Heroine Opens March 18 in Fredericton

Theatre New Brunswick will bring the lives of two famous female pirates to the stage in March with its production of Heroine.

Heroine – March 18-22 (Fredericton). On tour March 24-29, 2020

Karen Bassett and Francine Deschepper in the original production of Heroine, Bus Stop Theatre, Halifax. 2010. Photo by: Stoo Metz.

(Fredericton) What comes to mind when you think about pirates? Are you thinking peg-legs, parrots and Johnny Depp? How about eye patches, swords and tall ships? Are we getting closer? If we believe all the blockbuster movies, the countless children’s toys and the common lore we all associate with these swashbucklers of the high seas, it would be almost impossible to believe that, wait for it…not all pirates were men. But that’s the truth.

In the upcoming production of Heroine by Nova Scotia playwright Karen Bassett, Theatre New Brunswick will bring the stories of two real-life pirates to the stage. At the height of piracy’s Golden Age (1650-1720), two women, one English and one Irish, commanded their own crews and wreaked havoc throughout the Caribbean until their capture. This play tells their story.

“Heroine is a fictional story about two real-life women who lived extraordinary lives,” said TNB Artistic Director Natasha MacLellan. “Anne Bonny and Mary Read are two of the most famed female pirates who lived.

“It’s sometimes difficult to find female characters in pop culture who aren’t women relegated to the sidelines of a man’s story,” said MacLellan. “Too often the women in stories are girlfriends, mothers and wives to the main characters, without stories, goals and ambitions of their own. Heroine tells the story of two amazing historical women who lived life by their own terms. It’s the kind of story all of us should see. We all need reminding that gender clichés don’t serve us; that all of us are capable of so much more than traditional norms would have us believe.”

Heroine stars two New Brunswick actors – Abby Paige and Melanie LeBlanc – and features some of the most action packed scenes to ever hit the TNB stage. Sword fighting! Wrestling! Sharp-as-a-Blade Humour! Heroine has it all.

“I was there when TNB unveiled its new season and when Natasha announced that TNB was doing this play I thought, whoever is doing this show is so lucky,” said Paige. “And then I got to do it, and when I read it, it was great. It’s just been layers and layers of excitement.”

Heroine runs March 18-22 at the Open Space Theatre (55 Whiting Road) before touring the province March 24-29. Tickets are available at the Fredericton Playhouse box office or online at tnb.nb.ca

Performances:

Cast and Creative Team:

Written by Karen Bassett
Directed by Natasha MacLellan
Mélanie Leblanc as Anne Bonny
Abby Paige as Mary Read
Tilly Jackson – Assistant Director
Jean-Michel Cliche – Fight Director
Jeff Soucy – Stage Manager
Andrea Evans – Set Designer
Keelin Jack – Sound Designer
Sherry Kinnear – Costume Designer
Emily Soussana – Lighting Designer
Jamie Atkinson – Head Carpenter
Elaine Bellefontaine – Head of Props/Paint
Billy Doucet – Props/Paint Assistant

Get Your Tickets!

All tickets available online at tnb.nb.ca