Artistic Director Michelle sits down with newest staff member Q: What is your background? A: I have a masters in Creative Writing from the University of Manitoba.  Q: Have you ever been published? A: Yes, I have a novella titled Gaze which has been published and I also edited a horror anthology called The Shadow over Portage & Main. Q: What compelled you to apply for the Assistant GM job? A: I had one part time job in another arts organization and need a second one. I wanted to stay in the arts sector and the job at SIR seemed like it would be interesting. As I already knew all the office stuff it was a good fit. Q: Have you ever tread the boards? A: (laughs) Does that mean to perform? Well no. But I was in a couple of bands; Blown Up Friend and Face Your Destroyer so I think that counts. I would describe them as alternative prog- metal*. (Michelle has no clue what this is….she first wrote it down as Prague-metal) Q: What is your favourite Shakespeare play? A: I love Merchant of Venice because it is grim and has one of the best speeches in “hath not a Jew hands” Q: Describe Artistic Director Michelle Boulet in one sentence. A: She always enters and leaves the room in a flurry but she totally gets things done. Q: Describe General Manager Lisa. A: She is the organizer of all the flurry. Q: You have now been here just over a year. What have you learned? A: I have learned what ‘tread the boards’ mean….also just how much effort it takes to put on an SIR show. Q: What is your favourite thing about SIR? A: The people! (Michelle gives an aww shucks) * a fusion genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock that combines the loud “aggression” and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral or “pseudo-classical” compositions of the latter. Keith’s position made possible through funding from The Winnipeg Foundation

Following the success of our Stratford raffle last year, we decided that we would send two lucky SIR supporters to Vancouver this summer to take in Bard on the Beach. Thank you so much for everyone who purchased a ticket and we hope you do so again. Proceeds go towards our outreach programming. Help us share our passion for Shakespeare widely. Prize: Trip for two to Bard on the Beach in Vancouver, British Columbia! Prize includes:  Round trip airfare for two Three nights accommodation Three pairs of tickets to 2019 Bard on the Beach productions $500 spending money four day car rental The draw will take place on Saturday, June 22nd, 2019 during the intermission of Hamlet at the Trappist Monastery Provincial Heritage park. Winner does not have to be present at the draw to win. Trip must be booked before September 1st, 2019. Raffle tickets $25 contact admin@sirmb.ca or call 204.957.1753 for tickets.

“Dost thou think because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale?”–Sir Toby Belch. Twelfth Night We’d like to give a big SIR welcome to our newest sponsor Little Brown Jug! We’re thrilled to have them on board as our Official 2019 Beer Sponsor. What you may not know is that SIR, LBJ and Shakespeare have a connection going back over 20 years. SIR General Manager Lisa Nelson-Fries and LBJ owner and founder Kevin Selch were friends in high school. They played Viola and Orsino in Westwood Collegiate’s 1997 production of Twelfth Night. Included is a photo of them from that production. Since opening in 2016 Little Brown Jug has been a faithful ally of the arts in Winnipeg supporting a wide variety of events and organizations both large and small. SIR is proud to be part of that list.

Some sessions are easier than others. Sometimes everything runs smoothly. We come, we laugh, we play, we explore. And sometimes it feels hard. Class after class cancelled due to lockdowns. Having to advocate for the smallest things, like a pot of coffee for break time. Sometimes I am so aware that I get older, and they stay the same age. Young men – most of whom have already spent the majority of their lives on the inside, locked up, away from their mothers and sisters and children and partners. There are days I want to cradle their bruised faces in my hands and ask “Who did this to you?” But we go forth. We come together in spite of the obstacles. We build new relationships within a static and cold structure. We find a way to identify ourselves differently – as artists, as creative beings, as peers, part of a team. This year we focused on Julius Caesar – a request from a previous participant who has since been released after serving a life sentence. Seven guys completed the program. One was thrown in the hole the morning of the performance. The other six presented a monologue in front of ensemble members and staff from SIR, their teachers, parole officers, and the warden and assistant warden. Two of the participants will be released within the week. And in the spring we will begin again – renewed by the possibility of laughter, and play, and exploration, and connection – forever grateful for the opportunity to expand these prison walls.