When the Ecstasy of Rita Joe opened at the Vancouver Playhouse in 1967, after a pregnant pause,
Canadian Theatre was born. It was at this time that, Actor/ Director / Producer
John Juliani approached his dear friend August “Augie” Schellenberg about how
wonderful Chief Dan George would be as King Lear; and the idea of an
all-Aboriginal Lear was born.
“They asked Chief Dan George if he’d do it.
But Dan George said No.
We asked him, why not? It’s a good part.
Dan laughed and shook his head, Too many lines, too many lines.”
- August Schellenberg
August vowed that
one day he would play Lear with a cast of Aboriginal actors and for the next
four decades He and John tried to piece that dream together. The most immediate
and obvious obstacle at the time was the lack of Professional Aboriginal Actors
with the chops to pull off such an ambitious production.
I first heard about the “ Native Lear” in 2009 while working with August on the Western Canada Theatre / National Arts Centre co-production of The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. Directed by Yvette Nolan, this production of Rita Joe, billed as the 50th Anniversary production, is the first and only production directed by an Aboriginal director ever to be featured on the main stage of the National Arts Centre, Theatre Hall.