Vimy
Awards
- Winner, CAA Carol Bolt Award 2009
Description
France, 1917. Four wounded Canadian soldiers recover in a field hospital in the wake of the battle for Vimy Ridge, waiting to find out where they’ll be sent next: back home or back to the front. Along with a young nurse from Nova Scotia, they share their stories, reasons for fighting, and treasured memories. In Vimy, Governor General’s Literary Award–winner Vern Thiessen brings us a classic play that is not about war, but a reflection of the everyday lives of soldiers—their hopes and their dreams—and how actions can define individuals and nations. In the brand-new piece Bluebirds, Thiessen brings to light the stories of three Canadian nurses who crossed oceans to take care of others in the war. Bonding over their duties and patients, the nurses keep up a positive atmosphere, even as the front line draws closer to their field hospital.
Reviews
“This play cuts through the accrued nationalist mythos, offering a gritty, personal and complex look at the soldiers and nurses who were forever changed by this event. ” —Jordan Bimm, NOW Magazine
"A victory of a play. " —Globe and Mail
"A powerful and moving piece of theatre. " —Edmonton Sun