Persephone Theatre kicks off season with creative queer love story
Photo Credit: Kris Alvarez and Margo MacDonald feature in ‘Bright Half Life’ at Persephone Theatre. The show runs from Sept. 13 to Oct. 1, 2023. (Supplied / Photo by Olivia Swerhone-Wick, Persephone Theatre)
by Matt Olson
Persephone Theatre is back for a whole new season, and the first show to grace the stage is a love story with a unique twist.
Bright Half Life runs from Sept. 13 to Oct. 1 and features a sapphic love story told in a nonlinear way. Written by Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Tanya Barfield, the two-person play explores the life and experiences of couple Erica (Margo MacDonald) and Vicky (Kris Alvarez) told through experiences throughout their lives together.
Kathryn Smith, the director of Bright Half Life, said presenting a story to an audience in a nonstandard, nonlinear way presented both challenges and opportunities for the artists.
“It’s really exciting – it’s asking our audience to really come along for the ride,” they said. “For me as a director, it’s a challenge to make sure everyone … understands the ‘game’ of what’s happening in the show. It’s a lot about pace, about how we set the rules of the game early on.”
