Persephone Productions
  • Home
  • The Company
    • Mission
    • Meet The Director
    • History
    • Awards
    • Notable Alumni
    • In The Press
    • Feedback
  • Past Productions
    • Blue Stockings >
      • Meet the Artists
      • Production Gallery
      • In the Press
      • Audience Feedback
    • Counting Aloud
    • Abigail/1702
    • Jerome of Sandy Cove
    • Compleat Female Stage Beauty
    • Moby Dick >
      • MD - Press Release /Communique de presse
      • Moby Dick - Production Notes
    • 2015 GALA
    • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde >
      • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Press
    • The Nisei & The Narnauks >
      • The Nisei & The Narnauks Press
    • Spring Awakening: The Musical >
      • Spring Awakening: The Musical 2014
    • Strawberries in January
    • The Walnut Tree >
      • Press Release - The Walnut Tree
    • Spring Awakening: The Musical
    • Lost: A Memoir >
      • Lost: A Memoir Press >
        • The Westmount Independent Review for Lost: A Memoir
        • The Gazette Preview for Lost: A Memoir
    • Oroonoko >
      • Oroonoko Press >
        • The Gazette Review for Oroonoko
        • The Charlebois Post Review for Oroonoko
        • The Montrealer Interview with Paul Van Dyck for Oroonoko
    • Hamlet >
      • Hamlet Press >
        • First Person Charlebois Post by Christopher for Hamlet
        • CBC Interview with Gabrielle Soskin
        • The McGill Tribune Review for Hamlet
        • The Métropolitain Review for Hamlet
        • The Senior Times Review for Hamlet
    • To Be >
      • To Be Press >
        • Mirror Review for To Be
        • Charlebois Post First Person for To Be
    • Far from the Madding Crowd >
      • Far from the Madding Crowd Press >
        • Gazette Review for FFTMC
        • Mirror Review for FFTMC
        • Gazette Preview on Christopher Moore for FFTMC
        • Charlebois Post for FFTMC
    • Mary's Wedding >
      • Mary's Wedding Press >
        • Charlebois Post Interview with Gabrielle Soskin for Mary's Wedding
        • Canadian Jewish News Preview for Mary's Wedding
        • The Mirror Preview for Mary's Wedding
        • Charlebois Post Preview for Mary's Wedding
    • Henry V >
      • Henry V Press >
        • The Suburban Preview for Henry V
        • The Gazette Review for Henry V
        • Rover Arts Report for Henry V
        • Midnight Poutine Review for Henry V
        • Coolopolis Review for Henry V
        • Rover Arts Review for Henry V
    • Ten year Anniversary Gala
    • Be My Baby >
      • Be My Baby Press >
        • Gazette Preview for Be My Baby
        • Gazette Review for Be My Baby
        • The West End Times Preview for Be My Baby
        • The Suburban Review for Be My Baby
    • Cherry Docs >
      • Cherry Docs Press >
        • The Gazette (Cherry Docs)
        • The Suburban (Cherry Docs)
        • Rover Arts (Cherry Docs)
        • Dee Arr (Cherry Docs)
        • The Canadian Jewish News (Cherry Docs)
        • HOUR (Cherry Docs)
        • The Mirror (Cherry Docs)
        • Stanstead Journal (Cherry Docs)
    • Othello >
      • Othello Press >
        • The Gazette (Othello)
        • The Concordian (Othello)
        • The Link (Othello)
        • MicGill Tribune (Othello)
        • The Westmount Independent (Othello)
        • The NDG Monitor (Othello)
    • The Love of Shakespeare's Women (2)
    • Unity 1918 >
      • Unity 1918 Press >
        • The Gazette (Unity 1918)
        • The Mirror (Unity 1918)
        • Invisible Cities Network (Unity 1918)
        • McGill Tribune (Unity 1918)
        • HOUR (Unity 1918)
    • The Love of Shakespeare's Women (1) >
      • The Love of Shakespeare's Women Press >
        • The Westmount Independent (The Loves of Shakespeare's Women)
        • The Gazette (The Loves of Shakespeare's Women)
    • To the Green Fields Beyond >
      • To The Green Fields Beyond Press >
        • The Gazette (To The Green Fields Beyond)
        • The Mirror (To The Green Fields Beyond)
    • Prodigy >
      • Prodigy Press >
        • The Gazette (Prodigy)
        • La Press (Prodigy)
        • Le Délit (Prodigy)
        • Invisible Cities Network (Prodigy)
        • McGill Tribune (Prodigy)
        • The Surban (Prodigy)
        • The Mirror (Prodigy)
        • McGill Daily (Prodigy)
    • Spring Awakening >
      • Spring Awakening Press >
        • The Gazette (Spring Awakening)
        • Prince Chameleon Press (Spring Awakening)
        • Délit (Spring Awakening)
        • Mon Theatre (Spring Awakening)
    • A Room of One's Own >
      • A Room of One's Own Press >
        • CBC Radio One (A Room of One's Own)
        • The Gazette (A Room of One's Own)
        • The Westmount Examiner (A Room of One's Own)
        • The Canadian Jewish News (A Room of One's Own)
    • SubUrbia >
      • SubUrbia Press >
        • CBC Radio One(SubUrbia)
        • The Gazette (SubUrbia)
        • Montreal Mirror (SubUrbia)
        • HOUR (SubUrbia)
        • The Suburban (SubUrbia)
        • Westmount Times (SubUrbia)
        • The Canadian Jewish News (SubUrbia)
    • Jane Eyre >
      • Jane Eyre Press >
        • The Canadian Jewish News (Jane Eyre)
        • Orcasound (Jane Eyre)
    • West
    • Kindertransport >
      • Kindertransport Press >
        • The Gazette (Kindertransport)
        • Montreal Mirror (Kindertransport)
        • The Suburban (Kindertransport)
        • The Chronicle (Kindertransport)
    • Playhouse Creatures >
      • In The Press - Playhouse Creatures
    • Anna Karenina >
      • In The Press - Anna Karenina
  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Support
  • Contact
  • FR
Picture

