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In Tongues by James Odin Wade (BFA - Multidisciplinary ’11)

November 4 – 8 | 7:30 p.m. | University Theatre

Directed by Anastasia Siceac (BFA - Dramatic Arts ‘ 20)
Lee Burckes – Set & Props, Lighting Design
Amanda Epp – Costume Design (BFA - Multidisciplinary ‘ 20)
Kelly Roberts – Sound Design

When true crime author Cara dies alone in her British Columbia cabin while researching an infamous killer, her husband and sister are left searching for answers. What they find in her research exposes new sides of Cara, her investigation and themselves.

Background:
"In Tongues came about in a transitional time in my life," says playwright James Odin Wade. Initially developed with a drama class at the University of Lethbridge in 2018, the play had its first public reading in April 2018. Following successive workshops with Steel River Pennsylvania in 2019, In Tongues was slated to debut on the ULethbridge Mainstage in March 2020, but was subsequently canceled due to the pandemic.

Wade was preparing to move to the United States when the opportunity to develop In Tongues with the students of a New Play Workshop at ULethbridge came along. Dealing with the loss of a close friend, Wade's play quickly became a mix of ideas on grief, love and the terror of facing change.

"I’m always trying to fit my life into a legible story and when things change abruptly, I often find myself asking, 'why'," says Wade. "What happens when you need answers in order to move on, but those answers are absent? What if you can't handle the answers you’re looking for?"

In a society obsessed with true crime media, Wade explores our desire for answers in circumstances that often don't provide them.

"During the writing of this play a friend said, 'knowing why is for chumps.' It turned out to be good advice. Some of the characters in this play might be chumps but try to not to judge them too harshly," Wade says.

About the author:
James Odin Wade is a writer based in Calgary, Alberta. As a playwright, he has presented work with Lunchbox Theatre, The Citadel Theatre, Workshop West, Theatre Calgary, The Road Theater Company, and many others. His work has garnered awards from Canada and the US including The Alberta Playwriting Competition (Helmut’s Big Day), The National One-Act Playwriting Competition (In Case of Fire), and the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival’s One-Act Play Contest (By the Book). This year he was awarded the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta's Emerging Artist Award. He holds a BFA - Multidisciplinary from the University of Lethbridge and an MFA from the University of Calgary.