This show is made possible by Canada Council for the Arts.
Artistic Director’s Note
Speaking Vibrations is a multidisciplinary devised performance made by four artists with an extensive range of skills and artistries. One thing that strikes me so distinctly about this piece is its generosity. The pace allows us to wade in slowly. The production functions like poetry rather than narrative; each line, each gesture, illuminating an idea and building to something greater.
There is a show happening for a Deaf audience and there is a show happening for a hearing audience and they are the same show. This integration is unusual. It is a vision of a more equitable, beautiful and interrelated world.
May this vision and interrelatedness inspire us all.
Sarah
Credits and
Acknowledgements
Cast and Creative Team appear in alphabetical order.
Creators and Performers
Jo-Anne Bryan
Carmelle Cachero
King Kimbit
Jordan Samonas
Company
Director/Dramaturg | Jacqui du Toit
Deaf Culture Director | Pamela Witcher
Lighting Design | Emilio Sebastiao
Visuals & Captions | Lesley Marshall
Vibrotactile Specialists | David Bobier & Jim Ruxton (VibrafusionLabs) vibrotactile installation: Jesse Stewart
Stage Manager | Kat Wong
Movement Consultant | Dayna Szyndrowski
Lead Interpreter | Marianne Kelly
Production Crew
Technical Director | Kyle Ahluwalia
Interim Head of Props | Patrice-Ann Forbes
Head of Wardrobe | Vanessa Imeson
Assistant Technical Director, Head of Carpentry | Jonah Maybear
Assistant Technical Director | Valerie-Josephine Trudel
Please Note
Speaking Vibrations is approximately 75 minutes long, plus a 20 minute intermission.
The use of cameras or recording devices is strictly prohibited.
All cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off.
Please don't walk in the performance area of the stage.
Please keep your mask on at all times.
Enjoy the Show!
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The Great Canadian Theatre Company engages members of the Local 471 of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees.
GCTC acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), an agency of the Government of Ontario, which last year funded 1, 737 individual artists and 1, 095 organizations in 223 communities across Ontario for a total of $52.1 million.
GCTC acknowledges the support of Canadian Heritage for bringing this show to our stage.
GCTC engages, under the terms of Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors' Equity Association.
A special thanks to interpreters, Amanda Grimaldi, Ayoka Junaid, Kathleen Henderson, Catherine Maier, and Jennifer Roberts; to GCTC’s volunteers; and to the many family, friends and supporters of this production.
This production would not be possible without the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Join us for Reasons To Be Cheerful
Reasons To Be Cheerful is a joyful celebration of Ian Dury’s birthday, of his riotous disability anthem, “Spasticus Autisticus,” and of the disability justice movement.
The Company
Jo-Anne Anita Bryan
Creator and Performer
Jo-Anne Anita Bryan is an Ottawa-based Artist experiencing life through the intersections of being Black, Deaf, Queer, and Woman. Her artistry includes American Sign Language (ASL) storytelling and performance. Jo-Anne is one-quarter of the Speaking Vibrations group; they did their first performance at Uproar Arts Festival (2019). Jo-Anne performed her ASL storytelling Where You Come From (Phenomena Festival, 2019) and 400 years (Sound Off Festival, 2021). When not performing, she works as ASL consultant/Deaf interpreter to interpreters and Deaf theatre actors and creates illustrations in her spare time. She wants to ensure that theatre is accessible to Deaf communities.
David Bobier
Vibrotactile Specialist (Vibrafusion Labs)
David Bobier is a hard of hearing and disabled Canadian media artist whose art practice is researching and developing vibrotactile technology as a creative medium. This work led to his establishment in 2014 of VibraFusionLab in London, Ontario, a creative multi-media, multi-sensory centre that has gained a reputation as a leader in accessibility for the Deaf and Disability Arts movement in Canada and abroad. As a practicing artist his exhibition career includes 18 solo and over 30 group exhibition projects across Canada, in the United States and the UK. VibraFusionLab is now situated outside of London in Thorndale, Ontario.
Carmelle Cachero
Creator and Performer
Carmelle Cachero has lived her whole life in the arts world and tells her story through rhythm. In addition to Speaking Vibrations, she currently dances with the Ottawa Rhythm Initiative Ensemble and YOW City Tap. Her passion for the art form of rhythm tap is a driving force to her pursuits. She co-founded the West Coast Tap Dance Collective, which promotes the art of tap dance and is looking forward to future projects currently in the works. Carmelle’s love for the arts extends into other aspects of her life working as a Sign Language Interpreter for theatre and performing arts.
