Taran Kootenhayoo's White Noise to have world premiere at the Firehall Arts Centre
The Firehall and Savage Society present the late storyteller’s thought-provoking, humour-tinged work exploring internalized racism
Post Sponsored by firehall arts centre
Taran Kootenhayoo.
The Firehall Arts Centre and Savage Society are honoured to present the world premiere of White Noise, written by Taran Kootenhayoo, from April 16 to May 1 at the Firehall Arts Centre.
The work is set during Truth and Reconciliation Week, when two families—one Indigenous, one not—have dinner together, and in the process discover what it means to live in the other’s reality. With humour (sometimes gentle, sometimes pointed) White Noise asks us to consider: How do we deal with internalized racism? Do we keep pushing it away and pretend to live safely in our day-to-day?
The late Kootenhayoo was proud to be Denesuline and Stoney Nakota. Born in Cold Lake, Alberta, and a member of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, he was first and foremost a storyteller, bringing that energy to his work as an activist, actor, poet, spoken word artist, skateboarder, and filmmaker. He was a transformer, a director, a writer, a fantastic dancer an Indigenous style icon. He could steal the show, but he was always generous in his offerings as a person and performer.
Director Renae Morriseau says, "White Noise shows the comedic foibles of actions, and cringy moments of ‘oh, ohs’ which defines the pulse of getting to know the ‘other.' It shows the complexity of value systems and the push and pull of current Canadian knowing of Indigenous lived experience.”
Taran Kootenhayoo.
“When I first saw the workshop production of White Noise, I knew it was a play that would interest and entertain Vancouver audiences,” says Firehall Arts Centre artistic producer, Donna Spencer. “While it has many comedic moments, it is powerfully thought-provoking, making us think about our role in reconciliation and our responsibility to gain a greater understanding of the Indigenous people and their history here on Turtle Island and in Canada.”
Savage Society’s artistic director Kevin Loring adds, “Savage Society had been working with Taran for about five years. We had been trying to help nurture his growth as an artist and out of that work came White Noise which is a wonderful example of Taran’s imagination and artistry. We miss Taran dearly and this production will help us celebrate him and share his bright light with the wider community.”
White Noise stars Sam Bob, Columpa Bobb, Braiden Houle, Mike Wasko, Anais West, and Anita Wittenberg. Set design is by Lauchlin Johnston; costume design by Crystine Booth; projection design by Candelario Andrade; lighting design by Brad Trenaman'; and sound design by Cheyanna Kootenhayoo, aka DJ Kookum, who also serves as associate director. Stage Management is by Dorothy Jenkins with assistance from apprentice stage manager Jessica Adamson.
More information is at Firehall Arts Centre.
Post sponsored by Firehall Arts Centre.