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wHAT IS COURAGEOUS VOICES?
NOT YOUR AVERAGE SCHOOL PLAY.

In a performance called Courageous Voices, the EAST Alternative School's Grade 8 class honours people who have fought for social justice and made a difference. Courageous Voices begins with the students examining Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”.

 

Each student chooses an individual they are passionate about and they argue that person’s case as a hero/heroine. After the students have successfully convinced their teachers and peers, they research the life of the hero/heroine and develop a speech in that person’s words.

 

The performance is based entirely on the words of the courageous people the students have chosen. The class combines their speeches, weaving together portraits of their hero, the dialogue and music into a powerful production featuring some of the greatest words ever written or spoken. Brilliant every year.

 

For a taste of what you'll see at Courageous Voices, watch videos from the 2014 show.

 

EAST Alternative specializes in integrated arts with a focus on social justice, equity, and compassion.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Grade 8 students ask what makes a hero? - Toronto Star: What a night! It was 90 minutes of inspiration. Imagine writing a letter to your hero and getting a personal reply! Brent Hawkes and Dr. James Orbinski did even better - arriving at EAST Alternative School to watch their biggest 13-year-old fans recite their own words in a play about heroes.  Read more...

THE HEROES & HEROINES

Meet the Grade 8 students of EAST and discover the hero or herione they have chosen to portray.

PERFORMANCES

Admission is pay-what-you-can. All funds collected will be directed to the students' chosen hero/heroine causes. Download an invitation with show dates & details.

APR22

Performance at EAST

12pm & 7pm, Room 301

APR23
APR29

Performance at EAST

7pm, Room 301

Metropolitan Community Church

7pm, 115 Simpson Ave.

The 2015 performances of Courageous Voices were a big success. Stay tuned for next year's show in April 2016!

MANY THANKS TO...

Lynn Heath, director and producer, and the teachers of EAST. DeAnn deGruitjer and April Nicolle, assistant producers. Liann Sherbin, and Abby Zotz, musical directors. Barbara Lewis, artistic assistant. Shelagh Smith, setting and props. Andy McLeod for providing time and a studio to film the production. David Caron,  co-ordinating the parent committee. The many parent volunteers who helped with editing, art, staging, lines, blocking, and numerous essential jobs!

Courageous Roles... - Town Crier: Alternative school students dramatize their impressions of a hero. Stop us if you’ve heard this one: Roméo Dallaire, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela walk into a room…  Read more...

No Doubting Thomas - Now Magazine: The walls of the room where NDP leader Tom Mulcair would soon be holding a townhall-style meeting with students at East Alternative School, are lined with larger-than-life drawings of the pupils’ heroes: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., the Dalai Lama, even Michael Moore. Read more...

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