KOQM
KOQM is a journey through time and land to experience the voices of fictional L’nu (Mi’kmaw) women. Throughout the course of the show we hear and meet the women who might have spoken and walked through one area of forest over centuries. Guided by the strength of an ancient tree (“koqm”), the women’s voices share with us their personal stories of grief, humour and resiliency through a unique theatrical performance.
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Running time: one hour
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(look out for additional talk-back times after selected performances)
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Photo by Dan Froese
KOQM won the 2023 Robert Merritt Theatre Award for
Outstanding New NS Play (playwright).



Photos by Dan Froese
Original Production
King's Theatre, Annapolis Royal, NS
November 12-13, 2021
Production: Nestuita’si Storytelling, Two Planks and a Passion Theatre, El’tuek Qokom, and King's Theatre
Written and performed by: shalan joudry
Director: Ken Schwartz
Mask Coaching: Ann-Marie Kerr
Movement consultants: Susanne Chui & Sarah Prosper
Set pieces: Ed Benham
Lighting Design: MacKenzie Cornfield
Music and audio transitions by: Rose Meuse, Cedar Meuse-Waterman and Nathan Waterman
Graphics: design by MacKenzie Cornfield, drawing by Milidow Joudry-Martel (after Mi’kmaw petroglyphs)
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Special thanks to those who reviewed the script and provided careful conversation while in development:
Yvonne Wallace (dramaturgy), Santiago Guzman, Lorraine Whitman, and Dorene Bernard.
Mi'kmaw language translation/review: Louise Witzell
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Thank you also to:
PARC (Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre), the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, and Theatre du Poulet.
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We are grateful for the funding from ArtsNS which made this production possible.