[Image description: An ink drawing of a soldier in a helmet; a notebook, pen, pencil, and paintbrush are tucked into the helmet. The soldier has a moustache and wears glasses. Words including Grendel and homesick are tattooed on his head. Around him float images including a boot, knife, moon, skull, poppies, and more. The image is coloured in various shades of green.]
Beowulf in Afghanistan
November 12 - 24, 2024
a World Premiere by Laurie Fyffe
directed by Kate Smith
A Canadian soldier harnesses the medieval Old English text of Beowulf as a life raft through the clash of conflict, and after. A world premiere, supported by GCTC’s Tributary Project.
More about the Show
Grant Cleary, a Canadian soldier fighting in Afghanistan, is injured in an attack. Knocked unconscious in the Afghan desert he enters the mythological world of Beowulf in his mind. Here he reunites with his former professor, Louise Flynn, who helps him navigate the hero’s journey as described in the medieval poem Beowulf, so that he can get out of the combat zone alive.
Many years later, back at his former Canadian University, he is a PhD candidate with a theory on the Beowulf text. Now with two military deployments behind him, he has a different perspective on the stories we tell about war, heroes, and monsters.
In this show you will get to hear some of the Beowulf poem quoted in English translation and also in its original Old English, but no knowledge of the poem’s content or the meaning of Old English is required to understand or enjoy the play. Similarly, you do not need knowledge of Canada's role in Afghanistan, or the military in general, to follow the story.
Original season art by Jesús Rivera Zavala
Content Note
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To read the content note, click here.
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Showtimes:
Tuesday—Friday: 8pm
Saturday: 2pm & 8pm
Sunday: 2pm
For information on accessible performances, see the calendar below. For more information about accessibility at GCTC, click here.
Ticket Prices:
Tickets are $57 / $49 / $41 for Zones A/B/C, respectively.
Preview tickets - for the first Tuesday and Wednesday of each production - are $28.
For more information on ticket pricing and policies, including ways to save on tickets, click here.
Audio Preshow Note
Audio Preshow Transcript available here.
Calendar
Show dates: November 12 - 24, 2024
[Image description: A two week calendar with performance types and associated dates. ]
Show Type
[Image description: Calendar legend for Preview, Opening Night, 1975 pricing, Post-Show Talkback, Reduced Capacity, Relaxed Performance, ASL Performance and Mask Required performances.]
Beowulf in Afghanistan
by Laurie Fyffe
directed by Kate Smith
Cast:
Micah Jondel DeShazer | Grant Cleary
Michelle LeBlanc | Louise Flynn
Creative Team:
Ali Berkok | Sound Design
Ava Alavi | Assistant Director
Bonnie Garland | Costume Design
Jackie McCormick | Stage Manager
John Doucet | Set Design
Martin Conboy | Lighting Design
Location:
Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre
1233 Wellington Street West, Ottawa, ON