April 30, 2012
The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation:
Arts and Culture Centres Expand Cultural Programming
I rise in this Honourable House today to highlight the expanded cultural programming offered at the province’s six Arts and Culture Centres.
Residents in more communities throughout the province are now getting the opportunity to enjoy performances on tour. For example, the award-winning Dying Hard about the plight of the St. Lawrence miners has been performed in 20 communities by St. John’s native Mikaela Dyke.
Also ongoing is a partnership with Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador to bring Tempting Providence to an astounding 71 communities. This story of courage and strength about nurse and midwife Myra Bennett will arguably be the largest theatre tour ever to take place in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In addition, the Arts and Culture Centres are building Shakespearean productions in-house and presenting them to audiences of high school students. This classroom project is linked to the school curriculum.
A commitment to enhancing artistic direction is evident through such productions as Rig which is an adaptation of Mike Heffernan’s book Rig: An Oral History of the Ocean Ranger Disaster. The show commemorated the 30th anniversary of the disaster last winter and featured local talent such as Andy Jones and Pamela Morgan. It ran for five nights to sold-out houses.
The Arts and Culture Centres have teamed up with the Marine Institute’s Centre for Marine Simulation to present the 100-year commemoration of the Titanic’s sinking. The work titled Calm Air is a unique experience in which theatre meets technology.
Local talent and stories continue to be celebrated through such productions as Artistic Fraud’s Oil and Water written by Robert Chafe and directed by Jillian Keiley. The show tells the story of the recently deceased Lanier Phillips who was shipwrecked aboard the USS Truxtun near St. Lawrence.
Mr. Speaker, this provincially-owned network directly supports the work of artists as they build and showcase their talent. I encourage everyone to get out and see the incredible shows offered by the Arts and Culture Centres.
2012 04 30 1:45 p.m.