Belanger has big plans for little theatre company

It may be a small theatre company right now but Maureen Belanger, general manager of Upisasik Productions Inc. has big plans for the fledgling theatre company. The only Métis-specific theatre company in Saskatchewan, Upisasik incorporated Aug. 1 of this year.

"If somebody asked me what I needed for this company to get to where I want to be, I would say that we definitely need theatre space. Then I could be more focused and we could quite possibly have four big productions in a year," said Belanger, who is also an aspiring actress.

One of the first projects that Upisasik has planned is the Aboriginal Youth Mentorship project, which will see the company working with students between the ages of 14 to 21 from Joe Duquette high school in Saskatoon, beginning in January 2007.

"I'm not going to give you specifics right now because we don't know exactly what the play will be about," Belanger said. "I can tell you that it will be a historical play that involves language and culture."

She said that some of the girls involved in the project are interested in a love story for the play and other students suggested that personal issues including drug and alcohol be incorporated into the play, "but we want to keep it light and entertaining," Belanger said.

Whether or not the play will have a focus on Métis culture specifically will be determined in the New Year, "I don't know yet, but we are a Métis company," Belanger said. Some of the students participating in the play are Métis, some are Dene and some are Soto.

Belanger strongly believes in Upisasik's mandate and will keep in mind the importance of it as the play develops.

"Our mandate is to give voice and expression to Métis culture, language and heritage through the arts," said Belanger. "We want to create learning opportunities and forms of personal and cultural expression for Métis youth through the arts and to build mutual respect across cultures."

Some of the other plans Belanger has set for Upisasik involve inviting master fiddler John Arcand in and teaching as many kids as possible about fiddling.

"I have some ideas to incorporate some dance and jigging in there," she said.

Belanger admits that she would very much like to be involved with theatre full-time but right now she is relying on her other career as a social worker at Joe Duquette high school.

"Not that I don't enjoy it. It's a wonderful balance," she said of her dual roles.

"When I set out in life I wanted to be an actress or to be involved in theatre and social work was supposed to be something to fall back on but it's kind of reversed," said Belanger. "Now, that I'm getting older, I want to reverse it back to my initial plan."

Belanger's love of acting and theatre began 25 years ago in high school when she was part of a theatre group called Upisasik Theatre.

"So that's where the name originates," she said. "Upisasik means small. So, it's a small production company right now and hopefully it will get bigger. And then I'll have to do a name change," she said, laughing.

For more information about Upisasik Productions Inc. call 230-9743.