by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
a GCTC co-production with New Harlem
directed by Yvette Nolan
Can what is torn apart by war be put back together? From the award-winning writer of Gas Girls and Sound of the Beast, The First Stone is an epic-yet-intimate examination of violence and forgiveness. Set in an unnamed village in an unnamed country modeled after Uganda, two children are captured into an army, while their father fights on the other side. Their mother will do anything to get them back. The First Stone considers intergenerational clashes and obligations, competing revolutions, and the love required to escape cycles of violence.
Content Note
Who is this suitable for?
This show is suitable for adults, or well-prepared young people 14+. It may not be suitable for audiences under 14 or people with trauma from conflict.
What is the world of the show? What is the vibe?
The show takes place in an unnamed village in an unnamed country, modeled after Uganda. There are 14 performers onstage and the show is full of movement, dance and song. There is joy and humour as well as strife. The language is poetic and direct. There are ancestors onstage.
What are the difficult themes?
This performance deals with the trauma experienced by child abductees and war-torn communities. There is stylized, non-realistic violence depicted on the stage. This includes:
Depictions of violence against children
Depictions of death of children
Reference to sexual assault
What emotional note does the show end on?
The show ends in hope, and points the way towards repair, showing how a community can rebuild itself after devastation.
April 11—23, 2023
Tuesday—Friday: 8pm
Saturday: 4pm & 8:30pm
Sunday: 2pm
Accessibility information for this show is available below.
Runtime:
1 hour 45 minutes, no intermission
ASL Promotional Video
Audio Pre-Show Note
Click here to listen to the Audio Pre-Show Note Online.
Click here to view the Audio Pre-Show Note Transcript.
Live Voice App
This production includes pre-recorded descriptions created and recorded by the playwright Donna-Michelle St. Bernard. These are available auditorily through a free smartphone app and will play throughout the performance from April 13-23. The descriptions provide additional information about the character’s movements onstage and some technical details such as lighting.
To read the show program, click the button below.
Cast & Creative Team
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard | Playwright
Yvette Nolan | Director
Cast
Courage Bacchus | Ancestral Echoes (recorded)
daniel jelani ellis | Boy
Dorothy A. Atabong | Mom
Ingrid Gayle | Chorus
Joy Mwandemange | Chorus
Kendelle Parks | Chorus Swing
Megan Legesse | Chorus | Co-Dance Captain
Micah Jondel DeShazer | Chorus
Michael Lamont Lytle | Grandad
Nawa Nicole Simon | Girl
Oluwakayode Sodunke | Chorus
Paul Smith | Kidogo
Tsholo Khalema | Ancestor
Taija Shoné-Chung | Uma
Tifanni Kenny | Chorus
Uche Ama | Auntie, Teacher | Co-Dance Captain
Creative Team
Cam Davis | Projection Designer
Des’ree Gray | Costume Designer
Jackie Chau | Set Designer
Maddie Bautista | Music Composition & Sound Design
Michelle Ramsay | Original Lighting Designer
Rachel Schaen | Co-Lighting Designer
The Company
Alison Wong | Producer, New Harlem Productions
Charissa Wilcox | Production Manager, New Harlem Productions
Heather Bellingham | Assistant Stage Manager
Indrit Kasapi | Choreographer
Lindsay Anne Black | Nebulous Associate, New Harlem Productions
Sarah O’Brien | Stage Manager
Sarah Waisvisz | Chorus Director
Shannon Litzenberger | Assistant Director
Production Crew
Technical Director | Kyle Ahluwalia
Head of Props & Head Scenic Painter | Stephanie Dahmer
Head of Wardrobe | Vanessa Imeson
Assistant Technical Director, Head of Carpentry | Jonah Maybear
Assistant Technical Director | Valerie-Josephine Trudel
Calendar
Show Type
Media Coverage
Previews
CBC Radio: All in a Day; April 13, 2023: GCTC and New Harlem Theatre present The First Stone
CBC Evening News: The First Stone at the GCTC
Black Ottawa Scene: Great Canadian Theatre Company: The First Stone
Intermission Magazine: Stone by Stone: In Conversation with The First Stone’s Donna-Michelle St. Bernard and Nawa Simon
Broadway World: Donna-Michelle St. Bernard's Epic New Play THE FIRST STONE Closes GCTC's 2022-23 Season
Show Type Info
Accessibility Info
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Previews are public performances before the official opening to allow the director, design team, cast, and crew to make small adjustments to the show that weren't found during rehearsals before critics are invited to attend. For mainstage shows, previews are the 1st Tuesday and 1st Wednesday of the show.
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The 1st Sunday of each mainstage production is Pay-What-You-Decide (PWYD) Sunday. Any remaining tickets 24 hours before this performance can be purchased for any price you decide. These are available by calling or coming into the box office. PWYD is not currently available online.
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Learn more about the production and go behind the scenes with the people behind the show.
On marked days, when the curtain drops, you’ll be invited to stay for a Q+A with some cast/company members.
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Some of our shows are sold at 50% capacity, for those who are looking for a bit more space between you and your seat-neighbour.
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During relaxed performances, you are welcome to get up, move, stretch, leave and re-enter the theatre as your body needs.
These performances include a display in the lobby with pieces from the show, a chill-out space or a quiet room for you to use if you require a calmer space. They also feature a pre-show introduction to the play and the audience lights will be left on slightly.
For the 22-23 Season, all our relaxed performances will have a reduced capacity: only 50% of tickets will be sold.
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Some people's access needs require American Sign Language interpretation (ASL).
This means spoken English is interpreted into ASL. These shows will have ASL interpreters on the stage during the performance.
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To provide more financial accessibility to attending theatre at GCTC, we are offering limited Pick-Your-Price tickets available for each performance. Pick-Your-Price tickets are available for $15, $25, and $35. Pick whichever price makes the most sense for you.
To take advantage of this program online, enter the promo code at checkout:
$15 | enter promo code PYP15
$25 | enter promo code PYP25
$35 | enter promo code PYP35
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Our audio pre-show notes give you a full description of what will be on stage, as well as answering some frequently asked questions about the production and GCTC’s location.
The pre-show note will arrive at this location before this show’s opening night.