The Firehall Arts Centre 2023-2024 season comes to a close with Cheri Maracle’s Paddle Song, from Friday, May 24 to Sunday, June 2. Last performed at Firehall in 2021, Paddle Song is an energetic and humorous one-woman musical reflecting on the proud life and legacy of trailblazing Mohawk poet E. Pauline Johnson.
Paddle Song captures journey of the gifted writer and poised orator, from a young woman canoeing the Grand River at home at Chiefswood, to the beginnings of her promising career, then earning her place on stages in Ontario, across Canada, then to the United States, and Great Britain.
The Canadian poet, author, and performer is revered as one of Canada’s most remarkable feminists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Performing around the world, E. Pauline Johnson endlessly fought for equality, acceptance, and respect as an Indigenous female performer with a voice in a male-dominated literary world. Settling in Vancouver, her funeral would be the largest public service in the City’s history to that time. Buried in Stanley Park, after special permission, and a monument in the Park commemorates her life, work and legacy.
Paddle Song is produced and performed by Cheri Maracle, an acclaimed Six Nations performer. With multiple film and tv credits and recordings, as well as multi-award nominations Cheri Maracle has taken her work across the country as well as to Europe. Written by Dinah Christie & Tom Hill, music & lyrics and direction by Dinah Christie with re-staging direction by: Columpa Bobb
Paddle Song plays at Firehall Arts Centre 280 E. Cordova Street from May 24 to June 2, 2024. For tickets and more information visit firehallartscentre.ca