The Nisei & The Narnauks
Written and Directed by Paul Van Dyck

The Nisei & The Narnauks is the tale of a West Coast Japanese Canadian girl, named Kimiko, during World War II. The narrator of the story is Kimiko’s granddaughter, who directly addresses the audience in the present, and acts out the role of her grandmother as a little girl. 

With the use of puppetry, mask, and music we follow young Kimko’s adventures as she travels from an interment camp in the Slocan Valley, across the Province of British Columbia, in the hope of finding her own sick grandmother, whom she believes is waiting for her at home on Salt Spring Island. Along the way, Kimiko meets many fantastical characters from First Nations West Coast mythology (primarily from the Haida myths) and overcomes several terrifying obstacles with the help of her friends, Raven and Mouse Woman. At the end of the play, Kimko’s granddaughter comes to understand that the fantasy of this story is the key to finding solace with its realities.

FEBRUARY 5-22
MAI (Montreal, arts interculturels)
3680, rue Jeanne-Mance, Montréal, QC  (H2X 2K5)

BOX OFFICE 
Tuesday to Saturday from 3 pm to 6 pm 
and 1 hour before each show
Phone: (514) 982-3386


February 5 - 8:00pm (preview)
February 6 - 8:00pm (opening)
February 7 - 8:00pm
February 8 - 3:00pm

February 11 - 8:00pm
February 12 - 8:00pm
February 13 - 8:00pm
February 14 - 8:00pm
February 15 - 3:00pm

February 18 - 8:00pm
February 19 - 8:00pm
February 20 - 8:00pm
February 21 - 8:00pm
February 22 - 3:00pm

CAST and CREW

PAUL VAN DYCK - Playwright and Director

Picture
Paul is a Montreal based playwright, director, and actor. He recently directed Social Studies at Centaur Theatre, Paradise Lost at the Edinburgh Festival, and Still Stands the House as part of the Neil Munro Intern Directors Project at the Shaw Festival. Other favourite directing/playwriting credits include Oroonoko (MAI/Persephone Productions) Haunted (Hudson Village Theatre), Miss Sugarpuss Must Die! (Segal Centre), Blood Wild and The Harvester (Rabbit in a Hat Productions). Paul is presently the Artistic Director of Rabbit in a Productions and the Quebec National Forum Representative of the Playwrights Guild of Canada.

STEFANIE NAKAMURA - Kimiko

Picture
Stefanie Nakamura is a Dawson College Professional Theatre graduate (DOME  2010). Some of her credits include Sun on the TV show “Sex & Ethnicity”, Bravo’s “19-2”, & ”A Violent State”. Raised in the Laurentians she moved to Montreal in 2007 to attend theatre school.  Her father was born in Tokyo and her mother in Montreal.  This production is close to her heart as it addresses Japanese-Canadian Culture.




MICHAEL BRIGANTI -  Raven, Father, and Chick 3

Picture
Born in Toronto but a true Montrealer, Michael Briganti is a recent honours graduate from the John Abbott professional theatre program and received the academic acting award. He is exited to be working with Persephone productions for a second time. Recent works include Spring Awakening: The Musical and The American Clock as well as other theatre favorites including the roles of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird and Patrick Flanagan in Jitters. Michael has also performed in Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood in the Edinburgh fringe festival.

BREFNY CARIBOU - Mountie 2, Wakinyan, Chick 2, Mouse Woman, Wolf 2, and Goose Servant.