Jacqui du Toit
Director and Dramaturg
Jacqui Du Toit is an award-winning, actor, playwright and an internationally celebrated storyteller from Kimberley, South Africa. Jacqui received the 2019 Prix Rideau Award for Outstanding Female Performance in Drowning Girls and an Outstanding Female Performance nomination for her role in Omnibus Bill. She created The Hottentot Venus - Untold, a monodrama nominated for best actress at the 2017 Rideaux Awards and Capital Critics Awards. Jacqui has performed across Canada and the world. She serves on the Board of Directors of GCTC, Ottawa Storytellers and Tactic Indie Theatre festival. Jacqui is the founder and director of 8thGeneration Storytelling Company and the Co-owner and Creative Director of The Origin Arts and Community Centre.
King Kimbit
Creator and Performer
King Kimbit is a literary and vocal Hip-Hop artist based on traditional land of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg. As a daughter of the Vietnamese Diaspora, King yearns to explore the roots of her journey as she expresses through art forms learned from an inner-city upbringing, some of which can be heard on her debut album, Life Lessons Poetically. King is passionate about empowering and encouraging youth, community care, and sharing love through writing, reciting, and the abolition of punitive, carceral institutions, and is currently working on her sophomore album, Healing Trauma From The Projects.
Lesley Marshall
Projection and Video Designer
Lesley Marshall is an award-winning filmmaker and intermedia artist. Projection art by Lesley has been performed at the National Art Centre, Montreal Jazz Fest, CentrePHI and in galleries in NYC, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and the Netherlands. Lesley is the founder of MAVNetwork (@mavnetwork Instagram) a production, media and marketing agency for audio visual design and presentation. In 2021, with collaborator Ashley Bowa, Lesley presented Green Gazing projection immersion project of plants and experimental movement at Ada X, Montreal, Workman Arts, Toronto, and at DARC, Ottawa.
Jim Ruxton
Vibrotactile Specialist (VibrafusionLabs)
Jim Ruxton has a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa and graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design . He works as an artist and engineer in installation, performance, theatre, dance and film and collaborates with many other artists to realize their technically ambitious projects. As a member of Vibrafusion Lab he has been developing new systems to help bring vibrotactile technology into the world. Jim was co-founder of the Subtle Technologies Festival, a Toronto based event bringing together artists and scientists to share their techniques, tools and concepts.
Jordan Samonas
Creator and Performer
Jordan Samonas is a performer, choreographer and producer of interdisciplinary works and events, with an eclectic movement background. Visionary and go-getter, Jordan has a background in indie self-production: ROOTED Contemporary Dance (2015-2019); NORTH OF MIND with Don Ross (2018) and Speaking Vibrations Accessible Concert Film (2021). Select credits: Speaking Vibrations (Ottawa Fringe Festival, 2021; Uproar Arts Festival, 2019), ex-ducere (Nextfest Arts Festival, 2021); A Hug in Several Parts (Dark Horse Dance Projects, 2019) snowdance2 (ROOTED Contemporary Dance, 2019), technosapien (Series Dance10-Ottawa Dance Directive, 2018); Ottawa Rhythm Initiative Ensemble (Ottawa Jazz Festival, 2018). Upcoming: Speaking Vibrations (GCTC May-June 2022); YOWCityTap (2022).
Emilio Sebastiao
Lighting Designer
Artisan of stage arts for more than ten years, Emilio dedicates his time to various artistically and technically creative projects, dedicating the majority of his time to lighting and set designs for the performing arts.
Recently, Emilio has created a wide variety of lighting designs for theatre and dance such as Néon Boréal, Delphine Rêve Toujours, and Le Lilas Africain, in collaboration with the Théâtre du Trillium, Théâtre de la Vielle 17, and the Théâtre de Dehors, respectively.
Jesse Stewart
Vibrotactile Installation
Jesse Stewart is a visual artist, composer, percussionist, instrument builder, and educator dedicated to re-imagining the space between artistic disciplines. Much of his creative work crosses disciplinary boundaries, exploring the links between the visual and the sonic arts.
He has exhibited work in over twenty exhibitions at galleries including the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Thames Art Gallery, the Glenhyrst Gallery, the Peterborough Art Gallery, the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, and the Ottawa Art Gallery. Five exhibition catalogues have been published about his work.
As a musician, he works primarily in the areas of jazz, experimental music, and free improvisation. His music has been documented on over twenty recordings including Stretch Orchestra’s self-titled debut album which received the 2012 “Instrumental Album of the Year” JUNO award. He has performed and/or recorded with musical luminaries from around the world.
He also has extensive experience facilitating community-engaged art and music projects.
Jesse Stewart has received numerous awards and honours including the Ottawa Arts Council’s Mid-Career Artist Award and the Order of Ottawa. He is a Professor in the School for Studies in Art and Culture at Carleton University, and an adjunct faculty member in the Visual Arts Department at the University of Ottawa.
