Carrying Capacity by Jess Amy Shead
Time & Location
About the Event
Please note: at the request of the playwright this is a CLOSED reading, by invitation only.
ABOUT THE PLAY
Annie and Les are sisters. They have just found out that Annie is pregnant as a surrogate with Les’ child. Annie brings up her climate anxiety, and deep concerns about bringing another child into the world. What unfolds is an unraveling of their relationship, and their connection to chronic illness, immigration, achievement, and the future.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
JESS AMY SHEAD immigrated to Canada from South Africa when she was two years old. She grew up on the traditional territory of the K’omoks and Hamalco Nations, and currently lives on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations. She is an actor, creator and producer, with a focus on site-specific micro-performance, puppetry, theatre for young audiences, ASL/English theatre, collective creation, and musical theatre. Jess was the Community Engaged Producing Intern with Playwrights Theatre Centre, and focused on ASL/English Theatre and working with Deaf artists by studying ASL and attending Deaf theatre conferences and festivals across Canada. She is currently co-creating a workshop series for Deaf and hearing artists in Vancouver and Calgary with Landon Krentz, and is continuing to learn Sign Language through UBC. She is the co-recipient of two Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performance in the Theatre for Young Audiences category for Freddie in the Neighbourhood which she co-created with Randi Edmundson and The Little Onion Puppet Co. She is currently co-creating a new table-top puppetry show with Randi Edmundson, Shizuka Kai and Little Onion Puppet Co. called Otosan, which means “father” in Japanese.Jess was one of 17 recipients of the Bill Millerd Artist Fund which provided her funding to attend the 2020 Banff Centre Puppet Intensive led by Pete Balkwill of the Old Trout Puppet Company.
ABOUT THE ACTORS
JALEN SAIP is a Vancouver-based actor, improviser and photographer who has only gone SLIGHTLY mad during this time of isolation! Favourite past credits include The Wolves (With a Spoon/Rumble Theatre) Almost Maine, Love/Sick (Pacific Theatre) and A Winter’s Tale (Classic Chic). She also loves fries.
SARAH ROA is a Filipina Canadian actress, grateful to be living and working on the Unceded Territories of the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Musqueam Nations. She holds an Acting Diploma from Douglas College and a BFA in Acting from UBC. Some past credits include: The Turn of the Screw (Aenigma Theatre), Robinson Crusoe + Friday (Axis Theatre), The Drowning Girls (Theatre North West), and Pride & Prejudice (Arts Club). Thank you for taking the time to support our artistic endeavours; you are all wonderful human beings!