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Community Building on the Avalon Conference -"Rebel
Island Productions"
Earth, Wind, Water & Fire : The Elements of Community
Making
The
�Na Geira�. Was there an actual historical personage named Princess
Sheila
Na Geira? Is her historicity as relevant as the manner in which her
�presence� has helped to shape the mythos that sustains the cultural
life of the area, and hence helps to grow the ties that bind us
together as a community? A dramatic puzzle we will not solve, but
investigate.
The D�Iberville Raids. In the 17th century, French forces, in the
ongoing battle for North America waged between the French and the
English, visited our shores. Residents from the entire region, from
Brigus onward, gathered on Carbonear Island in Carbonear Harbour, in an
effort to withstand the powerful onslaught of D�Iberville�s warships.
They did not prevail, but within a few short years the area was
recaptured by the British, and rose again to become one of the great
fish landing ports in North America.
Fire and Tryphoena Nicholl. If it�s not the oldest, then the volunteer
fire department of Carbonear, at age 130, is certainly right up there
with the oldest continually operating volunteer service of its kind in
Newfoundland and Labrador. And fire has played a significant role,
unfortunately, in the fortunes and misfortunes of this region. The
courage and continuity of the volunteers will be dramatized,
culminating in the great Post Office Fire at the turn of the twentieth
Century, which claimed the life of Postmistress Tryphoena Nicholl, but
not before some acts of outstanding bravery on her part.
Conception Bay North women and the Labrador Fishery. Although their
involvement stretches back to the 17th century, we are focusing on the
involvement of Conception Bay women in the 20th century, through to the
collapse of the fishery in 1992. The strength of character shown by
these women will lay the groundwork for us to rise again, as we have
done from the times of Peter Easton through to the present.
The Players: Actor/writers Jenny Gear, John Sheehan, Sherry Kean,
Rory Lambert, Heather Stone, and Ken Butt. Music, sound and technical
production/operation by Shawn Lidster. Directed and dramaturged by
Rebel Island Artistic Director Michael Chiasson. With the exception of
Chiasson, who just joined the company in February of this year, the
core group are all seasoned cultural creators with Rebel Island
Theatre.
Presenter: Rebel Island Theatre, the operating arm of Princess Sheila
Inc., based in Carbonear, NL. The company has a six-year history of
producing professional live theatre, with an accent on regional topics.
Website:
http://www.rebelisland.com/
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