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February 15-26, 2023 | Showtimes Below | The Shu-Box, Riddell Centre
The true story of the author’s 19 years living in London, coming out, working as a dancer in West End musicals, living through the AIDS crisis, and how the current COVID-19 epidemic has brought back memories and ghosts from that period of his life.
Showtimes
Wednesday, February 15 at 7:30pm
Thursday, February 16 at 7:30pm
Friday, February 17 at 2:00pm (this performance will feature English surtitles)
Saturday, February 18 at 7:30pm
Sunday, February 19 at 7:30pm
Wednesday, February 22 at 2:00pm
Thursday, February 23 at 2:00pm
Friday, February 24 at 7:30pm
Saturday, February 25 at 2:00pm
Sunday, February 26 at 2:00pm (Pay-What-You-Will Performance)
COVID-19 Precautions
Masks will be recommended.
Social distancing will be observed as much as possible.
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Cast
……..…………………………………..….Brad McDougall
Production
Director……………..………………...Shannon Holmes
Playwright……..…………………………Brad McDougall
Stage Manager & Designer…...…….Kaydence Banga
Make-Up…...……….….…………………Raelyn Zelinski
Videography…...……….….…………..Morgan Ortman
Notes
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Two years ago, Brad came to me and asked if I would have a look at some "free-writing" he had been working on and asked, "is this anything?" "Keep writing," I told him because I immediately recognized he had a unique and compelling story just waiting to be told. Now, after many drafts, considerable time spent with a dramaturge, two weeks of workshops and three weeks of rehearsal, his story is ready to be shared. Writer James Baldwin observes, "...it takes strength to remember, another kind of strength to forget, a hero to do both." In writing about this chapter of his life, Brad has chosen to remember vital moments while purposely choosing to forget others. He has found the strength to recreate and relive the parts of his history in need of remembering and the strength to reimage other parts –stitching it all together to make sense of it all. In the play's last scene, Brad's dearly departed friend Ken tells him, "Don't you see, pet, these are the moments that bind you to us and us to you. You're a hero to us for your kindness and survival, but you're a friend for your vulnerability." With courage, tenderness and humour, Brad demonstrates the power of vulnerability and becomes the hero of his own story, Night Sweats.
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This is my first piece for theatre, and rather than it being a play, it is a one-man show although I can also see it as a multi-cast play. Some of the characters are real individuals and some are composites of people I knew. The piece has been two and half years in the making from first idea to final script. I have to thank Saskatchewan Association of Theatre Professionals and Saskatchewan Arts Board for their financial assistance, Mary Blackstone for her guidance and many others for their advice. The idea came to me during my last year of the theatre program at the U of R and the COVID Pandemic. Various news reports on the spread of the COVID virus and the reaction from the public reminded me of reactions to the AIDS crisis of the 80s. I was living in London at that time and working in the theatre. The theatre world in New York, Toronto, and London were hit hard by the AIDS crisis. Although, I could not call myself and activist, yet I did volunteer for Gay Switchboard and participated in fundraisers and events for various AIDS and Gay Liberation organizations. I lost many friends and colleagues to HIV/AIDS just as many people lost loved ones to COVID. Reactions to both viruses ranged from panic to disbelief and prompted scapegoating, conspiracy theories, indifference, hate speech, and violence. It became clear to me that essons had not been learned from one pandemic to another. Over the years, I ask myself, “How did I escape getting HIV.” The answer is, “I don’t know.”
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Sod Off - British term for “get lost”.
Wanker - Someone who wastes his time.
Laura Ashley - Famous British designer of floral fabric, wall paper and women’s clothing.
Dame Joan Sutherland - Famous Australian Opera singer. Noted for coloratura and bel canto roles.
Elton - Elton John.
The Colherne Pub - Gay Pub in Earl’s Court. A leather bar.
Freddy - Freddy Mercury.
Hounslow - Borough in the far west of London.
Leicester Square - Central London entertainment centre.
Canada House - Lies on the western edge.
Lacoste - Popular brand of polo shirt for gay men in the 80s.
Dynasty - Popular series set in Texas.
Joan Collins - British Actress who played Alexis Carrington Colby on Dynasty.
Sponsors & Donors
Dwight Watson
Kevin Silvius & Peggy Silvius
Robin Tod
John Chaput
Nora Berg
Deana Driver
Sherwood Co-op
Faye Daborn
Jamie at Collective Dance Studios
Thank You
Cathy Mearns
Jean Taylor
Buz Trevor
Jade Gritzfeld & Dixon McLean
Michelle Tyndall, Nathan Labatt, Colton MacDonald, Anita, and Juicy
Breadbasket Sisters
Diane Taylor Neale
Robin Tod
This production was supported in part by