Sarasvati Productions
{{short description|Canadian theater company}}
{{Infobox theatre group|name=Sarasvati Productions|formed={{Start date|1998}}|notable=|ArtisticDirector={{plainlist|
- Hope McIntyre (1998-2020)
- Frances Koncan (2020-2021)
}}|members=|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|genre=Feminist theatre|disbanded={{End date|2023}}|caption=|native_name=|imagesize=|image=|logo_caption=|logo_size=|logo=|native_name_lang=|homepage={{URL|https://sarasvati.ca}}}}
Sarasvàti Productions, often stylized Sarasvati Productions, was a Canadian feminist theatre company. Sarasvati hosted several annual events including the International Women's Week Cabaret of Monologues, One Night Stand, and FemFest.
History
Sarasvati Productions was founded in 1998 in Toronto and permanently relocated to Winnipeg in 2000. The company was founded by Hope McIntyre who named it after the Hindu goddess, Saraswati.{{Cite news|last=Rollason|first=Kevin|date=2016-08-27|title=Theatre with a social conscience|work=Winnipeg Free Press|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/theatre-with-a-social-conscience-391420421.html|access-date=2020-08-02}}
In 2003, Sarasvati launched their International Women's Week Cabaret of Monologues.{{Cite news|last=Geary|first=Andrea|date=2020-02-14|title=Local actor taking the stage in Monologues|language=en-CA|work=Winnipeg Free Press|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/headliner/Local-actor-taking-the-stage-in-Monologues-567888241.html|access-date=2020-08-02}} The cabaret features monologues from local artists pertaining to the annual theme.{{Cite web|last=Paizen|first=Grace|date=2020-02-27|title=Come to the cabaret|url=http://www.themanitoban.com/2020/02/come-to-the-cabaret/39195/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=The Manitoban|language=en-CA}} In 2008, the Cabaret of Monologues expanded to include touring across Manitoba.{{Cite book|last=McIntyre|first=Hope|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=psIC_9QLJD0C|title=West-words: Celebrating Western Canadian Theatre and Playwriting|publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre|year=2011|isbn=9780889772359|editor-last=Day|editor-first=Moira Jean|pages=22|chapter=Producing New Work in Winnipeg|via=Google Books}} In 2017, Sarasvati relaunched their One Night Stand series. One Night Stand features ten-minute snippets from plays written by local playwrights.{{Cite web|last=Nifesi|first=Tobi|date=2017-02-01|title=Sarasvati Productions' One Night Stand series offers a space for feedback on theatre performances|url=http://www.themanitoban.com/2017/02/sarasvati-productions-one-night-stand-series-offers-space-feedback-theatre-performances/30611/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=The Manitoban|language=en-CA}}
In 2020, McIntyre stepped down as artistic director and Frances Koncan was appointed the incoming artistic director.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-09|title=FemFest Restarts In-Person Theatre for Sarasvati Productions|url=https://www.chrisd.ca/?p=175980|access-date=2020-10-09|website=ChrisD.ca|language=en-CA}} Koncan resigned in March 2021.{{Cite web|date=March 2021|title=Media Statement March 2021|url=https://sarasvati.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/media-statement_Mar-2021.pdf|access-date=2021-06-22|website=Sarasvati Productions}} In 2023, the Board of Directors announced the closure of the company.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-09 |title=News From Sarasvàti Productions |url=https://sarasvati.ca/news-from-sarasvati-productions/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=Sarasvàti Productions}}
FemFest
FemFest was founded in 2003.{{Cite news|last=Birnie|first=Sheldon|date=2019-05-09|title=Opportunity knocks|work=Winnipeg Free Press|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/Opportunity-knocks-559470661.html|access-date=2020-08-02}} The Winnipeg Free Press described FemFest as "Canada’s main festival for female playwrights".{{Cite news|last=McFee|first=Jennifer|date=2016-08-31|title=Aug 2016: Making sure the show goes on|language=en-CA|work=Winnipeg Free Press|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/lance/Making-sure-the-show-goes-on-391901401.html|access-date=2020-08-02|quote=Renowned as Canada’s main festival for female playwrights, FemFest runs this year from Sept. 17 to 24 at the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film (University of Winnipeg, 400 Colony St.).}} FemFest is a two-week festival that features plays and readings from female playwrights from Manitoba and around the world.{{Cite web|last=Cunningham|first=John Herbert|date=2012-09-12|title=A decade of FemFest|url=http://uniter.ca/view/a-decade-of-femfest|access-date=2020-08-02|website=The Uniter|language=en}}{{cite magazine|last=Dempsey|first=Shauna|date=2015|title=Staging Feminist Theatre|magazine=Herizons|publisher=Herizons Magazine, Inc|volume=20|issue=3|page=12|via=ProQuest}}
The festival also features the annual Bake Off competition, in partnership with the Manitoba Association of Playwrights. Bake Off launched in 2012 and features several local playwrights who create ten-minute scenes with a surprise set of three "ingredients". The playwrights are given eight hours to write their scenes. The winning playwright receives dramaturgical assistance to develop their scene into a full play which will then receive a staged reading at the next FemFest.{{Cite news|last=Koncan|first=Frances|date=2019-09-14|title=FemFest's lineup packs workshops, familiar favourites|work=Winnipeg Free Press|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/femfests-lineup-packs-workshops-familiar-favourites-560307292.html|access-date=2020-08-02}}
FemFest celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012 from September 15 to 22. The theme of this iteration of the festival was "Staging Identity". This FemFest was decidedly national and featured artists from Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal in addition to Winnipeg-based artists.{{Cite journal|last=Scott|first=Shelley|date=2014|title=Women's Theatre Festivals as Counterpublics: Groundswell, FemFest, and The Riveter Series|url=https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/tric/article/view/21941/25438|journal=Theatre Research in Canada / Recherches Théâtrales Au Canada|volume=35|issue=1|eissn=1913-9101}} As part of the 2017 FemFest, Sarasvati collaborated with the Winnipeg Public Library to create a Human Library, partially inspired by Denmark's Human Library. The "library" featured 24 human books.{{Cite news|last=Zoratti|first=Jen|date=2017-09-20|title=Sep 2017: 'Human library' lets you discover the true story|language=en-CA|work=Winnipeg Free Press|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/arts/human-library-lets-you-discover-the-true-story-445945763.html|access-date=2020-08-02}}
Select production history
Sarasvati generally produces only one main-stage show per year in addition to its programming with FemFest, the Cabaret of Monologues, and One Night Stand.
