The Last Children
Director & Co-creator | Judy Wensel
Writer & Co-creator | David Gagnon Walker
Performers & Co-creators | Iris James and Lazlo Paradis
In the not-so-distant future, the oceans have flooded the prairies. An old man and an old woman – played by fourteen-year-olds Lazlo Paradis and Iris James – live together in a lighthouse, surrounded by a sea that was once Saskatchewan. They’ve been here one hundred years, ever since the flood washed away their homes and families. Twelve kids escaped the destruction in a homemade boat. A century later, only two remain. With nothing but themselves and their memories for company, these two old friends go about their routine and reflect on their remarkable lives, preparing for another great change on the horizon.
The Last Children is a fantastical exploration of the very real climate crisis. This performance at the Artesian mixes theatre and film; reality and fiction; past, present, and future. Created by an ensemble of Regina youth working with award-winning professional artists from across the prairies, the show is a deeply-felt, strangely-dreamed window into how it really feels to be a kid (or an adult) in these exceptionally anxious times.
LIVE PERFORMANCE
CAST
Old Man - Lazlo Paradis
Old Woman - Iris James
CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM
Set & Props Designers - Amber PB & Jeff Meldrum
Composer/Sound Designer - Gilles Zolty
Costume Designer - Matthew Donnelly
Lighting Designer/Technical Director - Devon Bonneau
Projection Designer (Interlude/Epilogue) - Ian Campbell
Production Coordinator - Jayden Pfeifer
Stage Manager - Johanna Arnott
Assistant Stage Manager/Production Assistant - Sarah Bergbusch
Technician - Aren Okemaysim
Technical Support - Michael Wanless
Workshop Lighting Designer - Eryn Griffith
Front of House Manager - Zoe Barclay-Wright
THE ASSEMBLY OF THE LAST CHILDREN
Co-Curator and Coordinator - Johanna Bundon
Co-Curator - Judy Wensel
Promo Image by Ian Campbell
Graphic Layout by David Carnegie (Plain View Media)
Photos by Michael Buehler
SHORT FILM - The History of The Last Children
Director of Photography, Editor, Digital Effects - Ian Campbell
Sound Designer/Composer - Gilles Zolty
Art Direction / Shadow Puppet Design - Amber PB
Art Direction/Sound Recording - Jeff Meldrum
Costumes - Amber PB, Jeff Meldrum, Ian Campbell, Matthew Donnelly, Judy Wensel
Additional Sound recording - David Roman
Additional support - Michael Buehler, Sydney Chadwick, Iris James, Morgan Ortman, Lazlo Paradis, Zoe Seaman, Misty Wensel, Imari Wensel
Short Film Cast: Liv Aitkin-Ochitwa, Olive Crozier, Ray Crozier, Oliver Dunn, Nico Huck Fraser, Rye Huck Fraser, Iris James, Drake Kujaneck, Azalea Kujaneck, Sabine Manera, Ruby Manera, Aren Okemaysim, Ever Olaechea Payant, Lazlo Paradis, Chaz Peppler, Josephine Wensel, Louisa Wensel.
“PARTY BARGE”
Songwriter - David Berman (BMI), Bank Robber Music, LLC
Musicians - Ian Cameron & Andy Beisel
Recording - Orion Paradis (Soul Sound)
Choir director - Kris Alvarez
THE LAST CHILDREN PLAY LAB
Co-Directors - Kris Alvarez, Misty Wensel, Judy Wensel
Assistants - Iris James, Lazlo Paradis
Participants: Liv Aitkin-Ochitwa, Olive Crozier, Ray Crozier, Nico Huck Fraser, Rye Huck Fraser, Drake Kujaneck, Azalea Kujaneck, Ruby Manera, Chaz Peppler, Josephine Wensel, Louisa Wensel.
Audio Recording Support and Editing - Orion Paradis (Soul Sound)
Thank you.
SK Arts, Canada Council for the Arts, National Theatre School (Theatre Engaging Communities Fund).
Globe Theatre, Fada Dance, Soul Sound, Failsafe House Lifting, Artesian on 13th, Dean Renwick Design and Matthew Donnelly, Fran Gilboy, Amber Hanover, Mooky Cornish, Mac Findlay, Sydney Chadwick, Alex Fleck, Paige Sellinger, Eryn Griffith.
The parents and families of all the young folks who have participated in the many facets of this project.
