TheatreOne in association with Bread & Roses Theatre and The Other Guys Theatre Group, presents
I WALKED THE LINE
written and performed by Allan Morgan
Director……………………………………………………………………..Ross Desprez
Costume Design ………………………………………………Margaret Handford
Sound Design …………………………………………………………….Tobin Stokes
Lighting Design ………………………………………………..R. Robinson Wilson
Projections …………………………………………………………………..Gord More
Production Coordinator …………………………………..Sandy Cumberland
PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTES
This story that I am about to unfold for you is a true story. I and my sisters and brothers in my union were on strike for 132 days, following a lockout by management. Each and every one of us has a story of their journey through those days. This is how I saw and experienced it, this is my version, my truth. Often times it is only the perceived victor who is allowed to create the narrative. I am extremely grateful and happy to have been given the opportunity to share my version of the narrative with you. There are so many folks that I want to thank for their help and support and love to get to this spot: Mary Desprez, Ross Desprez, Other Guys Theatre Company, Jessica Schneider, Janice Ford and Darrell, Kimberly Chartier, Kate Millberry, Jude Morrison, Sharon Phillips, Jennifer Bishop, Marilyn Werden, Leisa Smith and absolutely every person on that line who still believe in ethics, solidarity and collectivity.
– Allan Morgan
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
This project has several very important connections for me. My last directing experience was a one man musical about the life of American activist and folk singer Pete Seeger, so the concepts of unionism and community building were already inspiring me. The hard fought rights of workers securing job protection, fair benefits and a decent living wage are being decimated by corporate greed. Globally we seem to be forgetting about the necessity of community to maintain our survival. The other attraction for me was the opportunity to work with a seasoned and creative artist such as Allan Morgan. In this play Allan presents a heartfelt and personal experience of the struggle to maintain community within a modern day corporate union. His struggle is our struggle. I hope you enjoy the performance and leave the theatre with something to think about and share in your community.
-Ross Desprez
ALLAN MORGAN Writer and Performer
Allan is very pleased to be back on the stage where he has been at home for more than thirty years. Some highlights of his career include appearing in London, GB, Adelaide Australia, Wellington NZ and San Francisco all with The Overcoat. He appeared for several seasons at Bard on the Beach, notably in The Tempest as Prospero, as well as King John, A Midsummer Nights Dream and Much Ado. He has toured across Canada with the Electric Company in Studies in Motion. He has appeared at The Belfry, notably in The Drawer Boy, Dirty Blonde, and I am My Own Wife for which he received the Victoria Critic’s Award for Best Performance. Other favourites include Red, Thinking of Yu, and Abraham Lincoln Goes to the Theatre for ATP in Calgary.
ROSS DESPREZ – Director
Ross Desprez is a theatre artist, teacher and the founding Artistic Director of The Other Guys Theatre Company. With The Other Guys he has written, directed, performed or been the lead collaborator on numerous original musical productions including: Sex: the Musical, The Ballad of Jim Payne, Moodyville Tales, Good Timber and The lncompleat Folksinger. He has directed, written, composed music for, or performed in productions for the Belfry Theatre, The Manitoba Theatre Centre, Rainbow Stage, Theatre SKAM, The Arts Club Theatre, TheatreOne and Theatre Royal Barkerville. Fringe creations include The Ballad of Phil Ochs, Sex: the Musical and Carmanah Man. Ross has also directed over 20 productions for Vancouver Island University where he is an instructor of acting and directing.
SANDY CUMBERLAND – Production Coordinator
Sandy is thrilled to be the production coordinator for I Walked the Line. Her career has spanned over 30 years and every province in the country. From her early days in the dance world (Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Judith Marcuse Dance Company, Universal Ballet of Seoul, Korea) through a stretch of freelance work (Theatre Passe Muraille, Muskoka Festival, Stratford Festival) to many years with Pacific Opera Victoria, she has enjoyed a diverse and exciting career in stage management and production. After twelve years based on Gabriola Island, Sandy is happy to be freelancing once again, to be working with friends, old and new, and to make Victoria her home again.
MARGARET HANDFORD – Set & Costume Design
Margaret is an artist and designer who works in theatre and film. She has worked in Vancouver as crew on corporate events, worked on Vancouver Island as a designer for not-for-profit organisations, and designed for events held in Banff and in Orlando. She painted over fifteen productions at the Chemainus Theatre Festival, had scenic painting work sent to Hawaii, and helped build props sent to Prague. Margaret has worked in the Art Departments of two films, a TV show, and an Apple web series. The majority of her current work is on Vancouver Island working with local theatre companies and university theatre departments. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre from the University of Victoria and a Post-Degree Diploma in Business Studies from Vancouver Island University. Margaret is excited to work on Allan Morgan’s I Walked the Line. Many, many, thanks to everyone in the production.
TOBIN STOKES – Sound Design
Tobin is a regular Other Guy, co-creating shows such as Good Timber, Moodyville Tales, and Flotsam and Jetsam. He’s currently writing music for Slug Run, a new musical about slugs (yes!) with Ross Desprez. He’s created sound designs and original compositions for various shows at the Belfry Theatre in Victoria. Tobin is an opera composer, and wrote Pauline with Margaret Atwood for City Opera Vancouver, which premiered in 2014. His opera Fallujah premiered with Long Beach Opera in California, and New York City Opera, in New York City, in 2016. His opera Rattenbury premiered with the Other Guys and Pacific Opera Victoria in 2017. Tobin is the Social Media Manager for the online coastal science magazine, and Hakai Magazine, which is sort of like an office mail clerk gig, but digital. He’s currently finishing his MFA in creative writing at UBC.