Stories from the Cellar: An evening of fantastic storytelling
The title is intriguing: “Stories from the Cellar: The Bloody Theatre.”
The image on the poster even more so: an imaginary creature that appears part goat, part dog, part lion, with a blue face, red shanks and a golden mane.
Sounds like some kind of horror show, but far from it: This is an invitation to be part of “an evening of fantastic storytelling” that aims to “create a sense of place in Waterloo Region through local history, and community music and arts.”
The venue is an important part of the story: Brubacher House Museum up on the north campus of the University of Waterloo, near Columbia Lake and the playing fields. It happens next Friday, March 23, starting at 7 p.m.
The three-part program features the work of visual artist Meg Harder and singer-songwriter Dan Root, with a prelude performance by local storytellers Clarence Cachagee, Seth Ratzlaff and Dylan Siebert.
Dan Root is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who is the lead songwriter in Waterloo Region duo, Quiet in the Land. With Quiet in the Land, he has recorded two albums and performed extensively at music venues throughout the region and beyond.
Meg Harder’s work was featured in CAFKA. 16, Night\Shift and the Box Art show and sale events. She was Eastern Comma Artist-in-Residence at Rare Charitable Research Reserve in 2016 and the Brubacher House Museum artist-in-residence last year.
Dylan Siebert is a multifaceted writer who is known as, among other things, a regular contributor to the Cord Community Edition.
Seth Ratzlaff is currently working on a biography of Clarence Cachagee, who was raised by a Mennonite farming family here in Waterloo Region.
Cachagee’s father was a survivor of Canada’s residential school system. The book will “portray his healing journey from a displaced childhood, adulthood addiction and homelessness, to his current work as a helper in this community.”
All the artists involved in “Stories from the Cellar” are connected to local Mennonite circles and involved with various kinds of community development work.
“The Bloody Theatre” is better known as the “Martyrs Mirror.” This is a book that recounts the stories of Christian martyrs over the centuries, especially Anabaptists and other non-resistors. First published in Holland in 1660, it has long held a special place in the hearts and minds of Mennonites.
Each of Root’s songs retells a story from “Martyr’s Mirror,” with music inspired by Mennonite hymnals.
Harder’s images draw inspiration from traditional ‘Fraktur’ folk art as practised by Mennonites.
The project builds on a presentation at Night\Shift 2016, where interest quickly exceeded the capacity of the venue that was used. Further development was made possible with support from the Region of Waterloo Art Fund.
The end result is a unique blend of two distinct modes of art making.
Part of the aim is to “reanimate stories which have been passed down through generations of Mennonite families, bringing to life an important piece of Waterloo Region’s culture and heritage for a new generation.”
Hence the connection with Brubacher House Museum, an original Pennsylvania German farm house that serves as a reminder that the campus was once farmland worked by Mennonites.
Operating as an historical site and community arts centre, the House is affiliated with Conrad Grebel University College, the Mennonite Historical Society of Ontario, as well as the University of Waterloo.
Everyone is welcome. Tickets are $15 in advance (through Eventbrite, which also charges a small fee); $18 at the door. This is not a large venue, so seating is limited and booking ahead is advised.