A play by ACT 2 STUDIO WORKS
Playwright: Patricia McDermott | Co-Playwright, Director, Composer: Vrenia Ivonoffski
Performers: Patricia Cochrane | Nance Gibson | Peggy Hubert | Dana Jagla | Liz Janzen | Holly Kirkconnell | Tobi Lemberg-Kaufman | Ruth Miller | Nora McKay | Leslie Rennie
Stage Manager: Lynda May
In the late fall of 1984, 1,500 newly organized, mostly women retail workers did the unthinkable by going out on strike against Eaton’s, an iconic family-owned store whose hold on the Canadian consciousness was unlike anything seen before or since. Eaton’s was Canada’s largest department store and at one time the largest employer in Canada. The 1984 strike was not the first one at Eaton’s, but it was a bitter one. Recently organized into a union, the workers were forced to go on strike to win a first contract. ACT 2 STUDIO WORKS presents a play about this strike and some of the women workers who organized, their supporters, and ultimately about the challenges organizing in the retail sector. Challenges that are still with us, in a sector that continues to grow in Canada.
With an opening performance by the Tuesday Choir.
The Estelle Craig ACT II STUDIO/act2studio WORKS is part of Programs for 50+ in the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, Ryerson University and is a member of the Toronto Association of Acting Studios (TAAS). It is a theatre program and creative drama centre that provides adults 50 and older with training and performance opportunities. For more information: www.act2studio.ca
This program is part of the 20/20: Vision/Hindsight, Celebrating 20 Years at WAHC. This play is part of four months of diverse programming that includes music and dramatic performances, a group exhibition and programs for children and youth.
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council in making this program and the exhibition possible.
