Playwright Kevin Loring calls on Trickster tradition to tell the satirical story of Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer
What would you do if a company moved into your backyard – and said it was now their backyard?
That's the dilemma facing Red, the last remaining member of the Little Red Warrior Nation, who realizes one day that a commercial real estate developer has violated his traditional territory.
Red reacts angrily, lands in legal hot water and before long ends up living in the spare bedroom of the court-appointed lawyer representing him.
Theatre Calgary's production (in partnership with Making Treaty 7) of Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer, by Governor-General Award-winning playwright Kevin Loring, opens Friday at the Max Bell Theatre at Arts Commons.
And while the world of Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer is fictional, it isn't far removed from the origin story of Canada – or an incident Loring found himself engaged with that spurred his writing.
"I was inspired to write this piece many years ago when I (was) involved in an effort to save an old growth watershed in the Fraser Canyon," Loring said in a release.
"That experience provoked me (to) think about colonialism and sovereignty and our relationship to the land. It also made me think about what we sacrifice when we engage with the systems that oppress us."
Canadian playwright Kevin Loring is pictured at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on Thursday, April 18, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
"When I was writing the first drafts of this play, I was thinking about the Trickster stories I knew. Many Trickster stories are absurd and often very sexual. They are stories of transformation and deception, where nothing is as it seems.
"This is a Trickster fable about land claims, colonialism and lust," he adds, "where nothing is sacred and no one walks away unscathed."
The production is being presented in conjunction with the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, where Loring is the artistic director of Indigenous programming, Victoria's Belfry Theatre, and Vancouver's Savage Society.
INDIGENOUS GREETERS WANTED
Making Treaty 7 is looking for Indigenous greeters to help welcome folks throughout the production. They posted a signup sheet on social media and are offering a Making Treaty 7 t-shirt to anyone who volunteers.
Volunteers also get to see the show for free (there are also $20 Indigenous community tickets available throughout the run).
For Making Treaty 7 artistic director Michelle Thrush, whose company is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Feb. 17, the production of an Indigenous playwright's work in the biggest theatre in the city is a cause for celebration.
"The presence of Indigenous arts here in Calgary is something Making Treaty 7 holds high and we are committed to bringing the best quality theatre to our audiences. Theatre Calgary has taken on a commitment of honouring Indigenous stories and this new partnership has been a wonderful and rewarding journey."
"We look to theatre to highlight the stories of the community we live in, or to show us stories we have not heard before," said Theatre Calgary executive director Maya Choldin. "The same can be said for working with other important arts organizations in our city, especially those who we have not partnered with before, like the wonderful artists at Making Treaty 7."
Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer runs through Feb.19. Tickets are available here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.