Rosebud alumni start new Calgary theatre company

Laureen F. Guenther
Times Contributor

 

Rosebud School of the Arts graduates Conrad Belau and Sienna Holden have created a new company, called Theatre of Consequence, and are in rehearsals for their first production.
The Monument by Colleen Wagner, a Governor General’s award winner, will play at The Motel Theatre in Arts Commons in Calgary, June 15-18.
Conrad Belau, who graduated from Rosebud School of the Arts (RSA) in 2012, said he and Holden didn’t make lightly the decision to start their own theatre company.
“It just came down to the fact that we weren’t seeing the stories we wanted to see on the stages in Calgary,” he said.
They want to tell “grittier stories,” he said, stories that say, “The hard stuff exists, yes, and let’s name it and let’s all acknowledge it, but also let’s be able to move past it and take what we’ve learned from this and move on and be better people.”
“(The Monument) tells the story of a young soldier named Stetko, who is about to be executed for crimes against humanity, when this strange woman appears in the execution chamber with him and basically gives him a chance to redeem himself,” said Belau, who is director. “She tells him, ‘I will save you and I will take you away from this space but you have to do everything that I tell you to do.’
“He has to confront the things that he’s done, but it also forces this woman to confront who she really is. The thing deals with how we deal with people that we’re afraid of, and how we deal with situations that just bring out anger in us.”
One of the joys of running their own company, Belau said, is choosing the cast and crew they’ll work with. In The Monument, Karen Johnson-Diamond of Calgary plays Mejra. University of Calgary graduate Jonathan Molinski plays Stetko. RSA student Caitlyn O’Connor plays Girl.
RSA graduate Naomi Esau is stage manager. Chantal Marsolais, a former RSA student, is costume designer. Kathryn Smith is light and sound designer. John Knight is fight director.
“What I’m most excited for audiences to see in this story is that anything is possible with forgiveness,” Belau said. “The story is filled to the brim with hope. It’s a hope that’s kind of hidden under the dirt, dare I say, but it’s there. The play will ask a lot from its audience.”
He wants the play to give a lot in return: the message that even the most evil people deserve love.
“We’re all humans, in the end,” he said. “We’re all just figuring out ways through this life. How do I treat this person that’s so evil? How do I give them grace or understanding?”
People who want to challenge themselves will love The Monument, Belau said, as will those who want to see a beautiful show.
“I’m trying to create a piece of theatre that is beautiful to watch, that is beautiful to experience, that is hard but is visually striking,” he said. “People who love beautiful art hopefully would love this piece of theatre … it’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be really worthwhile.”
The Monument plays June 15-18 in The Motel Theatre in Arts Commons. It has a mature content warning. E-mail theatreofconsequence@gmail.com or phone 587-887-1002 for tickets. See the Theatre of Consequence Facebook page for more details.