Beginning Nov. 30, UFV Theatre presents its first production of the 2022-2023 theatre season with the premier of Ghosting of Sumas Lake, a devised show directed by Dr. Michelle LaFlamme, an associate professor at UFV’s English department, and featuring a UFV Theatre student cast of performers.
In November 2021, an historic atmospheric river caused catastrophic flooding in the Sumas Prairie region of Abbotsford, B.C. These floods lead to the destruction of homes, businesses, farms, and livestock, and as our community marks the one year anniversary of this devastating event, UFV Theatre presents a devised show based on student experiences during the floods.
According to the UFV School of the Creative Arts (SoCA), Ghosting of Sumas Lake is a dynamic show that “explores the impact of our climate crisis, the stories of community loss and resilience, and how we continue to be ghosted by our experiences on the land, history, and the past.” UFV SoCA states that the show will use immersive elements and multimedia to “create the ghosting effects, layering audio sources and visuals from the floods.”
“Being a part of Ghosting of Sumas Lake has meant a great deal to me,” said Owen Muller, a cast member in the show. “Of course, it comes with its personal meaning. This is the first full production I’ve been a part of, and it has given me the opportunity to explore my acting abilities to a new extent. I’ve also met some incredible people along the way.” Muller, who is featured in Ghosting of Sumas Lake alongside fellow UFV Theatre students Aryan Tuknayat, Nishi Channa, Sabrina Morgan, and Erin Wansink, is hopeful that the audience will feel enlightened by the stories and gain a higher understanding of those impacted by the floods.
The formation of how Ghosting of Sumas Lake has come about is unique; Muller explains that as a “devised production, we have created the script as we’ve become more connected with the characters and stories. This provides a completely unique connection between the actors and their role: creating a more immersive experience.”
“Theatre provides folks with a unique ability to share stories and perspectives of others in order to spread awareness and empathy,” said Muller. “This show is no exception, and that is why I feel so honoured to hopefully be able to spark some compassion and understanding throughout the community that can be shared with those who are still recovering.”
Ghosting of Sumas Lake will run in the performance studio in Building D on the Abbotsford Campus, starting with a preview matinee on Nov. 30 ahead of opening night on Dec. 1. Performances will continue through Dec. 3, and tickets are pay what you like with recommended options of $0, $5, $10, $20, or $40. Seats are available for reservation via Eventbrite, and the UFV School of Creative Arts recommends early booking as seating will be extremely limited; please visit the UFV theatre website for more information or email theatre@ufv.ca for questions.
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