Kwantlen First Nations story coming to Vernon & District Performing Arts Center – Vernon News| Roadsleeper.com
When you take something from the world, you always have to give something back. That’s the theme of the Kwantlen First Nations story of Th’owxiya, (Tho-WOX-eeya), an ancient ogress with a taste for children.
Vernon & District Performing Arts Center presents Axis Theatre’s award-winning Th’owxiya – The Hungry Feast Dish on Nov. 6. at 2 pm as the first game of the 2022-23 Spotlight Kids Series.
From the Kwantlen First Nation village of Squa’lets comes the story of Th’owxiya, an ancient and powerful spirit who lives at a feast of delicious food from around the world.
But even though Th’owxiya is surrounded by this delicious food, she only desires the taste of children. When he catches a hungry mouse named Kw’at’el stealing a piece of cheese from his dish, he threatens to devour Kw’at’el’s entire family unless he brings the souls of the children to Th’owxiya two.
Ignorant but desperate, Kw’atel embarks on an intense journey to fulfill spiritual needs. With the help of Raven (Sqeweqs), Bear (Spa:th) and Sasquatch (Sasq’ets), Kw’at’el must outwit a hungry ghost and save their family from becoming a party.
Grimm’s fairy tales mixed with Northwest First Nations stories about the Wild Woman of the Woods give Th’owxiya a frightening persona, but this is balanced by a gentleness and humor that keeps the show from being not too scary for younger actors.
“Like the best fairy tales, Th’owxiya offers valuable lessons,” said VDPAC Artistic Director Erin Kennedy. It tells us about the importance of not taking too much of the world, the power of forgiveness, and how we can find the courage to stand up for what is right.”
Th’owxiya – The Hungry Feast Dish is written by Kwantlen First Nation poet and playwright Joseph A. Dandurand. It was 25 years in the making; The idea was sparked when Dandurandwa was an intern at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and came across the ceremonial dishes in the collection.
Directed by Axis Theater Artistic Director Chris McGregor, (previous Spotlight Kids Series films: Somebody Loves you, Mr. Hatch and The Troll Grandfather), Axis Theatre’s Th’owxiya – The Hungry Feast Dish includes the cast of six aboriginal and mixed Métis. their animal characters with creative movement and amazing Coast Salish and Sto:lo masks.
This children’s theater production won the 2020 Jessie Richardson Award for “Outstanding Production – Theater for Young Audiences” and was nominated for “Outstanding Design” for the artist’s appreciation and costume design. media Jay Haven.
Aimed at young audiences, Axis Theatre’s plays are staged in theaters and schools, enriching the curriculum by drawing children into stories and giving them the opportunity to discover ideas in new ways. Axis Theater pursues a variety of presentation methods.
The show lasts 45 minutes without intermission and is recommended for ages five to 15. Tickets are $12.
For tickets, call 250-549-SHOW (7469) and for video previews, click here.
