Theatre

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Debbie Patterson (WAYNE GLOWACKI/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)

Know your neighbour. In Sargent and Victor, local playwright and performer Debbie Patterson gets acquainted with a well-known West End intersection by way of the people who live near it. 
   
A verbatim theatre piece created from interviews with past and present residents, Patterson was attracted to the community because of its current crime-riddled state and its proud, still visible past.
   
"I’ve always been curious about Mordens’ of Winnipeg (a locally owned chocolate company) sitting right there," Patterson says. "They’ve been there for 50 years. What drew that business to that neighbourhood and why did they stay? If they were choosing a place to set up right now they probably wouldn’t choose there. I’m just curious about how that neighbourhood affects that business, because it seems out of place in a way."
   
Patterson’s interview subjects included her brother, who lives near the intersection, his neighbours, the pastor at the First Lutheran Church, the people who use the church’s food bank and those old enough to remember when the area was a central hub for the Icelandic community.
   
"There are people who have lived there all their lives," Patterson says. "I talked to this one woman, who refused to tell me her age, but she lives in the house her grandmother lived in and she loves it there. I think she enjoys the action and the proximity to downtown. I think the neighbours that do engage with each other are good neighbours. One woman said, ‘Oh there are just a few troublemakers, that’s all.’"
   
The catalyst for this community cross-examination is the Cultural Capitals of Canada national program. A department of Canadian Heritage, Winnipeg was awarded with the distinction  — and the funding — in 2010.
   
"One of the programs we proposed was an arts ambassadorship," says Alix Sobler, marketing and communications coordinator for Winnipeg Cultural Capital of Canada 2010. "The idea is we have selected five artists, nominated and chosen by a jury of their peers, to represent and advocate and their art form by creating a legacy project from their year as ambassador. Debbie Patterson was chosen to be the theatre arts ambassador."
   
The other arts’ ambassadors are Dominique Rey (visual arts), John K. Samson (music), Natasha Torres-Garner (dance) and the late Michael Van Rooy (literary arts). Sobler says the ambassadors were given free rein with their projects and finds it fascinating that they all found common ground. 
   
"The projects have all been very interesting because they’ve all represented the artists and reflected the artwork they’re interested in, but they’ve also represented Winnipeg," Sobler says. "Michael focused on Manitoba writers, John K. Samson brought together local classical and contemporary music (The Correction Line Ensemble) in an amazing way and Natasha created a dance piece that took place in the underground walkways. It’s been really great to see these projects develop, not only because they are cutting edge and interesting within the art form, but they really do speak for Winnipeg."
   
Still in its early stages, two staged readings of Sargent and Victor will give audiences a glimpse into Patterson’s project. The first reading happens Feb. 11 at 7 pm at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, the second is Feb. 13 at 7 pm at First Lutheran Church and both feature actors Arne MacPherson, Laura Olafson, Joseph Aragon and Marsha Knight.