Small-town theatres often bring in live music or plays. So what happens when the audience stops sitting in the dark and becomes part of the cast itself?
In a rural Saskatchewan community, Every Brilliant Thing brings audiences directly into the story. Host Merle Massie talks with storyteller Elizabeth Nepjuk and director Stephen Waldschmidt about the one-person show, written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe. What happens when a theatre audience becomes part of the performance.
As Merle discovers firsthand, people in the crowd are soon tasked with reading lines from slips of paper, taking on the roles of a parent, a friend, even a sock-puppet counsellor. By the end of the play, the audience becomes a roomful of witnesses who've helped tell a story about depression, suicide, and reasons to stay alive.
Biggar & District Arts Council member Annette Fecht says "it really puts into perspective, you know, how big some of these little things are, how important they are."
We hear how the crowd shifts from rowdy to quiet, as randomly selected audience members stretch the show with improv of their own. The show veers from funny, to heavy, to tender, creating space for rural audiences to reflect, connect and leave with a sense of hope.
We love hearing ideas, comments, and stories about what you do for fun on your farm. Get in touch with Merle by sending your e-mail or audio message to feedback@domore.ag.
