The University of Alberta Department of Drama's 2018-2019 Studio Theatre season closes with the award-winning period piece drama, Silence, by Moira Buffini. Directed by Kim Mattice Wanat, Silence runs May 16 - 25, 2019, in the Timms Centre for the Arts.
Wanat, known to Edmonton opera fans as the Artistic Director and Founder of the 20+ year old Opera NUOVA festival, will complete her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Directing from the University of Alberta Drama Department, with Silence as her thesis production.
Silence is inspired by the medieval text, Le roman de Silence, a story of a girl whose parents raise her as a boy after a mythical king forbids women from inheriting family wealth. Set during the Dark Ages but with contemporary overtones, Buffini's Silence follows Lord Silence of Cumbria who is forced to marry a fiery French noblewoman, Ymma of Normandy. This unlikely pairing exposes a revelation which makes them flee for their lives, and embark on a provocative journey of self-discovery.
Winner of the 1998 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for best English-language play by a woman, Buffini's Silence portrays an 11th century woman asserting her power within a political system dominated by men.
The cast of Silence includes veteran British stage actor, Ruth Alexander (also known for her roles on the long-running UK television show, Coronation Street) and Edmonton performer, Shannon Blanchet, known for her work with Comedy Award-winning improvisation troupe, Die Nasty: The Live Improvised Soap Opera,Teatro la Quindicina and Catalyst Theatre.
Silence also features the work of students from the BFA Acting, Technical Production, Stage Management and Theatre Design Programs.
Silence
By Moira Buffini
May 16 - 25, 2019
Timms Centre For The Arts
All performances start at 7:30 PM. No Show May 19, Matinee May 23 at 12:30 PM.