Production pulls no punches, steps inside the world of MMA
- Andréa Ledding | March 13, 2017
Jennifer Bishop is not pulling any punches when her play “Iskotew” debuts at Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre — she is exploring the journey of a female MMA fighter with gusto.
“I don't take credit for coming up with the idea for this play,” says the ever-modest Bishop. “Our previous Artistic Director Curtis Peeteetuce had talked about the idea for the next Circle of Voices (C.O.V.) program, and I was wowed by it and thought that would be a great idea and something that's never been done before. Of course at the time I didn't know he was going to ask me if I wanted to write it.”
So when Peeteetuce suggested she be the one to write the play, she didn’t answer him right away.
“I wanted to think on it. C.O.V. has always meant a lot to me and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it justice.”
Bishop has been the C.O.V. coordinator before, but never the resident playwright. And she’s written plays before, but never one about a female MMA fighter.
“After saying yes to being the next playwright for the 2016/2017 program, I went into research mode on my themes.”
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She didn’t have a lot of personal experience when it came to MMA fighting, so she began to ask around.
“I did some research to see if there were any local UFC fighters that I could sit down and talk with just for inspiration and such. That's when I came across Charmaine "Not so Sweet" Tweet. I got real lucky with the fact that she lived in Regina and I was going to be there for 4 months while doing the Globe Theatre Conservatory Program.”
Bishop says she got lucky again when Charmaine immediately responded to her and they set up a meeting.
“After the coffee date with her, I started my first draft for what would become “Iskotew”,” notes Bishop. “I also had the opportunity to talk with another UFC fighter, Shana Pasapa, who took time out of her schedule to share her experience with me, and it really helped with knowing that my play was heading in the right direction.”
The play stars Circle of Voices participants Terrence Bird, Aiyanna Glenister, Delano James Kennedy, Cory Dallas Standing, AaronMarie Neepoose, Velma Eashappie, Allana Dorion, and Ethan Sutherland-Scott, and is an exploration of a young Indigenous female MMA fighter facing challenges at home and in the ring. It is directed by Louise Seidel.
The play promises to be high-energy: the female actor playing the title role has prior fight training experience and was demonstrating moves for the camera.
The show debuted on March 10 and runs until the following Friday March 17th.
“It's been an interesting journey working on this play, I'm so thankful for the people involved in the production and for the C.O.V. participants and their bravery for taking on my story.”
Tickets can be purchased at Persephone Box Office in advance.