LAFPI

United Stages and Skylight Theatre Company presents Grin & Tonic Theatre’s American Premiere of “The 7 Stages of Grieving”

Written by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman / Directed by Jason Klarwein

As the first professional Aboriginal production in Los Angeles, “The 7 Stages of Grieving” holds a mirror up to America by sharing Australia’s Aboriginal people’s fight for equality and recognition. With the hope of reconciliation, “The 7 Stages of Grieving” gives a comprehensive account of the Aboriginal people and their struggle to survive. These poignant stories reflect similar travails of Native Americans. Politically relevant and culturally profound in the season we celebrate Columbus Day (Indigenous People Day), the play recounts Aboriginal history through true, humorous, and stunning personal tales that open a dialogue on the issues which separate and unite Indigenous and non-Indigenous people: discrimination, inequality, oppression, segregation, and colonization. Their story is your story.

Director Jason Klarwein works nationally and internationally with Australia’s leading theatre companies. 2019 marks his tenth year as Artistic Director of Grin & Tonic Theatre.

Performer Chenoa Deemal is from the Thitharr Warra clan that is part of the Gugu Yimithirr tribe who reside in and around Hopevale, north of Cooktown in the Cape York Peninsula of Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) and has been working professionally as an actor since 2009.  She has performed in the national tour of “The 7 Stages Of Grieving (Queensland Theatre Company / Grin & Tonic) to critical acclaim and recently appeared in London at Origins: Festival Of First Nations.

Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe developed this production with Queensland Theatre in 2015 and toured Australia in 2016 and 2017. Internationally, the production has appeared at the International Performing Arts for Youth conference in Montreal in 2016 and Origins: Festival of First Nations in London 2017.

Opening: 8:30pm Friday November 1, 2019

Playing 8:00pm on Thursdays, 8:30pm Friday and Saturdays, 3:00pm Sundays

JOIN US on Thursday, November 7 for LAFPI Night at United Stages – use the code LAFPI for $15 tix. Meet fellow playwrights at 7:30 for pre-show convo, and following the hour-long performance, plan to stay for a short talkback with the performer and director, moderated by Sam Cook, a female Indigenous Australian arts leader now based in LA.

Facebook: unitedstagesla Twitter: @unitedstages Instagram: @unitedstages
Facebook: SkylightTheatre Twitter: @SkylightThtr Instagram: @SkylightTheatre

Website: www.unitedstages.org and www.skylighttheatre.org