New Mythic Works Series

The New Mythic Works Series was the very first presentation of five myth-inspired plays written by local playwrights.

Dean Stockdale performing in "Hero and Leah"

Photos by Stephanie Cragg Photography

2024 New Mythic Works Series Selected Plays

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Tiresias, Turning

Calla Wright

Tiresias is called to Mount Olympus to resolve a dispute between Zeus and Hera, but Tiresias has a big secret he’s been keeping from his patron goddess. A silly play about the quirks of sex and gender.

Tiresias - Mark Guerrero

Hera - Jaysel Arroyo

Zeus - Dean Stockdale

Rebel Rebel

Christine Lesiak

It’s Edmonton, 1983. Pastor’s wife Abby invites her sister Autumn, a therapist, to her suburban living room to intervene in their youngest sister Mel’s surprising pregnancy. Tensions rise with the unexpected arrival of their fourth sister, Ingrid, and as Abby reveals her ulterior motives. Morals and faith clash in this story of sisterhood, deification, and disbelief. In the absence of religious beliefs, where do we find our modern gods?

Rebel Rebel imagines the untold story of the four sisters from Euripides' classic Greek tragedy, The Bacchae.

Abby - Rhiannon Eldridge

Autumn - Gillian Spencer

Ingrid - Dean Stockdale

Mel - Amanda Samuelson

Hero and Leah

Bailey Bieganek

In today’s time, we would call it the Dardanelles, but in their time, it was known as the Hellespont. Every night, Leah, the fisherman’s daughter, swims across it to be with her love. Inspired by the Greek myth of Hero and Leander, Hero and Leah is about a pair of star-crossed lovers separated by water, circumstance, and fear. Join them as they work to be together and bridge the waves between them.

Hero - Jaysel Arroyo

Leah - Dean Stockdale

Seanchaí

Gavin Bradley

What's more important than stories? How those stories are told.

When Fionn, a young content creator, visits Siobhan, a retired Seanchaí (Irish Oral Storyteller), to get some tips for his Irish mythology TikTok channel, he gets more of a lesson than he bargained for. As they trade stories of Irish heroes like Cú Chulainn and Fionn mac Cumhaill, the two storytellers explore the importance of myths in shaping what we remember, and in helping us come to terms with what we forget.

Fionn - Mark Guerrero

Siobhan - Susan Sneath

Issun Boshi, the Inch-High Samurai

Sophie May Healey

His Parents Prayed to the Sea Gods for a Miracle and He Was Born, the Tiniest Boy in Japan?!

Based on a classic Japanese folk tale, Issun Boshi, The Inch-High Samurai is the story of an extraordinary little boy who grows into a brave little man. Even though he’s only the size of a thumb, Issun Boshi longs to become a samurai and prove that he is valiant and strong. Will he be able to achieve his dreams?

Issun Boshi & Other Characters - Jaysel Arroyo

Old Man, Emperor, Oni & Other Characters - Dean Stockdale

Old Woman, Guard, Princess Hime & Other Characters - Mark Guerrero

Meet the 2024 Playwrights

Christine Lesiak

Rebel Rebel

Gavin Bradley

Seanchaí

Calla Wright

Tiresias, Turning

Sophie May Healey

Issun Boshi, the Inch-High Samurai

Bailey Bieganek

Hero and Leah

The 2024 Performers & Creative Team

Jaysel Arroyo

Thousand Faces Ensemble

Mark Guerrero

Thousand Faces Ensemble

Dean Stockdale

Thousand Faces Ensemble; Composer - Issun Boshi, the Inch-High Samurai

Rhiannon Eldridge

Rebel Rebel - Abby

Susan Sneath

Seanchaí - Siobhan

Gillian Spencer

Rebel Rebel - Autumn

Amanda Samuelson

Dramaturg; Rebel Rebel - Mel

Jennifer Spencer

Director

Davis Shewchuk

Stage Manager

Rebecca Cypher

Production Designer

SPECIAL THANKS

Ryder J for guitar, bass, and production, Jayden Weeks for drums, and Dean Stockdale for writing the music, playing piano and synth, and assisting in producing for the original music in Issun Boshi, the Inch-High Samurai.