This hour and a half monologue/play highlights some of the injustices which occurred during the G20 summit during the summer of 2010. Tommy Taylor is the writer and performer of this amazing tale, who shows up centre stage in old over sized long sleep T-shirt and raggedy jeans. He looks like a sweet down to earth overgrown high school teenager who is a typical W.A.S.P. Canadian. He goes on to tell the story of the amazing sense of community he felt when 20,000 protesters gathered from all sectors of society ranging from grandmothers to bikers coming out in force peacefully protesting in a park. This quickly turned into a nightmare weekend imprisonment with no food, no water, a porta-potty without doors, and squeezed in so tightly with others he passed out from dehydration. During this entire time in custody, prisoners had their hands zip-tied together.
Tommy eloquently shares the journey of how it feels to have your rights stripped away from you, without any evidence of wrongdoing. The emotional and psychological up and down of being beaten, handcuffed, dragged, mug shots, transported by bus, and locked up where you lose the track of time due to the unflinching lights above you beaming down 24/7. He shares details of the war like attitude of the cops that came from around the country. He pointed out many from Calgary and Edmonton police departments showed up in full riot gear looking for a reason to use their “toys”. They would then verbally assault anyone who was LBGT, and conduct strip searches on women.
What enraged Tommy was that during the day of capture, he saw about 50-80 young vigilantes vandalizing shop windows and setting police cars on fire. The police allowed this to happen, and the encouraged the media to eat up each delicious storied morsel. It was 6 hours later around 8 pm that Tommy and 100 other peaceful protesters were corralled on all four sides. They, along with 1100 other people arrested, were detained like guilty criminals. A couple who went to dinner at the Keg Steakhouse, just happen to exit onto a police barricade that Tommy ended up in, and was thrown into prison like the rest of them.
This ordeal was terrifying to hear, as you learn about being separated from your loved one. Unable to see your friends, and even after all is done, all your possessions were taken away, so having no resources to even get home. At the end Tommy was not charged with any criminal act and was let go. No one investigated or interrogated him, he simply had his picture taken and all of his possessions taken away and thrown into a cage with 40-50 other men. Originally during construction, the cells were meant to hold no more than 20.
The temporary facility on Eastern Avenue, set up in a former film studio in the city's east end, had a maximum capacity for 500 prisoners. Police estimated about 1,000 people were detained there at various times between June 24 and 28 during the G20 protests. The police had contracted out construction of the temporary prison 4 months ahead of time. All the tactics used on the prisoners were classic textbook methods to keep them docile. With the extreme light and tight quarters, they lost sense of self-identity and sense of time. It was designed to break their will.
This shocking experience kick started Tommy’s activist life, where he now spends his free time protesting on behalf of Amnesty International and the Lost Sister Project. This incident resulted in an inquiry since no one apologized, and results of the inquiry came to light in summer of 2012. They were presented to the Toronto Chief of Police Bill Blair, and simply disappeared off the radar. Bill Blair was the commanding officer of G20 security forces and given the order to commence the raid. The other main character behind the operation was the current Minister of Veteran Affairs, Julian Fantino. He has not since suffered any consequences of compromising the civil liberties of 1,100 Canadian citizens for over 48 hours. More info at www.firehallartscentre.ca
Salmon Row Presented by The City of Richmond and Mortal Coil
At the Britannia Shipyards in Richmond, along the Fraser River of a breezy
summer evening, a full cast of 13 actors gathered together with live musicians.
Brought together to tell a story about the fishing towns tension between
different ethnic groups. The tension comes from the decline of fish stocks, and
of big fishing companies taking over.
There were many stories overlapping each other. Racial tension arises between
the local Caucasian fisherman, and the highly efficient and skilled Japanese
fisherman fighting over the days catch.
The disapproval of the Chinese migrant worker’s romantic pursuit of a
Canadian Caucasian girl upsets the locals. And finally the tension between
fishermen catching their own fish, to getting a job in the fish factory for
canning.
The whole play had so many colourful
characters. From the showboating of the Chinese migrant worker, to the black
owner of a small fishery sharing history lessons about his fight to stay in the
game. All despite all the up and downs over the years.
