By Arne MacPherson IR’s current SITC program works with youth from Winnipeg’s inner-city. The program is directed by Claire Friesen, and offers them free drama workshops that culminate in the production of a shortened version of one of Shakespeare’s plays. As well as instruction, food, bus tickets (or rides) to participants, and complimentary tickets to SIR productions are provided. This program helps marginalized youth find their voice. It inspires them to dream, and to develop tools to express who they are as individuals. It is a powerful program that fosters empathy and expands horizons (as well as touching on many of the learning outcomes defined by the Winnipeg School Division’s English and Literacy curricula).  The value of studying Shakespeare lies in his masterful portrayal of the enormous paradox of the human condition. He shows people dogged by fate, destined for hardship, while offering up no easy answer. Despite hitting a very personal chord, participants bravely tackle these prickly themes. 2015 saw this culminate in a moving production of Romeo & Juliet. This past year SIR AD Andrew Cecon and myself approached MTS Stories From Home about making a documentary on our youth and community Shakespeare in the City (SITC) program, and their quest to put on a production of Romeo & Juliet. As luck would have it, SIR Board Member Marilyn Firth was also directing R & J with her troupe the SuchStuff Players, a successful Winnipeg theatre company run by a community of home-schooling families. Our documentary, entitled Both Alike in Dignity, chronicles the parallel productions of Romeo and Juliet by two Winnipeg youth theatre companies, SITC and Such Stuff Players. Both Alike in Dignity will air on MTS Stories from Home this coming year. We are proud of the documentary, and proud of all the students involved. Hopefully you’ll be able to watch the documentary and learn more about our Youth, Community and Education programming. Your support helps programs like this positively impact the lives of unlikely people, and for that we are eternally grateful.

Audience enjoying SIR’s Comedy of Errors at the Ruins  How is it that a small theatre company with a limited budget and small staff continuously delivers a quality Shakespearian experience AND an extension program that rivals any other arts programming currently offered in Manitoba? Like most people I came to know Shakespeare in The Ruins by attending shows at the St. Norbert monastery. The plays are engaging, the setting unique, and of course, the post show reflections with my wife made the price of admission well worth it. I’m willing to pay the price of admission for my own entertainment, but am I willing to support the company to expand on my experience and share Shakespeare through the outreach programming? In fact I am. I ask you to consider the following statement: ‘can SIR maintain the quality of it’s programming without our help’. Join me by making a donation that will ensure Shakespeare’s great themes touch (and change) the lives of all Manitobans. Francis Maitland Your support WILL make a difference – Donate now !

By Pamela Lockman – St. John’s Ravenscourt My love affair with Shakespeare In The Ruins has been going on for almost 20 years now. Since arriving in Winnipeg in 1997, I have seen every one of their spring productions and “stripped down” fall school shows. What SIR offers our community in terms of providing great theatre for public audiences is only one of the terrific things they do. Even greater than that, however, is what they offer to hundreds of students every year through their fall school tours. SIR performs a veritable repertoire of “Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits for Schools.” In the recent past, these have been Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Scottish play, and this year’s, Romeo and Juliet. The school shows are “stripped down” versions of the plays; that is, they are only about one-hour long, and all the parts are played by four actors. The students don’t all read the play first, but the performances are so entertaining that almost all of the students “get it”. This year we warned our students that Stripped-Down Romeo & Juliet would be played by an all-male cast. “What about the kissing?” asked one student. “Will they kiss?” “Well, Romeo and Juliet do kiss,” I responded. And then I got to give a little lesson on how in Shakespeare’s time women were not even allowed to act on stage and so it was all male actors all the time. The students love that SIR takes risks in their productions. Some of the comments afterward commended SIR for entertaining us so well and for making the story easy to understand. They are always thrilled when one of the actors talks directly to the audience, or, better yet, when they pull a student or a teacher from the audience to dance or to sit at a table with other actors. There is no doubt, SIR knows how to please their young audiences as well as their teachers!

