragement not to hold back, on top of the actors’ feedback, sparked a major re-write. I got the revisions done in a short time, mostly because of the high quality of collaborative guidance that the Women’s Work program fosters”…”I’ve got a new understanding of how plays are made, how actors work, and a new confidence in my own abilities. I’ve grown quite a bit as an artist in the last few weeks, and that would not have happened without the Women’s Work Festival.”
-Michelle Butler Hallett, playwright, Aphasia, 2008
“…huge thanks for your role in creating and continuing the Women’s Work Festival. I found it utterly transformative — not only of my playscript, but of my playwright-self — and I’m deeply grateful for having had the opportunity to work with Berni & the actors.”
-Amanda Jernigan, playwright, Drinking Songs, 2008
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Women’s Work Festival 2007
Sex, the war of by Lois Brown
With Kay Anonsen, Robert Chafe, Brad Hodder, Sara Tilley
Dramaturgy Sherry White
Connecting Rooms by Florence Button
With Kay Anonsen, Sandy Gow, Ruth Lawrence
Dramaturgy Sara Tilley
Family by Agnes Walsh
With Robert Chafe, Amy House, Ruth Lawrence
Dramaturgy Sara Tilley
The (In)complete Herstory of Women in Newfoundland and (Labrador!) by Sara Tilley
With Kay Anonsen, Mary-Lynn Bernard, Robert Chafe, Sandy Gow, Ruth Lawrence
Dramaturgy Lois Brown
“The dramaturgy and reading afforded me by Women’s Work was invaluable”…”The reading provided me with a sense of who I could be as a playwright. I saw a number of women there – not your usual theatre goers – who came to life watching the comic interactions of my characters. It made me realize that the kinds of things I used to do in workshops to vitalize people, I could do for the public in my plays. I know that’s lofty – but it’s a good ambition for a playwright, don’t you think?”… “It’s unique to have so much feedback that is helpful. There is no end to the availability of feedback for plays, but it is rare to have so much useful feedback. Women’s Work really works! The work that Sara, Amy and Ruth are doing to make this small festival happen is so fundamental, so useful, and so inspiring…I wholeheartedly support this festival. After all, I ended up with a play that could likely be finished in another week of workshopping – I have plays I have worked on for years that are much further from finished. I’m delighted.”
Lois Brown, playwright, Sex, the war of, 2007