- Hunger by Hope McIntyre (1998){{Cite book|last=McIntyre|first=Hope|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=psIC_9QLJD0C|title=West-words: Celebrating Western Canadian Theatre and Playwriting|publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre|year=2011|isbn=9780889772359|editor-last=Day|editor-first=Moira Jean|pages=29|chapter=Producing New Work in Winnipeg|via=Google Books}}
- Revisioning by Hope McIntyre (1999)
- Missiah by Hope McIntyre (2000)
- Death of Love by Hope McIntyre (2001)
- Fire Visions: Poems by Bertolt Brecht (2002)
- One for the Road by Harold Pinter (2003)
- You Whore (2003) - collective creation, performed at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival
- Jill's War by Victoria Loa Hicks and Nancy Kruh (2004) - performed at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival
- Impromptu of Outremont by Michel Tremblay (2005)
- Ripple Effect by Hope McIntyre (2008) - touring production at various Manitoba high schools
- Bone Cage by Catherine Banks (2009) - reading, part of Carol Shields Festival of New Works{{Cite book|last=McIntyre|first=Hope|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=psIC_9QLJD0C|title=West-words: Celebrating Western Canadian Theatre and Playwriting|publisher=Canadian Plains Research Centre|year=2011|isbn=9780889772359|editor-last=Day|editor-first=Moira Jean|pages=30|chapter=Producing New Work in Winnipeg|via=Google Books}}
- Fen by Caryl Churchill (2010)
- Eden by Hope McIntyre (2012) - directed by Sharon Bajer
- Jail Baby by Hope McIntyre and Cairn Moore with Nan Fewchuk and Marsha Knight (2013) - directed by Ann Hodges
- Fefu and Her Friends by María Irene Fornés (2014) - directed by Hope McIntyre
- Giving Voice (2014) - created with VOICES: Manitoba's Youth in Care Network, touring production at Manitoba high schools{{Cite web|date=2014-08-20|title=Sarasvàti Productions Promises Powerful Season of Theatre|url=https://www.chrisd.ca/2014/08/20/sarasvati-productions-2014-15-theatrical-season-winnipeg/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=ChrisD.ca|language=en-CA}}
- Miss N Me by Catherine Banks (2015) - directed by Hope McIntyre{{Cite news|last=Schmidt|first=Joff|date=2015-05-22|title=Embrace the strange with Missy Elliott, clown play from Sarasvati Productions|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/embrace-the-strange-with-missy-elliott-clown-play-from-sarasvati-productions-1.3083906|access-date=2020-08-02}}
- Shattered (2016)
- Breaking Through (2017) - directed by Kevin Klassen{{Cite news|last=Schmidt|first=Joff|date=2017-05-25|title=New made-in-Manitoba play breaks through silence on mental health|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/review-breaking-through-sarasvati-productions-1.4129858|access-date=2020-08-02}}
- New Beginnings (2018) - directed by Cherissa Richards{{Cite news|last=Schmidt|first=Joff|date=2018-05-25|title=War deserters, asylum seekers and new beginnings: 3 new made-in-Manitoba plays hit the stage|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-theatre-reviews-deserter-new-beginnings-boundary-ave-1.4677771|access-date=2020-08-02}}
= FemFest productions =
2020: "Engaging Community"
- Alice and The World We Live In by Alexandria Haber{{Cite web|date=2020-09-09|title=FemFest Restarts In-Person Theatre for Sarasvati Productions|url=https://www.chrisd.ca/?p=175980|access-date=2020-10-09|website=ChrisD.ca|language=en-CA}}
- Monstrous by Sarah Waisvisz (livestream only){{Cite web|last=Maharaj-Poliah|first=Shaylyn|date=2020-09-15|title=Local theatre festival resumes performances|url=https://www.themanitoban.com/2020/09/local-theatre-festival-resumes-performances/40226/|access-date=2020-10-09|website=The Manitoban|language=en-CA}}
2019: "All the World’s a Stage"
- Like Mother Like Daughter - directed by Rose Plotek{{Cite news|last=Luschinski|first=Justin|date=2019-09-09|title=FemFest returning to U of W|language=en-CA|work=Winnipeg Free Press|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/metro/FemFest-returning-to-U-of-W-559839101.html|access-date=2020-08-06}}
- To Kill A Lizard by The Launchpad Project
