| ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| Beau Dixon - playwright |
It's April 10, 1734. The old City of Montreal is burning to the
ground. A 29-year old slave woman, Marie Joseph Angelique,
stands accused of the deed. This true story is a compelling
examination of a strong, independent woman's fight for freedom
and respect and tellingly reveals her struggle to achieve her
rights as an individual.
Following a successful 24-school tour in the spring of 2007 and two sold-out
public performances, Heritage Pavilion Stage of Peterborough is pleased to
celebrate Black History Month by staging the young audience black history play
"Once A Flame". Written by acclaimed black Canadian playwright Beau Dixon, of
"From Here to Africville", the play documents and brings to life a little known story
in the annals of Canadian history. Considered one of the earliest slave narratives
in Canada, the play is based on court transcripts which record Marie Joseph's own
testimony, and derives its dramatic impact from her relationship with five other
characters.
The play will be staged from February 18-22, and February 25-29, 2008 and
directed by well known Toronto director Kim Blackwell.
"Once A Flame" will also be produced in early 2008 by C Theatre Works at Factory
Theatre in Toronto.
ground. A 29-year old slave woman, Marie Joseph Angelique,
stands accused of the deed. This true story is a compelling
examination of a strong, independent woman's fight for freedom
and respect and tellingly reveals her struggle to achieve her
rights as an individual.
Following a successful 24-school tour in the spring of 2007 and two sold-out
public performances, Heritage Pavilion Stage of Peterborough is pleased to
celebrate Black History Month by staging the young audience black history play
"Once A Flame". Written by acclaimed black Canadian playwright Beau Dixon, of
"From Here to Africville", the play documents and brings to life a little known story
in the annals of Canadian history. Considered one of the earliest slave narratives
in Canada, the play is based on court transcripts which record Marie Joseph's own
testimony, and derives its dramatic impact from her relationship with five other
characters.
The play will be staged from February 18-22, and February 25-29, 2008 and
directed by well known Toronto director Kim Blackwell.
"Once A Flame" will also be produced in early 2008 by C Theatre Works at Factory
Theatre in Toronto.
| "ONCE A FLAME" by Beau Dixon |
| the plays |
| "FROM HERE TO AFRICVILLE" by Beau Dixon |
A troublemaker kid named Dooey meets a baptist minister and is given a second
chance by doing community service in the slums of Africville. While spending time
there, Dooey is befriended by a fiery black girl named Eva. The 'Reverend' and Eva
teach Dooey about discipline through the skills of boxing and the early teaching
methods of George Dixon, the first black champion to gain a title.
An Arbor Theatre production of this play was performed through throughout the month of February 2006 in
central Ontario including at the York Region District School Board Student Conference. On February 2, 2006,
the 14th annual Together We're Better Conference took place at Richmond Hill H.S. Students in grades 7
and 8 from across the region took part in this conference and had the opportunity to recognize issues and
situations related to race and ethnocultural relations; learn effective strategies for dealing with conflict; and
understand that all Canadians have a right to full participation in our society.
Stonebridge P.S. welcomed Arbor Theatre. This group performed the play "From Here to Africville".
"From Here to Africville" will be produced in early 2008 by C Theatre Works at Factory Theatre in Toronto.
chance by doing community service in the slums of Africville. While spending time
there, Dooey is befriended by a fiery black girl named Eva. The 'Reverend' and Eva
teach Dooey about discipline through the skills of boxing and the early teaching
methods of George Dixon, the first black champion to gain a title.
An Arbor Theatre production of this play was performed through throughout the month of February 2006 in
central Ontario including at the York Region District School Board Student Conference. On February 2, 2006,
the 14th annual Together We're Better Conference took place at Richmond Hill H.S. Students in grades 7
and 8 from across the region took part in this conference and had the opportunity to recognize issues and
situations related to race and ethnocultural relations; learn effective strategies for dealing with conflict; and
understand that all Canadians have a right to full participation in our society.
Stonebridge P.S. welcomed Arbor Theatre. This group performed the play "From Here to Africville".
"From Here to Africville" will be produced in early 2008 by C Theatre Works at Factory Theatre in Toronto.
| Photo by Guy Giard |
| For scripts or for information about producing Beau Dixon's plays, contact Beau. (Archival DVDs of original productions are also available.) |
| George Dixon - circa 1891 |
| Beau Dixon - playwright |
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| "FREEDOM BELLS" by Beau Dixon and Phil Oakley |
| "OTHER PEOPLE'S HEAVEN" by Beau Dixon |
Viola Davis Desmond (July 6, 1914-1965) was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada. She was an African-Canadian who ran her own beauty parlor and
beauty college in Halifax. She has been referred to as a Canadian version
of Rosa Parks. Desmond’s story was one of the most publicized incidents
of racial discrimination in Nova Scotian and Canadian history.
On November 8, 1946, Viola Desmond refused to sit in the balcony
designated exclusively for blacks in a New Glasgow theatre. Instead she
took her seat on the ground floor where only white people were allowed
to sit. After being forcibly removed from the theatre and arrested,
Desmond was eventually found guilty of not paying the one-cent
difference in tax on the balcony ticket from the main floor ticket.
Playwright Beau Dixon tells her story beautifully in Arbor Theatre's new touring production of
“Other People’s Heaven” – February 2009.
Canada. She was an African-Canadian who ran her own beauty parlor and
beauty college in Halifax. She has been referred to as a Canadian version
of Rosa Parks. Desmond’s story was one of the most publicized incidents
of racial discrimination in Nova Scotian and Canadian history.
On November 8, 1946, Viola Desmond refused to sit in the balcony
designated exclusively for blacks in a New Glasgow theatre. Instead she
took her seat on the ground floor where only white people were allowed
to sit. After being forcibly removed from the theatre and arrested,
Desmond was eventually found guilty of not paying the one-cent
difference in tax on the balcony ticket from the main floor ticket.
Playwright Beau Dixon tells her story beautifully in Arbor Theatre's new touring production of
“Other People’s Heaven” – February 2009.
Eliza and Amelia, two black household servants on a Louisiana plantation,
are treated harshly by their white owners, John Phares and his wife. But
their lives improve with the marriage of the Phares’ daughter Mary to the
abolitionist school teacher William King. Mary defies her parents’ wishes
by adopting her husband’s anti-slavery views, thereby earning Eliza and
Amelia’s trust. With their help the two slave women learn of the
Underground Railroad and begin their journey to freedom and a new life
in the free black Canadian community of Buxton, Ontario.
The world premiere of "Freedom Bells" will be presented by Heritage Pavilion Stage of
Peterborough during Black History Month - February 2009.
are treated harshly by their white owners, John Phares and his wife. But
their lives improve with the marriage of the Phares’ daughter Mary to the
abolitionist school teacher William King. Mary defies her parents’ wishes
by adopting her husband’s anti-slavery views, thereby earning Eliza and
Amelia’s trust. With their help the two slave women learn of the
Underground Railroad and begin their journey to freedom and a new life
in the free black Canadian community of Buxton, Ontario.
The world premiere of "Freedom Bells" will be presented by Heritage Pavilion Stage of
Peterborough during Black History Month - February 2009.
Watch a newsclip from the 2010 Firebrand Theatre Tour of "Other People's Heaven":
Firebrand Theatre on CHEX TV!
Firebrand Theatre on CHEX TV!