Since Cardiac Theatre developed its first project in 2016, its focus has been on creating intimate theatre experiences.
In a completely fresh approach to theatre, Cardiac has partnered with What It Is Productions to showcase a 12-month podcast project.
The Queer Calendar Project is an accumulation of 13 podcast episodes by queer Alberta writers. One episode is released every month throughout 2020, and they are free to access from anywhere.
“The Queer Calendar Project’s focus is to develop, export and share. When we put out a call for submission, the criteria was that you identify as a queer Albertan and that you are a writer that has written in some capacity. We wanted to give writers free range. The stories we received are not necessarily Albertan or about being queer,” said Jessica Glover, Cardiac Theatre artistic producer.
The project releases one podcast story every month ranging from dramas, comedies, a musical, solo shows and even a cultural experience.
St. Albert playwright-actor Hayley Moorhouse submitted her 45-minute play Suspension. While the original format was a short monologue for a drama class, the two-hander has morphed into a bizarre absurdist comedy.
As the one-act starts, The Witness (Meeghan Sweet) putters around a suburban backyard. St. Albert’s Holly Wandler is The Dreamer.
The Dreamer wanders in and the duo notice an exploded airplane hovering in the sky. Time is frozen and the two realize they have all the time in the world to sort out issues.
“The Witness has a Wizard of Oz vibe. She knows everything. She’s in control. She takes it all seriously and is deeply invested in everything,” Moorhouse explains.
“The Dreamer is more bewildered and naïve. She’s more representative of the audience. She’s confused but challenges The Witness and the power dynamics gradually change.”
Moorhouse was inspired to write Suspension after realizing that although she’d grown up in a safe, secure environment, tragedy could strike at any moment.
“I was interested in how we respond to global tragedy. Typically growing up in St. Albert is pretty safe, but we still see things on the news from far away and we can feel empathy."
To work through this unconventional plot, Moorhouse borrowed from imagination and real life.
“The year I was working on the play, there was a startling number of plane crashes and they got stuck in my head. I asked, 'What are we supposed to do?' I wanted people to ask questions about things they hadn’t considered before.”
“What I was trying to achieve was deal with the massive cerebral question of morality in a way that is relatable and down to earth.”
Suspension starts broadcasting Sunday, March 8.
Glover notes there are many captivating ideas and stories presented.
The July episode is Jamie Price’s My Boyfriend’s Girlfriend originally produced at Edmonton Fringe Fest.
“It’s a musical comedy about three people who develop a polyamorous relationship. They have a four-piece band and it’s the same actors as the Fringe,” said Glover.
Come November, Calgary's Natalie Meisner’s Legislating Love: The Everett Klippert Story introduces a true piece of Canadian history.
“It’s about Everett Klippert, the last Canadian man jailed for being gay.”
Meisner wanted to get behind the scandalous headlines and learn more about the Calgary bus-driver who brightened his passengers’ day and played on a family baseball team.
Glover concludes saying, “It’s been wonderful having a roster across the province, and we are excited to feed into it. If you are from Edmonton, you normally would not see a project from Lethbridge or Sylvan Lake. But this gives artists more air time to share their experiences across Alberta.”
Audio engineer Brian Bergum of What It Is recorded each episode. They are currently available at queercalendar.ca.
