Night Witches, a collectively created play by Cheepiyak Theatre previews this Wednesday at
Westwood Community High School Theatre. Directed by Terri Mort and co-directed
by Michelle Thorne, starring twenty four Westwood high school actors, the play
is based on the famous world war II Soviet women’s 488 Night Bomber Regiment.
Nachthexen as the Germans called them were; female pilots, navigators and
mechanics who flew small PO-2 biplanes or obsolete Yak planes that called for
specific strategies to overthrow enemy occupied territory. The perspective is
from both male and female pilots and show moments of their; recruitment,
training and tragedies. Moments in the play include the love relationships
between the male and female pilots, flight strategies, weather conditions and
other surprising facts that contributed to the story of these amazing very
young pilots.
Community Strategies coordinator Michael Beamish recently sat down with
Terri Mort and discussed the challenges and triumphs of creating this unique
piece of theatre.
Michael
Beamish (MB): How long have you been
teaching theatre in Wood Buffalo?
Terri Mort (TM): I have been teaching with FMPSD for
eighteen years. Eleven at Westwood and prior to that at Greely Road School
where I did extracurricular drama projects.
MB: Why did you choose to create a piece on the Night Witches?
TM: I wanted to create a piece of theatre that
focused on the perspective of youth and war. Through many overwhelming moments
and research, I stumbled across an articles about the young female night
bombers of World War II USSR. I was really excited when I learned about these
courageous and talented women. I ordered books & shared with the cast and
crew and we learned that they were not only war heroes but also had incredible
personal stories.
MB: How many students star in the show?
TM: This is an ensemble show with twenty five
stars-fourteen girls and nine boys.
MB: How did you and your students create the show?
TM: Actors were assigned characters and researched
the lives of those people -whether a German officer or a specific historic
figure such as Major Marina Raskova .Students also researched information such
as soldiers’ ranks, duties, professional background and personal stories. We
workshopped various scenes to create stage moments -keeping moments we liked.
In addition students wrote their own monologues, short scenes and eventually
formed everything into one script.
MB: Have your actors been affected by the material
of the show?
TM: I believe our actors knowledge on Operation
Barbarossa, technical understanding of aircrafts and challenges that the USSR
went through in World War II is evident. Each cast and crew member would also
be able to give you their own anecdotes in addition.
MB: What were some of the challenges you had in
creating this play?
TM: Some of our challenges included: working
originally without a script, building scenes and refining to make stage worthy
moments along with dropping some of the stories that also inspired us. Local
actor and Arts Council employee, Michelle Thorne has worked as co-director
providing professional guidance and creativity.
MB: What are the awards and challenges in working
with young actors?
TM: We are blessed to have so much talent at
Westwood. Students created stage roles and dramaturged the world of the play.
They created choreography, combat scenes, costume construction, sound design
and made efforts to learn Russian dialects. This play showcases a huge range of
skill and ability.
Challenges for many were starting a show without a
script. Actors didn’t understand at first what their role was in the story or
the vignettes and who we were going to threat it all together. This was equally
challenging for a technical team without a script for the longest time. However
the actors kept searching deep into their characters, coming up with their own
ideas for scenes that are woven into our final collection
MB: What have you learned from the show?
TM: I’ve learned that theatre isn’t always about
ordering a script online from a publishing company. Original material can be
created from a mass of intelligent and creative young minds who make brave
choices all for the love of theatre.
MB: Why should audience come see Night Witches?
TM: Night Witches is one
of the greatest war stories never told. Audiences will be moved by the story of
these young pilots. In addition audiences will hopefully make connections with
their own family heritage and stories of war -whether through accounts from
those who served overseas in recent war zones or from those who served in World
War II.
Do not miss this unique, original play! Night
Witches has a few scenes with suggested violence and occasional language and is
recommended for audiences aged 12 and up. The show runs from November
18-21, tickets can be purchased at
the Westwood office or one hour before show time at the Cheepiyak Theatre
office, $15 adults & $10 students & seniors, $5 for preview night. For
more information please contact: Terri.Mort @fmpsd.ab.ca
or 780-791-1986 Ext. 178
Night Witches, a collectively created play by Cheepiyak Theatre previews this Wednesday at
Westwood Community High School Theatre. Directed by Terri Mort and co-directed
by Michelle Thorne, starring twenty four Westwood high school actors, the play
is based on the famous world war II Soviet women’s 488 Night Bomber Regiment.
Nachthexen as the Germans called them were; female pilots, navigators and
mechanics who flew small PO-2 biplanes or obsolete Yak planes that called for
specific strategies to overthrow enemy occupied territory. The perspective is
from both male and female pilots and show moments of their; recruitment,
training and tragedies. Moments in the play include the love relationships
between the male and female pilots, flight strategies, weather conditions and
other surprising facts that contributed to the story of these amazing very
young pilots.
Community Strategies coordinator Michael Beamish recently sat down with
Terri Mort and discussed the challenges and triumphs of creating this unique
piece of theatre.
MB: What have you learned from the show?