Moor of Stony Mountain By Claire Friesen – SITC Program Director  In August 2015, three years after starting our initial inquiries, SIR gained institutional access and clearance for a new Stony Mountain outreach program to begin. In August 2015 we moved into the penitentiary school, and offered a grade 10 drama credit to any inmate who completed the program. We ended up with 11 participants ranging in age from early 20s to mid-50s. We spent most of our time in a unique exploration of Othello. We shortened the play to thirty pages and set it in Stony Mountain penitentiary. Amelia became Emilio, and Desdemona became Desmond, one of Othello’s best bros. The participants were expected to complete homework each week to make up hours towards their drama credit. The assignments asked students to connect their personal experiences with the themes from Othello. For example, here is an excerpt from an assignment on reputation: “I guess I would have to say if I lost my reputation I wouldn’t be the man I am now. I wouldn’t have acquired the things I have in the last 35 years. In a way though, I really have lost some of my reputation since I’m currently sitting in prison for doing something very stupid. I know I have lost the trust of certain people which because of my crime I’ll never be able to get back. That has caused me a great deal of unhappiness. But I think I’ll be able to regain (reputation) as time goes on. At least I have to believe so.” – inmate participant Somehow Shakespeare’s words allow us to voice our own deeply personal life experiences whether we are teens, parents, facilitators or inmates. His language has gives us the freedom to put into words the harshest of sentiments. It is simultaneously beautiful, profound, and cathartic. Through the use of Shakespeare, the reflections from the group became increasingly thoughtful and intimate. All of our inmate participants showed an increase in literacy and received a grade 10 drama credit to put toward their high school diplomas. More than that, they all showed an increase in self-confidence and self-awareness, both personal and in relation to a group. The necessity of imagination and play in theatre helped participants let go of their “front” in the class, and begin reframing their identities beyond that of inmate. Through the recognition of 450 years of common humanity, participants built trust, empathy, and had fun. “From the first class I attended to the last class I have seen our group grow a great deal, we grew as a team. I think from all the laughs we got from the warm-ups we became more fearless and less worried about being judged or laughed at. I never thought that this is something that I could do, nor did I think this is something I would like. Myself and the guys were always listening and showed Arne and Claire all the respect they showed us.” – SITC participant Although it is still in its fledgling state, our contact at Stony Mountain has already asked us to run the program twice in 2016. This is a one of a kind program here in Canada and we hope to keep it running through the years to come.

Thanks to a mentorship grant through ACI Manitoba Shakespeare in the Ruins has been able to offer an intern position to Black Hole student Nickolas Petuhoff. Artistic Director Michelle Boulet sits down with Nick to find out what’s his story. Michelle: Where did you study? Nick: I am currently enrolled at the University of Manitoba in the Theatre Department; prior to that I attended Maples Collegiate. Michelle: What was your very first theatre production? Nick: In grade nine I was in a production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and I played Mike Teavee. Michelle: How did you land at SIR as its Admin Assistant? Nick: I met the two Artistic Directors of SIR (Andrew Cecon & Michelle Boulet) while we were all working on Hamlet last March. Then I met General Manager Lisa Nelson on opening night. Andrew heard about a mentorship program being offered through ACI and thought I would be a good fit and could learn a lot from spending some time at the company’s office. They applied to the program and the rest they say is history. I have been here since September. Michelle: What have you learned during your time? Nick: I have been involved in both the production side in addition to gaining experience on stage. I spent October/November on the road with the provincial fall tour Stripped-Down Romeo & Juliet playing Romeo. With Artistic Director Andrew Cecon also on the tour it was a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of touring. Here in the office I have been fortunate to be learning a bit of everything with the added bonus of applying it in the real world…something which does not happen while you are still in university. Michelle: What is your favourite Bard play? Nick: Titus Andronicus because I was in it…(laughs). Michelle: I understand you are in the military. Are there any similarities between working there and at SIR? Nick: Surprisingly yes. Theatre takes a great deal of discipline and organization. Similar to the military there is a lot of general camaraderie and familial bonds which happens when people band together and work toward a unifying goal. Oh, and Lisa a driving force…like a Sargent…(laughs)…but don’t tell her. Michelle: Have your co-workers given you a nickname yet? Nick: As a matter of fact yes. I am known most commonly around the office as Baby Bear. That’s right. That’s me. Michelle: How has your mentorship with SIR affected your career in theatre? Nick: The mentorship has accelerated the launching of my theatre career beyond my wildest dreams, providing me with the skills, networking, and professionalism that is expected of a young professional. Perhaps the most important contribution the company and ensemble has given to my career was a sense of community and belonging, which is so strong in fact, that I feel like I am part of a family.