Inner Elder

Written and performed by Michelle Thrush

Apr 12, 2024

Azrieli Studio 1 Elgin Street Ottawa Canada

Indigenous arts Theatre

In-person event
English
Ages 14+
≈ 55 minutes

Performance options	Start time	Language	Availability
Friday, April 12, 2024	11:00 am	English	sold out

“(Michelle Thrush) has a compelling story to tell, but it’s the elegant, sly way she weaves it that makes Inner Elder such a treat.”
Louis B. Hobson, Calgary Herald

In this autobiographically inspired piece, Inner Elder recounts one woman’s transformation from a young girl navigating the shambles of her family life to Gemini Award-winning actor and artist. Michelle Thrush weaves the seemingly disparate anecdotes from her life into powerful and hilarious testimony that will open your eyes, sear your heart, and have you laughing out loud.

The first section of the play, rooted in a place of truth and historical perspective, explores how a child interprets, navigates, and internalizes culture, identity, and the challenges of growing up Cree in Alberta during the 1970s and 1980s. We are reminded that imagination can be a powerful vehicle for hope and survival in a child’s quest to find the answers to the questions: Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going? Where do I belong?

During the second half of the play, we are introduced to a universal Kookum (grandmother) figure, an Inner Elder symbol that represents strength, ancient knowledge, and the stories that are passed down through generations. This hilariously witty and mischievous character will not only have everyone laughing but reiterates the importance of coming together to learn from one another in a place of love.

This powerful award-nominated one-woman show beautifully communicates how the generational strength of the Inner Elder plays an important role in healing the Inner Child within.

Artists

Creator/Performer Michelle Thrush
Creator/Performer
Michelle Thrush

Michelle Thrush has been involved in the arts as an actor, writer, director, and producer for more than thirty years professionally and is most well-known for her roles in film and television. If she is not on a stage or working on a film, you will likely find her working across the country with youth and children in Indigenous communities, utilizing the arts and storytelling as a force for healing.

A multi-award-winning actress who most recently received the Lieutenant Governor Distinguished Artist of Alberta Award, Michelle is thrilled to bring Inner Elder to the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin people and is thankful for the Elders of this territory who hold the stories here.

She is also very grateful to Lori Marchand (Managing Director of NAC Indigenous Theatre) and Kevin Loring (Artistic Director of NAC Indigenous Theatre) for believing in Inner Elder and for everything it took to bring our show here.

“My greatest achievement in this life is my two beautiful daughters, which I admit was a co-production...”

Michelle Thrush est comédienne, autrice, metteuse en scène et productrice depuis plus de 30 ans. Elle est surtout connue pour ses rôles au cinéma et à la télévision. En dehors de la scène et des plateaux de tournage, elle est très impliquée auprès des jeunes des communautés autochtones, utilisant les arts et les récits comme outils de guérison.

Ses talents d’actrice à la télévision, au cinéma et au théâtre lui ont valu de nombreuses récompenses, dont le Distinguished Artists Award du lieutenant-gouverneur de l’Alberta. Michelle Thrush est fière de présenter la pièce Inner Elder sur le territoire non cédé de la Nation anishinabe algonquine et remercie les Ainé·e·s qui sont les gardiens et les gardiennes des histoires de ce territoire.

Elle tient également à remercier Lori Marchand (Directrice administrative, Théâtre autochtone) et Kevin Loring (Directeur artistique, Théâtre autochtone) de leur soutien et de leur accueil au Centre national des Arts.

« Mes plus belles réussites sont mes deux magnifiques filles, fruits – je dois l’admettre – d’une coproduction... »
NAC media featuring Michelle Thrush
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Director Karen Hines
Director
Karen Hines

Karen Hines began her theatrical career as an underground comic and emerged as the author of multiple award-winning plays presented across North America at venues including One Yellow Rabbit, Tarragon Theatre, Boca del Lupo, Alberta Theatre Projects, Factory Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Dallas Theatre Centre, Soulpepper and Joe's Pub (Public Theatre).

She is a two-time finalist for Canada's Governor General's Literary Award for Drama and a recent finalist for the Siminovitch Prize. She is a Dora Award-winning performer and director, alongside collaborations with Canadian theatre artists such as Linda Griffiths (Age of Arousal), adult horror clowns Mump & Smoot (Mike Kennard and John Turner), and Michelle Thrush (Inner Elder).

Karen is an actor in Canadian and American television and film, and her short films featuring the character Pochsy have presented around the world.

Chicago born, Toronto bred, she currently lives in Calgary, where she recently performed new works, including the fourth in its series, Pochsy IV. Her real estate horror Crawlspace has toured micro theatres across Canada and recently premiered in its French translation at Théâtre Francais de Toronto. Pochsy IV is currently touring across Canada.