All Photo Credit - Tim Matheson, actors Testuro Shigematsu and Donna Yamamoto
One of the most interesting stories hidden among the celestial gem is the Japanese bride who refused to marry her groom upon arrival. She didn’t speak a word, and just shed silent tears holding onto her suitcase tight, not willing to go with her groom. Another Japanese local fisherman took pity and took her in, and eventually they married and had three children. (Apparently this actually happened in Steveston)
The play was performed over three venues. It began on the grassy lawn of the park
after a First Nations representative blessed it with a song and dance from the
Coastal Wolf Pack Dancers. There were children and youth, each with paper mache
fish running through during a ceremony scene. We then moved to the second venue which was against a closed
fishery. This served as the cannery, local shop, fisherman's house, and the dock where fishermen went to
work. The last venue was next to a
small vegetable garden along a farm house, where projected images onto the farm
siding was used during a dream scene.
This play displayed the rich conflict and culture of Steveston’s fishing
industry. The stories of its
people, woven through song, costumes, prop and amazing acting. The giant robotic cannery transformer
kung fu fight mid show was so existential and cool, a total surprise element
that thrilled the younger audience.
I attending opening night so there was a reception of food
and drinks with the cast and crew after the show. It was buzzing with excitement as the audience hoarded
around their favourite
actors to get autographs and give their thanks. I was lucky enough to briefly speak with the black gentleman
who sang so emotionally with his deep raspy voice. Apparently he’s not a full
time actor, and this was his first acting gig, much to my surprise. I also had a chance to speak with
Testuro Shigematsu who played the cannery transformer. He looked like a fellow that stepped
out of a Sherlock Holmes novel with his top hat and unique mustache. Testuro
told me that he was really excited to be apart of this play again, and loving
the warm response from the audience.
(Testuro is also a board member of Asian Canadian Theatre Sports and has some very funny writing on pop culture on the Huffington Post which is a riot to read)
I spoke with Mortal Coil’s general manager Marietta Kozak, a vivacious
lady. It was inspiring to hear her
tale about how it took years to turn this play into reality. She was so excited to be able to tell
stories of local history and hope other theatre will follow suit.
Salmon Row was written by Nicola Harwood, directed by Peter Hall and Martin
Kinch, music composed by Tobin Stokes.
Performers:
Reneltta Arluk
Samuel Bob
Nyla Carpentier
Diane Garceau
Patrick Keating
Sean McQuillan
Garron Plett
Jim Preston
Alvin Sanders
Tatsuro Shigematsu
Alan Wong
Donna Yamanoto
James Yi
The Musicians:
Steven Charles
Martin Fish
Phyllis Ho
Lathleen Nesbitt
The Coastal Wolf Pack Dancers:
Iona Paul
Alec Dan
Shadae Paul
Benjamin Paul
Boedaya Paul
Demetrius Paul
Anastasia Paul
The Children:
Kelly Meng
Collette Richardson
Annabella Semple
Sophie Price
Hayley Trewin
Aidan Wessels
Jordan Wessels
Playwright’s Notes:
Contained in the history of Cannery Row on the Fraser River is the history of British Columbia. The stories of this place is so complex, rich and filled with conflict that reducing them to an evening’s entertainment is almost impossible. We have chosen to focus on Cannery Row rather than tell the story of the town of Steveston, although the two stories are, of course, inextricably linked. We have combined truth with fiction to serve the story and of course there are stories that got left on the cutting room floor. Far too many.
My sincere wish is that all of us who call this province home begin to understand the controversial history upon which our present rests, we will be inspired to rescue what is left of our natural resources, rehabilitate our relationship to our first peoples and welcome all immigrants who make this place home.
We welcome you in. You are part of this story.
This production was made possible with the support of The City of Richmond, The Province of British Columbia and Fencer Fence Rentals.
Mortal Coil is a performance company dedicated to creating
imaginative theatre and spectacle for all audiences. Through the use of stilts, masks, puppets and costuming, the
company creates performances in theatres, at festivals and at site-specific
events locally, nationally and internationally. The company also empowers communities to celebrate their
creativity through classes and workshops for professional performers, educators
and general public, and by creating performance opportunities in which the
local community can participate.
Artistic Directors: Sharon Bayly and Peter Hall
General Manager: Marietta Kozak
Salmon Row was developed and workshopped with grants from Arts Partners in
Creative Development and the Canada Council for the Arts, and was originally
produced at the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site in August of
2011.