The Green Line - interview with director Jenna Rodgers
This month Downstage Theatre and Chromatic Theatre come together to bring the world premiere of The Green Line to Calgary. Braiding together past and present, The Green Line is a compelling contemplation of how memories are inherited and erased by those closest to them. Director of The Green Line as well as artistic director of Chromatic Theatre, Jenna Rodgers shares her perspective on this exciting new play.
What excites you about The Green Line?
I love working on new Canadian plays, truly. I think it's a gift to be able to bring a story to life, and offer audiences an opportunity to experience something for the first time. The Green Line is pretty incredible, because playwright Makram Ayache has written a gift of a play that truly celebrates queer Arab identity. It's magical, it's ethereal, it's joyful - and it braids past and present together in a fearless exploration of family, ancestry, and land.
Why do you think Calgary audiences should see this world premiere?
I feel very confident that Makram is early in his career - but he's going to be a celebrated writer. It might sound corny - but I truly believe that this is an opportunity to see the work of a rising star! Calgary has a long history of supporting new voices in theatre, and I think this is because audiences have an uncanny sense for what will be successful in the future. I think audiences will be delighted with The Green Line and the opportunity to see homegrown talent making waves before they become famous across the country! Also... come support people of colour making magic onstage - we would love to welcome you to our space!
What can audiences expect from this play?
I feel like this play is written in the style of magical realism. It's romantic and ethereal, but also very grounded in Lebanon and different experiences of Lebanese culture. You can expect to be taken on a journey - to experience highs and lows, to learn about Lebanon, and to be treated to a queer spectacle along the way!
Tell us a bit about the team you’ve gathered!
We have a fantastic team of artists, almost all based in Calgary. Playwright and actor Makram Ayache was raised in Southern Alberta, and now splits his time between AB and Toronto. Actor Sepidar Yeganeh Farid was last seen on stage at ATP's New Canadian Curling Club and is delighted to be returning to the stage after a few years completing her Master's Degree. Filsan Dualeh is a U of C grad making her professional debut on the Big Secret Stage and Ryan Abd'u'llah Hooper is a recent Sheridan grad who is also making his professional debut! Our creative team is entirely comprised of Calgary locals: costume designer (and extraordinary illustrator) Jordan Weiben, sound designer and composer Chris Austman, lighting designer Ajay Badoni, and set designer Alia Shahab - who is making a leap from an established visual arts and sculpture practice! We're excited to celebrate this talented, diverse squad of human beings assembling to tell this story.
What do you want audiences to come away with?
Oh gosh. I want audiences to come away feeling moved. Like they want to talk to each other about the experience they've had at the theatre, and that they've had a good time. That they were excited or energized by a moment in the play - that they care and are curious about what comes next for these characters! (I hope that folks who attend outside of the Lebanese community learn something about Lebanon - I've learned a lot!; and I hope that folks who attend from outside the queer community also learn something about the queer experience.... after all, isn't theatre all about human connection?)
