Wednesday
Oct192016

The Selkie Wife opens this week at the Apollo Theatre of the Isle of Wight

Follow the blog from this wonderful UK premiere of my play The Selkie Wife. 

 

From the Apollo web page:

Our director introduces.....The Selkie Wife.

The next production at the Apollo Theatre will be ‘The Selkie Wife’, a play by Canadian author Kelley Jo Burke.  Her work is well known in her home country but the Apollo is proud and delighted to announce that this will be the UK premiere of this particular play.
The director is Ginnie Orrey.  More usually seen on the Apollo stage, Ginnie has chosen to direct this complex and beautifully written play after seeing it in a tiny theatre on the Canadian prairies and subsequently meeting the author, who is ‘absolutely thrilled’ that her play will be travelling to the Isle of Wight.  She found her inspiration in the Celtic myth of ‘selkies’ – seals who shed their sealskins to come on to dry land, find a mate and have children and then return to the sea.  Kelley Jo has turned the myth on its head by focusing on a selkie who chooses to keep her human form and stay on land with her husband and family, and the difficult decisions she has to make when another selkie comes to take her back to the water.
The cast includes Apollo stalwarts Ian Moth and Sue Edwards, alongside relative newcomers Esther Poucher and Maureen Sullivan, and introduces Josh Pointing, from the Isle of Wight Shakespeare Company. 
‘The Selkie Wife’ opens on 21 October and runs to 29 October.

 

Monday
Jun132016

What a rush!

Had the most amazing time performing with Jeffery Straker (my partner-in-crime who I adore) sharing our musical in progress called "Us". A million thanks to everyone who came out , including Marilyn Turnley and Janna Kathleen Wood for all their great help, to my darling Eric Eggertson for giving up his whole Saturday to help and take photos, to the hosts with the most Roberta McKay and Elmer Brenner, for letting us turn Roberta's gorgeous office into a concert hall and as ever my deep gratitude the Saskatchewan Arts Board and Camp FYrefly Sask for their support of the project. Word fail me- it was amazing.

And the press is taking notice!

 

Monday
Jun062016

House Concert: Stories and songs from "Us" by KJB and Jeffery Straker

Tickets available at the door , or by emailing Jeffrey or me. 80% sold out but will definitely make room for you! Check the poster for details and contact information.





Tuesday
May102016

Dawn Dumont's "Toe Tag Crew" begins GTNT/SGI Tour

It was fabulous acting as the amazing Dawn Dumont's dramturg for this show that is performing all over Saskatchewan for the next months--from the Govt' of Sask's press release:

"Released on May 9, 2016

Decisions behind the wheel can lead to a lifetime of consequences.  That’s the message SGI and the Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre (GTNT) are demonstrating firsthand this spring with a live performance aimed at youth in high schools across the province.

The performance, titled The Toe Tag Crew, profiles the lives of four young people looking back on how dangerous driving decisions resulted in dire consequences.  The performances focus is on key road safety issues impacting Saskatchewan teens, including seatbelt use and impaired, distracted and aggressive driving.

“Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of injury and death for Saskatchewan youth,” Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota MLA Bronwyn Eyre said on behalf of Minister responsible for SGI Don McMorris.  “Too many drivers—especially teens—think it will never happen to them, but the truth is collisions on our roads can and do happen and many of them have a lifetime of consequences.”

The performance underlines a key issue in the province.  In 2014, 15 teens were killed and 748 were injured in vehicle crashes on Saskatchewan roads.*  SGI commissioned the performance, written and performed by the GTNT, specifically to reach high school youth.  It incorporates the use of hashtags and social media to engage students.

“TV shows or movies are one thing, but through live performance we can reach and connect with students in new ways,” actor Dalton Lightfoot said, who plays the role of Liam, one of the teens in the performance.  “After the show ends we interact with students and continue to share the important message of road safety.”

The travelling performance kicks off on May 9 in Saskatoon and wraps up on June 3 in Regina.  Over its month-long tour, the performance will visit a total of 22 high schools in 21 communities and reach approximately 5,000 youth.

Visit SGI’s website at www.sgi.sk.ca for more information about road safety.  Follow SGI on Facebook and Twitter for safety tips to #TakeCareOutThere.

*Teens include those between the ages of 13-19.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Kelley Brinkworth
Saskatchewan Government Insurance
Regina
Phone: 306-751-1837
Email: kbrinkworth@sgi.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-6207

Thursday
Feb042016

NEW DATES--Get in on the ground floor--"Us" a new musical by Kelley Jo Burke, songs by Jeffery Straker


Join the fabulous Jeffery Straker and I as we introduce the story and songs of our upcoming new musical--with thanks to our generous hosts Elmer and Roberta McKay and with the support of the Saskatchewan Arts Board. June 11 at 8 pm--Kerr-Bronfman House, 2326 College Ave Regina.