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NW playwright premieres in Montreal

A local playwright will see his 1999 play produced in Montreal, after it has been translated into French.

A local playwright will see his 1999 play produced in Montreal, after it has been translated into French.

Floyd Favel, of Poundmaker First Nation, studied theatre at the Native Theatre School in Ontario, at Tukaq Teatret d'Eugenio Barba in Denmark and studied with Jerzy Grotowski at the Ricerca Theatre in Italy. Favel has been active in the region, organizing a youth cultural workshop at Poundmaker for the last two years.

His play, called The Governor of the Dew, has previously been performed at the Globe Theatre, the National Arts Centre and for Prince Edward's royal visit in 2004. Excerpts from the play were also shown during the governor general's inauguration in 2005.

The play is based around a folktale Favel's mother had told him, but the bulk of its material is created by Favel. Performed by one actor and a live band, the play is set long ago, when animals could speak to humans. An old Cree woman is visited by an old beaver, who tells her the story of his community.

The play has been translated into French for the production, which will be shown in Quebec for the first time from Feb. 8 to 22.