Après des débuts discrets comme humoriste, Karen Hines s’est fait connaitre avec ses pièces plusieurs fois primées. Elles ont été jouées dans toute l’Amérique du Nord, y compris sur les scènes du One Yellow Rabbit, du Tarragon Theatre, de Boca del Lupo, de l’Alberta Theatre Projects, du Factory Theatre, de l’Actors Theatre of Louisville, du Dallas Theatre Centre, du Soulpepper Theatre et du Joe's Pub (Public Theatre).

Elle a deux fois été citée pour un Prix littéraire du Gouverneur général dans la catégorie théâtre et été finaliste au Prix Siminovitch. Lauréate d’un prix Dora Mavor Moore, elle est également actrice et metteuse en scène. Elle a collaboré avec de nombreux artistes d’ici, notamment Linda Griffiths (Age of Arousal), Mike Kennard et John Turner du duo Mump & Smoot connu pour ses spectacles d’horreur et de comédie pour adultes, et Michelle Thrush (Inner Elder).

On a pu également la voir à la télévision et au cinéma au Canada et aux États-Unis. Ses courts métrages tirés de Pochsy Plays ont fait le tour du monde.

Karen Hines est née à Chicago et a grandi à Toronto avant de s’installer à Calgary, où elle a récemment présenté le quatrième volet de sa série, Pochsy IV. Sa pièce Crawlspace a été présentée dans plusieurs petits théâtres du Canada, et sa traduction française, Crawlspace : une vraie de vraie histoire d’horreur immobilière, a récemment été à l’affiche du Théâtre français de Toronto. Pochsy IV est actuellement en tournée dans tout le Canada.
NAC media featuring Karen Hines
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Lighting/Scenic Designer Sandi Somers

Lighting/Scenic Designer
Sandi Somers

Over the last few decades, Sandi Somers has lit and designed stages for companies such as OYR, ATP, The Alberta Ballet and Lunchbox Theatre.

Productions include lighting and projection design for Making Treaty 7, set and lighting design for The University of Lethbridge’s Caucasian Chalk Circle, lighting and set design for Karen Hines’ Pochsy IV, and lighting design for Denise Clarke’s Room 333.

Outside of designing for theatre, Sandi is the lighting designer for The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller, Alberta, and is an award-winning filmmaker.

Active depuis de nombreuses années, Sandi Somers a signé la scénographie et les éclairages de nombreuses pièces jouées au One Yellow Rabbit, à l’Alberta Theatre Projects, à l’Alberta Ballet et au Lunchbox Theatre.

Parmi les productions auxquelles elle a participé, notons celles de Making Treaty 7 (éclairages et projections), Caucasian Chalk Circle à l’Université de Lethbridge (décors et éclairages), Pochsy IV de Karen Hines (décors et éclairages) et Room 333 de Denise Clarke (éclairages).

En dehors du théâtre, Sandi Somers a conçu les éclairages du Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology de Drumheller (Alberta); elle est également une réalisatrice primée.

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Composer Sandy Scofield

Composer
Sandy Scofield

Sandy Scofield is a multi-award-winning Metis singer/songwriter who holds an undergrad degree in music composition. She has won several awards for her diverse work, such as a Western Canadian Music Award and a Canadian Folk Music Award, as well as three consecutive nominations for a Juno award.

She has toured most major Canadian festivals and has performed in Borneo, Austria, Seoul, Australia, France and Germany. Sandy composes original music, including folk, roots, traditional, blues-influenced and electronic sound design and music for dance, film theatre and opera. She also works as an educator at all levels of music education.

Titulaire d’un diplôme de premier cycle en composition musicale, Sandy Scofield est une auteure-compositrice-interprète métisse primée. Elle a remporté plusieurs récompenses pour son œuvre unique, y compris un Prix de la musique de l’Ouest canadien et un Prix de l’Association de la musique folk canadienne, et été citée pour trois prix JUNO.

Elle s’est produite sur la scène des plus grands festivals du Canada, mais aussi à Séoul, à Bornéo, en Australie, en Autriche, en France et en Allemagne. Elle œuvre en composition musicale – alliant musique folk, roots, traditionnelle, blues et électronique; en conception sonore et composition pour la danse, le théâtre, l’opéra et le cinéma; et comme pédagogue à tous les niveaux scolaires.

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Company Manager Dianne Goodman

Company Manager
Dianne Goodman

Dianne Goodman is honoured to be on the Inner Elder production team and welcomes the opportunity to share this incredible work!

She retired from Alberta Theatre Projects in 2021 after almost 40 years with the company. In her career, Dianne has worked in every aspect of theatre and with many arts organizations in Calgary. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Regina, the Betty Mitchell Award for Distinguished Achievement in Production, and the Harry and Martha Cohen Award for Significant and Sustained Contribution to Theatre in Calgary.

Since retirement, Dianne has freelanced as a producer, production manager and stage manager.

Special thanks to Michelle and the team!

