Metu'na'q (The Tempest)

Story

Metu'na'q (The Tempest) is a brand new Mi’kmaw adaptation of Shakespeare's controversial play about colonialism. The production was created by sixteen community members from Sipekne’katik First Nation, including Sipekne’katik youth. The multi-generational cast engaged with traditional Mi’kmaw cultural practices and history to build all aspects of the production.

Originally running from August 14th - 25th, 2024, Metu'na'q (The Tempest) was performed on the beautiful New Town Trail of Sipekne'katik First Nation.

The Tempest was most likely written in 1610, the same year England started to colonise what is now referred to as Canada. The characters Caliban and Ariel partially reflect Jacobean England's impressions of the Indigenous people of North and South America. Metu'na'q (The Tempest) is an outdoor, community theatre production that weaves Mi’kmaw culture into Caliban and Ariel’s stories and interprets them through a Mi’kmaw lens.

Metu'na'q means "storm" in Mi'kmawi'simk.

Company

Created by:

Janine "JJ" Adema, April Maloney, Bella-Rose Masty, Kayli Raye Marr, Vera Marr, Sheena Marie McCulloch, Elle Michael, Lily-mkel, Arianna Paul, Emerald Paul, Eva Sack, Richard "Krow Dog" Taylor, Xavier Taylor, Ida Simon, with Francine Pierro and Mason Pierro-McDonald.

Director mentor, producer: Ben Stone

Assistant director, producer: Sophie Schade

Costume Mentor: Leesa Hamilton

(Original artwork by Bella-Rose Masty)

Photos

Emerald Paul, a performer in "Metu'na'q", dressed in black, adjusts a multicoloured Shakespearean Ruff around her neck, while looking intently left (out of frame). She wears a light brown Birchbark Crown which has incredible, intricate beadwork on the front. The word "Metu'na'q" (storm) at the top in red, with a turtle adorning the majority of the front of the crown.