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A truly rare bird, indeed

Raven Stole the Sun theatre company turns milestone

Theatre is mostly under-rated in Canada.

Aside from the occasional commercials for productions of Cats or Jesus Christ Superstar playing in a major city, the vast majority of everyday Canadians only get exposed to theatre when their children are in high school plays, unfortunately.

But despite such a seemingly dismal landscape, Toronto-based Red Sky Performance theatre and dance company have spent the past decade successfully bringing contemporary world indigenous performance in dance, theatre and music to audiences not only throughout Canada, but also around the world.

“It’s rare in Canada to be successful, and more so in the arts business,” said Sandra Laronde, founder and artistic director of Red Sky. “We are now celebrating 10 years — which is quite a milestone.”

Laronde formed Red Sky in 2000 with a mandate to “create a leading international company that shapes contemporary world indigenous performance.”

With Raven Stole the Sun, playing at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre next Tuesday through Thursday (Feb. 23 to 25), Laronde deftly blends theatre, dance and humour to tell the family-friendly tale of a delightfully mischievous bird that plays a central role in the aboriginal view of our natural world.

“It is one of the oldest stories,” she said. “There are many different versions of the story, but our version is taken from the Tlingit Nation from Alaska and the Yukon.”

Laronde said Red Sky worked with a real Tlingit storyteller to help keep the essence of the story true.

“It is a story that has been entertaining for thousands and thousands of years,” she said. “It is the story of how the sun, moon and stars came to be.”

Raven Stole the Sun has been seen by audiences from one end of Canada to the other — and earning critical praise wherever it lands.

“I think the reason it is so successful is it is a story that has stood the test of time,” said Laronde. “And children can live vicariously through the Raven character. He is the one who does what he isn’t supposed to do, he brags and is mischievous. It also has such a strong cultural depth, but at the same time is light and playful.”

Laronde’s own life is anything but light and playful these days, as Red Sky is not only running Raven Stole the Sun all over Vancouver and Whistler during the Games, but it’s adult-oriented production Tone, a joint effort between Canada, Mongolia and China, is a highlight of the Cultural Olympiad in Vancouver.

“It is a huge undertaking,” she said. “Last night the Governor General came to se Tono. It received a standing ovation.”

And where once Laronde actively directed and even performed as an actress in Red Sky’s productions, now her time is too limited.

“We’ve grown to a place where I just can’t do everything anymore,” she said with a laugh.

But in the end, Laronde said she hopes audiences simply come away from Red Sky’s works with a new perspective on aboriginal people.

“People usually come in with a certain idea in their minds,” she said. “I want them to walk away with a completely different perception.”

Raven Stole the Sun plays at the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre on Feb. 23 at 2 p.m., Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

For more info on Cultural Olympiad events go to vancouver2010.com.

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