Dianne Goodman se dit honorée de faire partie de l’équipe de production de la pièce Inner Elder et se réjouit que cette pièce incroyable soit présentée au grand public.

Elle a travaillé pendant près de 40 ans au sein de l’Alberta Theatre Projects avant de prendre sa retraite en 2021. Durant sa carrière, elle a exercé de nombreux métiers au théâtre, multipliant les collaborations avec les organisations artistiques de Calgary. Elle a obtenu le prix de distinction des anciens et anciennes de l’Université de Regina, le prix Betty Mitchell pour contribution exceptionnelle en production et le prix Harry et Martha Cohen pour sa contribution importante et constante au milieu théâtral de Calgary.

Elle exerce désormais à titre de productrice, directrice de production et régisseuse indépendante.

Remerciement tout spécial à Michelle et à toute l’équipe!

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Technical Director Neil Fleming

Technical Director
Neil Fleming

Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Neil Fleming grew up in the Anishinaabe territory of the Robinson-Huron Treaty. He is honoured to have been part of Making Treaty 7 for the last eight years, helping amplify the stories, practices and cultures of the Treaty 7 peoples.

Neil is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter based in Calgary. Neil is best known for his work at Lunchbox Theatre, including Outside, Anomaly, Security, Last Christmas, The After Party, He Said, She Said (with Glenda Stirling), and Spare Parts (Stage One 2018). Neil is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada, the Past President of the Alberta Playwrights’ Network, and a tenacious winger most mornings between 7-8 am.

Neil is also a theatrical designer. Some past design credits include Napi & The Rock, Okotoks, 509 (Making Treaty 7), Come Home (Urban Stories), Gruesome Playground Injuries (Ground Zero, Hit & Myth), In A World Created By A Drunken God, And So It Goes, Goodness, Bone Cage (Downstage), A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream (CYPT), The Vajayjay Monologues (Pot of Jam, Urban Curves), Snowblind, Last Christmas, Shopaholic Husband Hunt (Lunchbox Theatre), An Almost Perfect Thing, The Kitchen Witches, The Attic, the Pearls, and Three Fine Girls (New West Theatre).

Originaire de Sault-Sainte-Marie, en Ontario, Neil Fleming a grandi sur le territoire anishinabe du Traité Robinson-Huron. Fidèle du collectif Making Treaty 7 depuis huit ans, il met un point d’honneur à amplifier les histoires, les pratiques et les cultures des membres des communautés du Traité n^o 7.

Scénariste et dramaturge primé, le Calgarien d’adoption est connu pour son travail au Lunchbox Theatre, notamment pour les pièces Outside, Anomaly, Security, Last Christmas, The After Party, He Said, She Said (avec Glenda Stirling) et Spare Parts (Stage One, 2018). Membre de la Playwrights Guild of Canada, il est aussi ancien président du Réseau des dramaturges de l’Alberta, et un solide ailier presque tous les matins de 7 h à 8 h.

Il a notamment travaillé comme scénographe pour Napi & The Rock, Okotoks, 509 (Making Treaty 7), Come Home (Urban Stories), Gruesome Playground Injuries (Ground Zero, Hit & Myth), In A World Created By A Drunken God, And So It Goes, Goodness, Bone Cage (Downstage); A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream (Calgary Young People’s Theatre); The Vajayjay Monologues (Pot of Jam, Urban Curves); Snowblind, Last Christmas, Shopaholic Husband Hunt (Lunchbox Theatre); An Almost Perfect Thing, The Kitchen Witches, The Attic, the Pearls, and Three Fine Girls (New West Theatre).

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Producer Grant Burns

Producer
Grant Burns

Grant Burns is excited to work with Michelle and this talented group of artists on Inner Elder.

Grant worked with One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre as General Manager and High Performance Rodeo Producer for eleven years, producing over 60 original theatrical presentations and yearly Canadian and International Tours. Grant has also consulted and worked as a producer for the Old Trout Puppet Workshop for 20 years, organizing tours across North America.

He was the Calgary Producer of The Magnetic North Theatre Festival in 2012. Grant is the recipient of the Chalmers National Award for Arts Administration and the Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre, honouring his contributions to the Calgary theatre community.

Grant Burns est heureux de collaborer avec Michelle Thrush et sa talentueuse équipe dans le cadre d’Inner Elder.

Directeur général de One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre et producteur de High Performance Rodeo pendant 11 ans, il a produit une soixantaine de spectacles théâtraux, tournées nationales annuelles et tournées internationales. Conseiller et producteur au Old Trout Puppet Workshop pendant 20 ans, il en a organisé les tournées nord-américaines.

Il a été producteur du chapitre de Calgary du festival de théâtre Magnetic North en 2012. Grant Burns a reçu le Prix national Chalmers en administration des arts et le prix Betty Mitchell pour son exceptionnelle contribution à la communauté théâtrale de Calgary.

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