The Caregiver Monologues is a collaborative arts advocacy project led by Calgary Poet Laureate Natalie Meisner, and Sage Theatre Artistic Director / TEDxYYC coach Jason Mehmel. The project will work to gather and present the stories of some of our most embattled caregivers to the public.
We are looking for the experiences of caregivers: Nurses, Doctors, those who work with children and seniors, and those people who support those with disabilities.
We want to know what it has been like for you for the past 18 months. We’re looking for memorable first hand experiences, the things that have challenged you, and the hopes you have for a future beyond the pandemic.
These stories will be collected, explored, and adapted as inspiration for a theatrical workshop presentation. Most of these stories will serve as inspiration, and help provide a qualitative understanding of the recurring trends and issues in the caregiving ecosystem. We will negotiate approval for any content we wish to directly quote.
We will also be working with creative caregiving consultants who will help shape the workshop presentation, and who will help review and adapt the submissions.
If you have supported caregivers or define yourself as a caregiver, please submit your testimony.
After submitting the form, someone from Sage Theatre will reach out to you with expanded questions and connect for your story.
[email protected]
Behind the Caregiver Monologues Project
Natalie Meisner
Natalie Meisner is an award-winning playwright, multi-genre author from the South Shore of Nova Scotia. She is also the current Poet Laureate of Calgary. Her work often deploys the power of comedy for social change. BADDIE ONE SHOE (Frontenac) is a collection of odes to renegade women who fight the powers that be with laughter. LEGISLATING LOVE: THE EVERETT KLIPPERT STORY (University of Calgary Press) illuminates the life the last Canadian to be jailed for homosexuality. Her play BOOM BABY about young maritimers working in the oil patch won both the Canadian National & the Alberta Playwriting Award. Her play SPEED DATING FOR SPERM DONORS (Playwright’s Canada Press) non-fiction book Double Pregnant: Two Lesbians Make a Family (Fernwood) and children’s book My Mommy, My Mama My Brother & Me (Nimbus) are all based on the true story of a two-mom, biracial family finding community. Meisner is a wife and mom to two great boys and a full Professor in the Department of English at Mount Royal University where she works in the areas of creative writing, drama and gender/ sexuality studies.
Jason Mehmel
Jason Mehmel is a writer, producer and director living in Calgary. He is the Artistic Director for Sage Theatre. His directing work includes A Year of Magical Thinking, Legislating Love, King Kirby, A Beautiful View(Sage Theatre). He is also a speaker curator and coach for the TEDxYYC event. He has produced and directed short films, and writes comic books, including the anthology book FIGHT COMICS! (fightcomics.ca) More details available at jasonmehmel.com
Sage Theatre
Sage Theatre takes you on a bold, intimate, thoughtful journey exploring the human condition. We showcase talented Albertan artists and provide a platform for artistic growth and achievement.
Sage Theatre was founded in 1998 under the artistic leadership of Rob Moffat. Sage Theatre quickly established a presence as an innovative and risk-taking theatre company. Rob Moffat remained with the company until 2004, with Kelly Reay taking over during an extremely productive decade. In 2015, Jason Mehmel became Artistic Director and Sage’s brand of bold, intimate and thoughtful theatre continues.
If you want to learn more about Sage Theatre, please see our About Us section.