Our creative team along with cast members worked with John Baker of Shift Consulting to flesh our visionary plan for our 2009 production of Frozen by Bryony Lavery.
It was great to get together with John, who is more than just a hired gun - he's my real life partner. We met in our living room and he facilitated a lively conversation between the company members about the research each of us had done and what the play Frozen meant to each of us.
The dominant theme of the play is forgiveness.
What I'm talking about here is a radical forgiveness of the highest order. One of the most compelling items I happened upon while doing my own research is a website called The Forgiveness Project. The project has a travelling exhibition called "The F Word."
"The F Word: Images of Forgiveness" exhibition is a thought provoking collection of arresting images and personal narratives exploring forgiveness in the face of atrocity.
First launched in London in 2004, it has since been displayed in over 300 venues worldwide. Drawing together voices from South Africa, America, Israel, Palestine, Northern Ireland and England, the exhibition examines forgiveness as a healing process, a journey out of victimhood and, ultimately, a journey of hope.
Our production of Frozen was very well received when we mounted it as an extra event in the 2009/10 theatre season with Theatre at UBC. It inspired a lot of lively debate and we especially enjoyed talk back sessions with classes that came out to see it. Anthony Ingram earned a Jessie Richardson Award "Best Actor in a Lead Role" for his searing and sensitive portrayal of "Ralph" in the production.
~ posted by Deb Pickman
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