As part of Quest University鈥檚 program of spring events, the school will be welcoming award-winning playwright and artist-in-residence Elaine 脕vila for an evening of readings on Feb. 16.
From a humble beginning of performing plays at children鈥檚 birthday parties when she was just eight years old, her work has now been performed in multiple languages in theatres across the world, from London, England to Panama City.
Though she鈥檚 earned a great deal of success, she almost didn鈥檛 become a playwright.
鈥淚 started as an actor, a director and an artistic director,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s an undergraduate I was thinking of taking a play-writing class and asked the tutor, 鈥榃ell, what do you do in that course?鈥� and they said, 鈥榊ou write a play.鈥� And I said, 鈥楢 whole play? That鈥檚 impossible! I鈥檓 not taking that class.鈥� I didn鈥檛 think I could do it.鈥�
While studying one day, though, she came across a footnote that hinted at the story of a woman who鈥檇 led a 16th century troupe that was captured by terrorists, which led to the French government being overthrown. She felt driven to tell this unknown story and this became her first play.
After that, the calling to tell stories that go untold 鈥� many about women who鈥檝e done amazing things 鈥� became the inspiration behind much of her work.
鈥淭here are too many great stories missing,鈥� she said.聽
Her critically acclaimed Lieutenant Nun is one such example. Based on a true story, it鈥檚 about a woman conquistador who dressed as a man, fought on the fronts of Peru and Chile, and was almost beheaded for her violent temper until she confessed to being a woman and a virgin, after which she was locked up in a convent where she wrote her autobiography.
鈥淭hat was one of my first plays,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was about how did she manage that? How did that happen?鈥�
Other plays include The Ballad of Ginger Goodwin, about a Canadian labour martyr; and Kitimat, an emotive story about how voting over the pipeline divided local residents, families and friends.
Though she spends more creative time off the stage than on it, 脕vila couldn鈥檛 be happier than when she sees actors breathe life into her work.
鈥淚 love seeing my work come to life鈥� sharing that with the audience and feeling the audience go on a journey with you is one of my favourite things.鈥�
During her six weeks at Quest, in addition to working on her next project, 脕vila will also be teaching a play-writing course to 20 aspiring students, who will present their work to fellow university members.
脕vila鈥檚 own work will be performed during an evening of readings on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at Quest University. Excerpts will be directed and curated by former C小蓝视频 documentary and drama producer Kathleen Flaherty and performed by four Vancouver-based actors. 脕vila will also be available for questions.