Picture
Brefny was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up wishing that she could be the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. This translated to a life-long passion for performance that would lead her to Montreal, at the age of 18, where she began her studies. In 2014 she graduated from Concordia University with a specialization in Theatre Performance and is now excited to immerse herself in the Montreal theatre scene. Working in both theatre and film she is grateful for the opportunity to share and tell stories in the way she grew up dreaming of.




JIMMY BLAIS  - Mountie 1, Chick 1, Wolf 1, N'ha-a-itk, and Ska-ana.

Picture
Jimmy is a Montreal actor who works in film, television and theatre. He studied in Theatre Performance at Concordia University. He has worked with theatre companies such as Tableau D'Hote, Metachroma and Geordie Productions. His most recent theatre credits include Urban Tales at the Centaur Theatre and L'Homme Invisible/ The Invisible Man at La Licorne. You can see Jimmy as the recurring character Watio in the television series Mohawk Girls on APTN. He also co-wrote and directed the 2014 ACTRA short film festival winner Cafe de Paris.

SARA RODRIGUEZ - Assistant Director

Picture
Sara Rodriguez is a Concordia University graduate whose career highlights include teaching at Segal Centre Academy Productions since 2012, The Seagull (Segal Centre), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Segal Centre / Copa de Oro), Blood Wild (Rabbit in a Hat Productions) Les Vikings Symphoniques (Buzz Cuivres/Buzz Brass- Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra and Quebec Symphony Orchestra), The Medea Effect (Talisman Theatre-Montreal), Cornered (Infinitheatre- Montreal), Milford Haven, a video installation (Concordia University-Montreal), The Harvester (Rabbit in a Hat Productions-Montreal), Paradise Lost (New York City, Halifax, Edinburgh-BTM Productions) Witchcraft (Concordia University), Down from Heaven (Imago Theatre-Montreal), and Quixote (Canis Tempus-Montreal). Sara also works as a model and makeup artist in and around Montreal.

PETER VATSIS - Set and Lighting Designer

Picture
The Nisei and the Narnauks is Peter’s fifth time designing with Persephone, previously working on Henry V (lighting), Oroonoko (set and lighting), Lost: A Memoir (lighting and sound), and last season’s Strawberries in January (lighting). He is a graduate of National Theatre School of Canada (Technical Production: Lighting Specialization, 2004) and has been teaching in the Professional Theatre program at John Abbott College since 2005.

MELANIE MICHAUD - Costume Designer

Picture
Melanie Michaud is a graduate of John Abbott's Professional Theatre Program. She is very thankful to be working with the Persephone team once again. Recent credits include Costume/Set Dressing for "All My Sons" (MTL Theatre Ensemble), Costume for "Oroonoko" (Persephone Productions/MAI), Costumes for "The Harvester" and "Blood Wild" presented at the MTL Fringe and Set/Costume for "Avenue Q" and "GODSPELL" for St.Georges High School.

ZACH FRASER - Puppet/Mask Designer

Picture
Zach is a Montreal-based puppeteer, director, actor, and teacher. Puppet designs include The Aeneid (Talisman), The Heretics of Bohemia (Scapegoat/Segal), & La Fourmilite (Échantillon 23). Directing credits include The Aeneid and Coma Unplugged (Talisman), & …and stockings for the ladies (Rustwerk/HGJT). Recent performances include The Game of Love & Chance (Canadian Stage/Centaur), Trench Patterns (Infinitheatre) & l’hommencolère (Le Bureau). In development: An adaption of José Saramago’s Blindness for John Abbott College, puppet design for MacBeth (Shakespeare in the Ruff, Toronto), and with his company The Rustwerk Refinery, Zach is working toward the 2016 premiere of Louis Riel: a comic-strip stage play based on Chester Brown’s acclaimed graphic novel.

ISABEL  QUINTERO FAIA - Stage Manager

Picture
Based in Montreal, Isabel works as a stage manager, lighting designer & theatre technician. A graduate of the Professional Theatre Production Program at John Abbott College, she has worked with Black Theatre Workshop & urban ink Productions (Sal Capone: The Lamentable Tragedy of), Nu Spyce Productions (Single Black Female), Kaleidoscope Theatre Montreal (To Be: In Concert), La Tigressa Productions (Je Rêve En Autisme), The Segal Centre for the Performing Arts (Glengarry Glen Ross, Top Girls, The Graduate & Belles Soeurs: The Musical), the Montreal Fringe Festival and the Just for Laughs Festival. Past Persephone credits include Hamlet, Oroonoko & The Walnut Tree.

PAMELA PERROTTI - Production Manager

Pamela Perrotti is a montreal based actor who is production managing for the first time ever. Pamela actually got her very first acting role with Persephone Productions upon granduation from the John Abbott College Professional Theatre program and is glad that Persephone is giving her the opportunity to try her hand at something new once again.

Persephone Productions Inc
93, Somerville Ave.,
Westmount, Que, H3Z 1J4

CONTACT
ABOUT