Theatre for Living (formerly Headlines Theatre) presents its FINAL BC/ALBERTA TOUR: šxʷʔam̓ət (home)

šxʷʔam̓ət (home), an audience interactive Forum Theatre production on issues of Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, will be touring across BC and Alberta, including two shows at the Songhees Wellness Centre in Victoria on January 19th and 20th. Tickets for the Victoria shows can be purchased online at http://www.cadbayuc.org/theatre-for-living/. For more information, please call 250-477-2715.

If you do nothing this year... at the very least GO SEE THIS PLAY!” Betsy Bruyere, Aboriginal Community Equity Services

“I haven't seen any other piece of theatre before šxʷʔam̓ət (home) that I actually felt had the capacity to shift people's minds and hearts towards authentic reconciliation. This is important work and I was so glad to share in it.” Natalie Davidson

The itinerary is below.  For ticket information and hosting organizations list, please visit www.theatreforliving.com

šxʷʔam̓ət means home in Hǝn̓q̓ǝmin̓ǝm̓, a Coast Salish dialect. A pronunciation guide is below. This word has so many different meanings to all of us who are living on this land.

Conversations have been bubbling across the country about this word “Reconciliation” and what it really means.  With the “Canada 150” anniversary this past year, and with the closure of the “Truth and Reconciliation” offices in 2015, there are many questions about what these policies, proclamations, and apologies mean to all of us who call this place “home”. 

What does Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people look and feel like?  How does this idea of “Reconciliation” translate into our day to day human relationships?

This audience interactive play puts real, tough, current issues on the stage about the blockages we all face moving towards Reconciliation.  It asks the “What now?” question in regards to Reconciliation, and compels audiences to think about Reconciliation not as a “thing of the past”, but something that permeates many aspects of all of our lives.

Created and performed by a courageous mixed Indigenous and non-Indigenous cast and production team, šxʷʔam̓ət (home) weaves together stories based on real life and challenges us to make reconciliation true and honourable.  šxʷʔam̓ət (home) invites audiences to try to offer solutions to the real-life problems being presented on the stage. 

šxʷʔam̓ət (home) is directed by David Diamond, and Associate Director Renae Morriseau* with the following cast: Asivak Koostachin* (Inuk/Cree), Madeline Terbasket (Okanagan, Ho-Cak & Anishnabe), Joey Lespérance*, Mutya Macatumpag, Nayden LA Palosaari (Cree), Rev. Meg Roberts*, Sam Seward (Sḵwx̱wú7meshsi & Snuneymuxw)

* Appearing courtesy of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association

PLEASE NOTE:   After 36 years of non-stop production and numerous tours, this will be the final large touring production of the theatre company.

TOUR ITINERARY:

The following is a pronunciation guide to facilitate your engagement with hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓.   

Content developed courtesy Musqueam Language and Culture Department 2017

 šxʷʔam̓ət:  š is pronounced like English “sh”. xʷ sounds like the “wh” in “which” (as opposed to the “w” in “witch”). Stress is on the first syllable, like in the name “Amit”. ʔam̓ sounds like the first syllable in the word “omelet”. ət sounds like the second syllable of the word “comet”.

Please visit www.theatreforliving.com to find the audio file of Musqueam Elder Larry Grant pronouncing šxʷʔam̓ət.

Forum Theatre: is an opportunity for creative, community-based dialogue. The play is performed once, all the way through, so the audience can see the situation and the problems presented. The story builds to a crisis and stops, offering no solutions. The play is then run again, with audience members able to “freeze” the action at any point where they see a character engaged in a struggle, and have an idea to solve the problem, somehow. They replace the character whose struggle they understand.  The other characters respond, not to “make it better”, not to “make it worse”, simply to be truthful, drawing on their own lived expertise. What insights do we have? What do we think? What do we learn? Who agrees? Who disagrees? In this way we engage in a creative and action-based dialogue about issues in our lives. The process is fun, profound, entertaining and full of surprises.

For media inquiries or more information about the Victoria production, please contact: Diana Smith 250 858-2538 [email protected] OR for Theatre for Living and tour information: David Ng 604.871.0508 or [email protected].