FOREST BATHING THEATRE AT ITS FINEST
G’zaagiin maleńki- I Promise You a Forest
VOYAGEURS IMMOBILES (QUÉBEC):
During this powerful piece which takes place outdoors, families are seated on the ground in the centre of the action so they are embraced between two artists and their creative crossing conversation, a dialogue made up of breath, voice, bodies and instruments… not to mention the sounds of the forest (aka under the trees of the park surrounding The Assembly Hall)!
Inspired by the Indigenous Medicine Wheel, this exquisite exchange is between performers and co-composers Emily Marie Séguin and Marie-Hélène Massy-Emond and their Traditional Indigenous Hand Drum and Cello respectively.
I watched as babies, kiddos, parents and elders alike were all enthralled while also basking in the experience of forest bathing and I was struck by the power of gathering together outside in ways I hadn’t quite been before.
Julu was mostly asleep but felt like it was an amazing experience for us all the same and soundscape for those resting, dreaming and awake!
One of my favourite moments was when the wisdom of the trickster CROW came to visit during the show and all of a sudden switched out the cello’s bow with the drum mallet so that Emily was playing the Hand Drum with the bow and Marie-Hélène was playing the cello with the indigenous drum stick, and the exploration and sounds that emerged were amazing!
There was also the live sound of water dripping and flowing and a pure delight to see one of the Wee Ones being magnetically drawn and coming right up close to see this magic unfold. Luckily yet again Lynda Hill was there to intuitively mediate safe space between kiddo and equipment and the working sound technician.
I was wondering about the need for sound amplification but when sound was cut out momentarily, we could barely hear the performers competing with this particular environment.
I brought my friend and her 3 month old baby who loves to, in his way, speak and laugh with the trees and so was particularly engaged with the elements of this show!
SUZANNE ROBERTS SMITH is a critically acclaimed actor, director, theatre maker and also an artist-educator, percussionista and first time mamãe. You can check out some of her work here. With bebê Julu in tow, Suzanne is currently directing INFLUENCED– a solo bouffon show starring Samantha Chaulk as well as the THEHOUSE OF MAGIC a new play by Chiamaka Glory for Shakespeare in Action’s YOUNG CREATOR’S THEATRE PROJECT. Along side of Maria Clara de Sena and ensemble, a pregnant Suzanne co created ORIXÁS: Alive & Well & Living in TO thanks to the last year’s STROMBERGS FAMILY REALIZATION FUND via NIGHTWOOD THEATRE. This year, they are recipients of several recommender creator grants supporting the continuation and development of this one of a kind world premiere powerhouse piece. Suzanne is grateful to all pioneering parents and theatre companies who insist on creating inclusive accessible artistic spaces where all folx and little ones are most welcome. Here’s to this movement gaining momentum everywhere!