Rosebud student turns poetry into theatre

Laureen F. Guenther
Times Contributor

 

Stuart Giesbrecht, a graduating student at Rosebud School of the Arts, performs his Final Project, The Court of my Heart, June 3-5 at Rosebud Church.
Giesbrecht and director Jeany Van Meltebeke have written and adapted the show based on Giesbrecht’s original poetry.
Giesbrecht and fellow student Esther Koepnick tell the story through poetry, music and dance. Giesbrecht plays lead and Koepnick plays various roles, including performing her own music.
“It’s the story of a guy who is, at the start of the show, very much in this place of self-doubt and shame,” Giesbrecht said. “He manages to break out of that place and see his own self-worth, and to look out and see who he is and his purpose in life … it’s very much my own journey.”
“The court of my heart is a place where I go to basically punish myself. Telling yourself you’re not good or that you’re not enough or that you’ll never be loved. That place where you’re beating yourself up.
“There are themes in it that speak to the kind of universal story of shame and doubt. Through telling my story … I hope (others) will be able to see that they can step out of that place of doubt and shame as well.”
“I think we’re all in a similar place,” he said. “We’re all trying to make it, and you know, we have to open ourselves up to failing and to being broken and then we can be broken together.”
In telling the story of how he’s grown, producing the show has fostered even more growth for Giesbrecht.
“What has helped me grow is realizing that I’m not alone in my struggle,” he said. “I’m not alone in asking for help or having shame and doubt about myself. I’m not alone in that, and that people are able and willing to help.”
And of course the process has brought a great deal of joy.
“Seeing my poetry kind of come together as a cohesive script, especially under the guidance of my director and her inspiration and joy,” has been a joy, Giesbrecht said. “Things that grow out of the words (of my poetry) … seeing them take root and life and meaning in a play.”
He hopes audience members will leave this show with the same encouragement he’s received.
“I hope people who come to the show will leave knowing they are not alone in their struggles with shame or doubt, that there is hope. There is help,” Giesbrecht said.
The Court of my Heart plays in Rosebud Church, June 3 at 7 p.m., June 4 at 10:30 p.m. and June 5 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 and may be reserved at stuartgiesbrecht@gmail.com or on The Court of my Heart Facebook event page.