The Seventh Fire
by Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen with Mishelle Cuttler
Presented as part of the Micro Performance Series, The Seventh Fire is an immersive, in-the-round audio performance by Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen that sources traditional, oral Anishinaabe stories and societal roles as a way to evoke ceremony in the everyday. Audiences are asked to leave their belongings in the lobby before entering the space, where they’re free to stand, sit, lie down or move around.
The sound and the story are the somatic links to ancestral realms. The story takes place in the present, past, and future; above and below the earth. It follows disconnected sisters Daanis and Nimise, who reconnect on their ancestral territory. Their journey interweaves with that of Nokomis, their grandmother who raised them, as she lights her fires in the Spirit World.
The Seventh Fire performance dates and times:
- April 2, 7pm
- April 3, 7pm
- April 4, 7pm
- April 5, 2pm
- April 5, 7pm
ARRIVAL TIME
The lobby will open no sooner than 30 minutes before show-time. Unfortunately, we cannot allow latecomers.
The piece is 90 minutes with no intermission.
CONTENT WARNINGS
The Seventh Fire contains a depiction of the 60’s Scoop, and loud sounds.
Smudge is used in the space before the performance.
Recommended Age: 12+
ABOUT THE SPACE
- Masks are optional and available at the door if you would like to use one.
- You will be asked to remove your shoes before entering the lodge – secure, supervised storage is provided for shoes, coats, bags, etc during the performance. Socks and house slippers are welcome.
- Please note that unfortunately, ASL interpretation is not available for this performance.
- You will have the option to sit in a chair, sit on the floor, or lie down during the performance, and will have the option to move or switch seating whenever you’d like. Please see this video for a look at what seating options are available: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/785258005
A Neworld Theatre touring production.
Originally produced by Delinquent Theatre and Full Circle: First Nations Performance, in association with Neworld Theatre. Created with the support of the Push International Performing Arts Festival. and produced with the co-operation of the Union of B.C. Performers.
“Ever since Lisa’s piece premiered I’ve been wanting to present The Seventh Fire for the Micro Performance Series. With a limited number of people who were able to be part of the inaugural show, I knew that audiences would be interested in having another chance at catching this experiential journey before it moved to other parts of the world.”
Sherry J Yoon, Co-Artistic Director of Boca del Lupo
“I saw/heard 7th Fire when it premiered at the Lobe studio. It was an incredible integration of spatial sound in the service of story telling. More than once I had moments where I glanced over expecting to see the fire burning in the middle of the room only to find it was all in the sound design. I studied electroacoustics and sonic arts with an emphasis on spatial sound so it tickled all my nerdiness when it comes to sound. It has a limited capacity so I am happy we are presenting it for folks that didn’t get to see/hear it last time.”
Carey Dodge, Technology Director of Boca del Lupo
Creative Team
Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen
Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen is a tawny mix of Ojibwe/Swampy Cree and English/Irish. She is a mother, multihyphenate theatre artist and scholar working across Turtle Island as a performer, play-maker, director, writer, dramaturge, curator, space-holder, and teacher. Her work is rooted in Indigenous protocol, ontologies, and anti-colonial methodologies and is recognized nationally and internationally for its rigour and artistic excellence. Lisa is an Associate Artist with Full Circle: First Nations Performance and founded the Maada’oonidiwag Canadian Anti-Racist Theatre Exchange, an IBPOC-centred resistance and anti-racist mobilization that focuses on disrupting the colonial project called ‘Canadian theatre.’ As the next generation of colonial survivors, Lisa is currently raising her family on the occupied and unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations.
Mishelle Cuttler
Mishelle is a composer and sound designer living and working on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people, on the west coast of Canada. Her work is centred around the integration of sound, music, and storytelling, with a focus on deep collaboration and shared creation. She has worked in theatre and live performance across Canada for the past 13 years, with work ranging from hyper-local community projects to large scale national festivals. Being part of The Seventh Fire has been a gift!
Creator: Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen (Ojibwe/Swampy Cree)
Sound Design: Mishelle Cuttler
Lodge Helper: Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen
Associate Sound Design: Debbie Courchene (Anishinaabe)
Collaborating Dramaturgy: Laura McLean and Christine Quintana
Vocal Performance: Margo Kane (Cree-Saulteaux)
Vocal Performance: Tasha Faye Evans (Coast Salish/Welsh/Jewish)
Vocal Performance: Lisa C. Ravensbergen
Additional Vocals: Renae Morriseau (Cree-Saulteaux)
Additional Vocals: Kaitlyn Yott (Coast Tsimshian)
Language Advisor: Chiikishkiy – Walter Cooke (Ojibwe-Swampy Cree)
Language Advisor: Mishiikenh – Vern Altiman (Ojibwe)
Language Advisors: Walter Cooke – Chiikishkiy; Vern Altiman – Mishiikenh
The Micro Performance Series is supported by
