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Play shares stories of homeless people

Homeless people’s stories will be shared in a play called, No Fixed Address.

Homeless people’s stories will be shared in a play called, No Fixed Address.

Valerie Laub wrote the play and will be the only actor in the one-woman play.

She interviewed people at the Broadway Place shelter and is also using interviews done by a former Positive Living North employee that talked with homeless people.

“I really do have a passion for telling people’s stories, especially people who are marginalized,” she said.

“I’ve wanted to do a play about homelessness for a couple of years now. I went to a conference about it. I feel so fortune to have a home. It’s kind of the way I work in the world, doing plays about social and environmental issues.”

There will be five characters portrayed, three are based on real people and two were made up by the play’s creator after doing some research.

“One of the things that has been so valuable coming out of this, is you know that discomfort walking down the street and you see someone that is homeless and you cross the street,” Laub said.

“I don’t have to do that anymore, it’s like it’s broken down the barriers. I feel like these people really are my neighbours, my community. That has been a huge gift and that is the gift I want to give to the audience. The audience gets to see, gets to meet the homeless people in our community on the stage and have empathy and feel that yes that could be me, feel the human connection. That is really what it is about for me.”

The play is on April 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Church. Hip-hop artist Warren Dubz will open the show.

Funding from the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council and the Bulkley Valley Credit Union helped with costs to put the play on.

The cost to attend is by donation.

A discussion led by the Smithers Action Group will be held afterwards. 



Marisca Bakker

About the Author: Marisca Bakker

Marisca was born and raised in Ontario and moved to Smithers almost ten years ago on a one-year contract.
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