Pamela Witcher
Deaf Culture Director
Pamela E. Witcher is a multidisciplinary artist, a director, a curator, an interpreter and a translator. Pamela’s implications have contributed several artistic projects, among others: Collective Reflection on Cultural Citizenship of Deaf People and Cultural Equity Practices; Phenomena Festival; VIBE Symposium; Edinburgh International Book Festival; Peuple de l'oeil, Écomusée du fier monde; Québec en mouvement !; Revue À Bâbord; Signed Music : A Symphonious Odyssey; Symposium Celebration of Sign Language; Conseil des arts du Canada; and, Ageing, Communication & Technology (ACT). Pamela finds it necessary to overlap old and new discoveries that have the power to change views and ideas. When the Deaf communities create information through art and documentation, our existence becomes concrete, known and valued.
Kat Wong
Stage Manager
Kat Wong can be found in various places and positions in the theatre including acting (Suspense: The Radio Show, Plosive Productions), stage managing (Midsummer [a play with songs[), lighting/projection (The Santaland Diaries, Theatre Vancouver), and scenic painting (Macbeth, Bear & Co.).
This theatre ninja can also be found in other sectors of the entertainment industry including festival streaming technician and production assistant (Ottawa International Animation Festival 2020), working as an IATSE stagehead backstage at concerts like Cher, as a production assistant at award shows (Indspire 2020), and writing novels and scripts.
She is a graduate of Carleton University’s Interactive Multimedia & Design program as well as Algonquin College’s Theatre Arts program.
VibroDrum is an interactive sound installation by interdisciplinary artist Jesse Stewart.
You are invited to engage with the work by moving within the field of view of the iPad, which is running the Adaptive Use Musical Instrument (AUMI) software developed by the AUMI-Consortium of which Stewart is a member.
The software detects motion and converts it into electrical impulses (known as MIDI signals) that are sent to mechanical strikers that will play a series of frame drums in response to your movements. The sound of the drums is sent to transducers attached to the underside of the carpeted platforms positioned in front of the installation. The transducers translate the sound of the drums into vibrations. By standing, sitting, or lying on the floors, you will be able to feel the vibrations of the drums in real time.
You are invited to experience the Vibrotactile Installation located in the lower lobby before and after the performance.
Board and Staff
GCTC
Board of Directors
Chair | Natasha Chettiar
Vice Chair | Michael Aylward
Secretary | Carmelle Cachero
Treasurer | Alison Spiers
Wendy Berkelaar
Carmelle Cachero
Krista El-Khoury
Maya Fernandez
John Kirkwood
Megan Piercy Monafu
Tara Paterson
Jacqui du Toit
GCTC Staff
Public Spaces Coordinator | Alli Harris
Education Coordinator | Alyssa English
Company Manager | Celina Hawkins
Ticketing Coordinator | Chao Li
Access Coordinator | Drea
Box Office Assistant | Emma Ferrante
Volunteer Coordinator | Geoff McBride
Managing Director | Hugh Neilson
Marketing & Communications Manager | Jared Davidson
Assistant Technical Director, Head of Carpentry | Jonah Maybear
Box Office Assistant | Kristen Williams
Technical Director | Kyle Ahluwalia
Development & Membership Manager | Michelle Gendron
Interim Head of Props | Patrice-Ann Forbes
Interim Artistic Director | Sarah Kitz
Finance & Office Manager | Selam Haile
Production Manager | Seth Gerry
Head of Props & Head Scenic Painter | Stephanie Dahmer-Brett
Marketing & Development Coordinator | Taylor Vardy
Assistant Technical Director | Valerie-Josephine Trudel
Head of Wardrobe | Vanessa Imeson
Box Office Assistant | Vishesh Abeyratne
GCTC’s Partners
Foundations (cont.)
CRABTREE FOUNDATION
Shannon Reynolds Memorial Endowment Fund
The Charles Dalfen Tribute Fund
Turnbull Family Community Building Foundation
The Wesley and Mary Nicol Charitable Foundation
Community Partners
Opening Night Catering Sponsor
Thyme & Again
Green Room Sponsor
The Table Vegetarian Restaurant
Service Partners
Ottawa Public Library
Ottawa School of Art
University of Ottawa Alumni Association
Membership Program Partners
Absinthe Café Resto-Bar
Petit Bill’s Bistro
Pho Van Van
The Hintonburg Public House
The Royal Oak (Wellington Location)
Our Donors
(As of February 2022)
Director’s Circle ($1000+)
Director’s Circle members enjoy a deeper connection with our creative process through social engagement with artists and other members of the GCTC family. For more information, please contact: Michelle Gendron, Development & Membership Manager, 613-236-5192 ext. 226 or michelle@gctc.ca.
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The Wesley and Mary Nicol Charitable Foundation
Wendy Doyle
*Staff Member
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If you are considering making a donation, please go to gctc.ca/donate or speak with a box office staff member.
Anonymous (4)
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