THE GREAT MOUNTAIN
The Great Mountain is an eco-adventure story in the guise of an action-packed play that entertains and empowers the imaginations of children and families alike. When Nuna starts hearing things she can’t figure out, her Grandmother realizes that she has inherited the ability to hear the spirits of rushing rivers and soaring mountains. This begins a journey across a raging river to a melting glacier where the spirit of the great mountain weeps.
Does Nuna have the power to answer the mountain's cry?
Inspired by a traditional Northern Plains story, Jumping Mouse, this story illustrates the transformative power of nature, and the courage it takes to move society's mountain of mindsets. The play focuses on young people's capacity to address pressing environmental issues and to recognize their own ability to make a difference to the future of our planet.
The Great Mountain's inaugural tour from January 25 - April 17, 2011 was performed at The Esplanade Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta; Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts in Brantford, Ontario; Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts in Ontario; Lebovic Centre in Ontario; Smithsonian Institute in New York City, USA; Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam, British Columbia; and the Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, British Columbia, among numerous schools.
In addition, Red Sky enjoyed 20 performances on the Mainstage at Young People's Theatre in Toronto from February 6 - 20, 2012, followed by 45 performances throughout Western Canada. In our 2012-13 season, Red Sky toured throughout Canada with a 15-state tour in the United States with stops at such places as the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Centre in Iowa; Lied Centre at the University of Kansas in Kansas; the Palestine Civic Centre in Texas; the Alberta Bair Theatre in Montana; and the Pantages Theatre in Washington, among others.
In our 2013-14 season, Red Sky toured 98 performances to 62 venues on a nation-wide tour of Canada, with notable performances at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby, British Columbia; The Calgary International Children’s Festival at the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts in Alberta; and The PotashCorp Children’s Festival of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and the Scugog First Nations in Scugog, Ontario.
REVIEWS OF
THE GREAT MOUNTAIN
"Imaginative, the performances full of life and the ecologically-minded story is made exciting in the guise of an adventure story."
- Stage Door
"Directed by Alan Dilworth with a creative assist from Sandra Laronde who also choreographed the show with Carlos Rivera, it proves to be a highly inventive staging, as the cast makes it their own."
– Toronto Sun
"Fairbrother is an audience favourite as a spunky young boy, ‘the only and greatest warrior of my territory,’ who also hears the voice of the mountain and aids Nuna in her quest, and a hyperactive train conductor costumed by Jeff Chief as an iron horse."
– NOW Magazine
"All three actors show impressive skill in acting, singing and dancing. Fairbrother is especially busy in switching from character to character with rapidity and precision. Joy-Fraser arouses much sympathy as the Grandmother and the Great Mountain and most, if not all, children will be able to identify with the frustration and impatience with adults that Pratt conveys as Nuna."
– Stage Door
Red Sky was FABULOUS! Creative, dynamic, vivacious performers. A powerful story presented in a very powerful way. I am so glad to have had this group here, and I feel privileged to have experienced this work of art.
– Gerri Galloway, Principal, Garibaldi Highlands Elementary School