Charlie Peters

January will be a big month! Lots of applications and submissions (including one I handed in just this morning!). But most importantly, I invite you to check out Sum Theatre’s Theatre on the Trail.

Over the past few months I have had the privilege of working with a very talented group of Indigenous and Newcomer artists as they reflected on what it means to be connected to the land and to be treaty people. I am very proud of the resulting work which you can see as part of the Winterruption Festival January 18th to 20th.

This month is chock full of things!

First up is Chalk House on October 12th, where I’ll be doing some clown in an intimate house-concert style performance alongside the amazing spoken word poet Isaac Bond. 

After that will be the Short Cuts Festival from October 13th to 15th, at which I’ll be directing a play called Street Corner Playwright by Kenneth T. Williams.

Finally, late in the month a production on which I’ve been working for several months will debut for Saskatoon audiences. Since the Spring I’ve been working with storytellers and the fine folks at It’s Not A Box to create the latest iteration of a pod-play (iPod-based play) called Overhear that will run later in the month. Stay tuned for details.

Back at it!

After a summer spent doing some more amazing clown training at The Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance – and then some actual, honest-to-goodness vacationing – I am back in Saskatoon and raring to go!

In addition to my ongoing work with Sum Theatre, here are a few things to tell you about:

Live Five Season Launch

September 9th, 7pm, Refinery Arts and Spirit Centre, 609 Dufferin Ave 

I’ll be performing a clown turn (sketch) at the season launch for Live Five. There’ll be other clowns, musical acts, sketch comedy, and an introduction to their exciting season.

Antigone: Then and Now, Here and There

September 18th, 7pm, John Mitchell Building, U of S Campus – I’ve been working with the wonderful Curtis Peeteetuce on a project combining the ancient Greek story of Antigone with Indigenous culture, language, and history. A team of artists will present some of that work at a free event (details on the poster included at the bottom of this post).

Short Cuts Festival

October 13 to 15th, 8pm nightly, Refinery Arts and Spirit Centre, 609 Dufferin Ave 

I’m honoured to be directing a play by a former professor, Kenneth T. William, at this wonderful festival of 10-minute plays. The festival has sold out almost every performance since it began, so get your tickets early!

I am pleased to announce that I have accepted the position of Artistic Associate with Sum Theatre. It’s a company whose work I believe in strongly. I’m thrilled to be undertaking this new role with such a wonderful team.

How’s this for a wonderful mandate for a theatre company? “We build strong communities by creating and producing innovative and exciting live professional theatre experiences. Our work is driven by passion, integrity, inclusivity, and a sense of humour. We are always pursuing new ideas, partnerships, and adventures.” Fantastic.

My work with Embrace Theatre will continue – as will my work around town as an independent artist and educator.

Here’s to a new adventure!

This summer I had the distinct pleasure of spending almost 5 weeks training at the Manitoulin Conservatory for Creation and Performance. Under the tutelage of John Turner and Mike Kennard of Mump and Smoot, I spent the summer studying clown – while living in a tent surrounded by the absolute beauty of Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Far from just silliness, the clown training was a personally challenging and creatively invigorating experience. I had the change to meet and work with some incredible people, my new clown-family spread out across the country (and around the world).

My work as a clown is just beginning! I have already co-hosted a show for The Rosebuds Burlesque, out-of-nose, but very much in-clown. I will also be performing at the Closing Night Cabaret of The Edmonton Clown Festival on October 2^nd and have several Saskatoon-gigs in the works. Keep your eyes peeled for the fellow with the blue eyes and the red nose!

I would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of the Saskatchewan Arts Board through the Independent Artist Program’s Professional Development Stream. Their support has made this invaluable training possible. Their ongoing support of artists and communities across Saskatchewan helps makes this province a better, more fulfilling place to live. 

Love and Magic (as the clowns say),

Charlie

The final performance for Sum Theatre’s Youth on the Rise Drama Program will take place next Friday night. It has been my privilege to lead these hard-working youth through a variety of theatre excercises and activities over the pas several months. Now it’s their time to share what they have learned with you!

Contact me for details of the performance.

I owe thanks to Creative Saskatchewan for retroactively funding my trip to Magnetic North last month. Through their Business Capacity Grant, I received some funds to offset the costs of the trip. The support is appreciated!

http://www.creativesask.ca

“Project made possible with support from Creative Saskatchewan;s Business Capacity Grant Program”