Opinion | 'Struggle, perseverance and hope': New play staged in Waterloo Region tackles topic of poverty - Waterloo Region Record

Watercourse Theatre aims to tell stories that are often not heard.

The troupe melds theatre with community, and has created and cast its upcoming play with people living in poverty.

Their new play, “Living Below the Line,” was co-created by Watercourse Theatre and 14 new actors who face real economic struggles of survival.

The honest and powerful play will be staged for free on five separate nights between June 17 and 25, at locations from libraries to parks.

Catherine Frid is a Guelph playwright and the artistic director of Watercourse Theatre.

“I co-create plays to tell the stories others want to tell,” Frid explained. “With ‘Living Below the Line,’ I have the honour of helping stage the stories that a group of people living in poverty want to share.”

This new play had its origins this past March, thanks to many meetings (in-person and via Zoom), and much help from other community-minded groups.

“We are fortunate to have a support team of nine organizations in the region that did outreach for individuals to join the project, and as a result we have 14 wonderful co-creators,” Frid said.

The co-creators of “Living Below the Line” are from diverse backgrounds, ranging in age from 20s to 70s, from all over Waterloo Region.

When rehearsals began, the collaborators started working with director James Gordon and music director Mary Abdel-Malek Neil (who founded KW Junk Music, which creates inexpensive musical instruments from reclaimed materials).

Most of the play's co-creators are also actors and musicians in it — some performing aspects of their own personal stories, some performing scenes on behalf of another member of the creative team.

Their stories can be intense and difficult at times, but also uplifting and inspirational too.

“The play's scenes are about struggle, perseverance and hope,” said Frid.

One of the biggest challenges faced by people in poverty is the stigma around poverty itself. People in poverty become marginalized — and silenced.

“Living Below the Line,” Frid said, will “challenge many stereotypes that get in the way of supporting people out of poverty. Those of us who aren’t lucky enough to have that support can easily fall into a downward spiral where one crisis leads to another and ends in poverty.”

“Living Below the Line” is being staged at locations in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge between. For more information, visit WaterCourseTheatre.com.

The play promises to be inspirational, and may change the way you see your community.

Marshall Ward is a freelance writer and artist. Check out his award-winning podcast “Bonn Park” with Sara Geidlinger on Apple Podcasts, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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Opinion | 'Struggle, perseverance and hope': New play staged in Waterloo Region tackles topic of poverty - Waterloo Region Record
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