- Raising Stanley / Life with Tulia by Kim Patrick - directed by Bronwyn Steinberg{{Cite web|last=Halmarson|first=Daniel|date=2019-10-04|title=Female Artists in the Spotlight|url=https://theprojector.ca/female-artists-in-the-spotlight/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=The Projector|language=en-US}}
- 4inXchange - organized by xLq{{Cite web|last=Sturrup|first=Naaman|date=2019-09-12|title=FemFest provides a voice for all – The Uniter|url=http://uniter.ca/view/femfest-provides-a-voice-for-all|access-date=2020-08-06|website=uniter.ca|language=en}}
- Baby Box by Eva Barrie, Miranda Calderon, and Michelle Polak - directed by Hope McIntyre{{Cite news|last=Silva|first=Danielle Da|date=2019-09-09|title=Local actors bring challenging story to life|language=en-CA|work=Winnipeg Free Press|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/souwester/Local-actors-bring-challenging-story-to-life-559842861.html|access-date=2020-09-08}}
2018: "Staging Resistance"
- Sound of the Beast by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard{{Cite web|title=FemFest 2018: Staging Resistance|url=https://globalnews.ca/event/4433920/femfest-2018-staging-resistance/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=Global News|language=en-US}}
- Burnt by Norah Paton
- White Man’s Indian by Darla Contois
- The Game by Manohar Performing Arts of Canada
2017: "Coming of Age"
- Tomboy Survival Guide by Ivan Coyote{{Cite web|last=Papadopoulos|first=Jaz|date=2017-09-17|title=Arts Briefs|url=http://uniter.ca/view/arts-briefs-72-01|access-date=2020-08-06|website=uniter.ca|language=en}}
- Two Indians by Falen Johnson
2016: "Transformation"
- Morro and Jasp Do Puberty by Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee{{Cite news|last=Schmidt|first=Joff|date=2016-06-17|title=5 events to watch for at this year's FemFest|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/5-events-to-watch-for-at-this-year-s-femfest-1.3765400|access-date=2020-08-06}}
- Miss Understood by Antonette Rea
- The Seduction Theory by Sherry MacDonald
- Mouthpiece by Norah Sadava and Amy Nostbakken{{Cite web|last=Nifesi|first=Tobi|date=2016-09-14|title=FemFest celebrates 13 years of giving voice to women|url=http://www.themanitoban.com/2016/09/femfest-celebrates-13-years-of-giving-voice-to-women/29000/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=The Manitoban|language=en-CA}}
2015: "Hear Her Roar"
- The Dance-Off of Unconscious Coupling by Frances Koncan{{Cite web|date=2016-05-19|title=Sarasvàti Productions FemFest 2015: Hear Her Roar|url=https://icasc.ca/sarasvati-productions-femfest-2015-hear-her-roar/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=ART / DIALOGUE / ACTION|language=en-US}}
- The National Elevator Project{{Cite web|last=Krahn|first=Sara|date=2015-09-14|title=FemFest 2015: Hear Her Roar|url=https://www.classic107.com/news/femfest-2015-hear-her-roar|access-date=2020-08-06|website=Classic 107 - Winnipeg's classical and jazz radio station.|language=en-gb}}
2014: "She’s Got the Power"
- The Naked Woman by Rebecca Gibson{{Cite web|date=2014-06-11|title=FemFest Offering Diverse Range of Plays|url=https://www.chrisd.ca/2014/06/11/femfest-2014-lineup-winnipeg-sarasvati-productions/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=ChrisD.ca|language=en-CA}}
- Launched by Tyler White{{Cite web|last=Shaeri|first=Niku|date=2014-09-09|title=FemFest 2014: She's Got the Power|url=http://www.themanitoban.com/2014/09/femfest-2014-shes-got-power/20440/|access-date=2020-08-06|website=The Manitoban|language=en-CA}}
- Skin Deep by Alison Mclean - reading
- German Silver by Priscilla Yakielashek - reading
- 8 Ways My Mother Was Conceived by Michaela Di Cesare
- Herewithal: A Paranormal Comedy by Jim and Tara Travis
- River Story by Rubena Sinha
2010: "On the Edge"
- she by d’bi young.anitafrica{{Cite web|date=2012-05-07|title=Sarasvàti Productions|url=http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Sarasv%25E0ti%2520Productions|access-date=2020-08-06|website=Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia|publisher=Athabasca University}}
2007: "We've Come a Long Way"