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蘑菇视频

The 蘑菇视频

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All events and screenings are entirely FREE and open to the public.

TWO UPCOMING SHOWS AT THE ACTF THIS SPRING!

Scroll down for reservation info for Unity (1918).

poster image of Mars landscape overlaid with pink hearts

ALL THE BAD KIDS GO TO MARS by Lily Elizabeth Melvina Telegdy

Presented by Acting III: Advanced Practice

April 11 at 7:30 pm  & April 12 at 4 pm

Admission is Free! Tickets Available at the Door

For further information on this show, click HERE.

UNITY (1918) by Kevin Kerr

March 31 - April 4, 2026 in the ACTF

The 蘑菇视频’s Theatre & Film Department is proud to present UNITY (1918) by Kevin Kerr. 

Directed by award-winning Guest Director Mariló Núñez, the play is set in the Canadian prairies in the fall of 1918, and explores themes of community, loss, and resilience in the face of a war and epidemic. Unity (1918) follows a small Saskatchewan town attempting to protect itself when a world already devastated by four years of war is suddenly struck by a mysterious and deadly plague—the Spanish Flu. As fear spreads through the town of Unity, drastic measures are taken to keep the illness out: trains are forbidden to stop, borders are sealed, and mail from overseas—feared to carry the virus—is gathered and burned. When the disease reaches the town despite these precautions, suspicion and paranoia begin to take hold. As the citizens search for someone to blame, the fragile bonds that hold the community together are put to the test.

“Unity (1918) reminds us that history is not as distant as we sometimes think,” says director Mariló Núñez. “The play shows how human connection and compassion can emerge even in the most difficult moments.”  Because the Spanish Flu disproportionately targeted young people between the ages of 14 and 35, Kerr’s play focuses on how a generation of young people grapple with the loss of their dreams and aspirations. The story balances moments of humour and beauty with the stark realities of illness, war, and social upheaval.

For contemporary audiences, the play carries particular resonance. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Unity (1918) offers a powerful reflection on how communities respond to crisis and how human connection can become a vital source of comfort and survival.

Directed by Mariló Núñez, Unity (1918) is performed by the fourth-year Honours Acting class; all technical work is done by both junior and senior production students, supervised by 蘑菇视频 staff and faculty; Scenic Design is by student Emma MacIsaac, Costume Design is by student Amanda Jones, and Lighting Design is by faculty member Adam Parboosingh.  

Performances are Tuesday, March 31 - Friday, April 3 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, April 4 at 4 pm.  

All performances are free of charge, but reservations are recommended!

FOR ONLINE RESERVATIONS TO UNITY (1918) click .

 

 

 

Ticket Information

UNITY (1918)

by Kevin Kerr

Performances:

  • Tuesday, March 31, 2026 – 7:30 pm
  • Wednesday, April 1, 2026 – 7:30 pm
  • Thursday, April 2, 2026 – 7:30 pm
  • Friday, April 3, 2026 – 7:30 pm
  • Saturday, April 4, 2026 – 4 pm 

Performance length: This information may be updated closer to performance start date.

Admission: Free and open to 蘑菇视频 staff, faculty, and students, as well as the general public.

Reservations are recommended!

You can also call our 24-Hour Reservation Phone line at 204-786-9152.  

Please note:  Unclaimed reserved tickets will be released 5 minutes before performance start.  If a performance is sold out online, tickets may still become available at the door.

About the Play

Set in the Canadian prairies in the fall of 1918, Unity (1918) explores themes of community, loss, and resilience in the face of a war and epidemic. The play follows a small Saskatchewan town attempting to protect itself from the deadly Spanish Flu just as the First World War comes to an end.

In the fall of 1918, a world already devastated by four years of war is suddenly struck by a mysterious and deadly plague—the Spanish Flu. As fear spreads through the town of Unity, Saskatchewan, drastic measures are taken to keep the illness out. The town is quarantined: trains are forbidden to stop, borders are sealed, and mail from overseas—feared to carry the virus—is gathered and burned. But when the disease reaches the town despite these precautions, suspicion and paranoia begin to take hold. As the citizens search for someone to blame, the fragile bonds that hold the community together are put to the test.

To reserve tickets .

 

Cast and Crew of UNITY (1918)

DIGITAL PROGRAM in PDF

The 蘑菇视频 Department of Theatre and Film presents

UNITY (1918) by Kevin Kerr

ARTISTIC STAFF

Director............................................................. Mariló Núñez

Scenic Design................................................. Emma MacIsaac

Costume Design............................................... Amanda Jones

Lighting Design.......................................... Adam Parboosingh

Intimacy Director.................................................... Aria Evans

Text & Vocal Coach / Voice & Speech Instructor..... Tom Soares

Singing Instructor............................................ Donna Fletcher

Costume Cutter & Stitcher................................ Beth Toderash

Make-up & Costume Assistant.......................... Aileen Audette

Scenic Painter................................................ Sharon Johnson

CAST in alphabetical order

Sam Campbell............... Stan / Man 2 / Voice of Chaperone

Chael Donald............................................................. Sissy

Mia Downey.............................................................. Rose

Jane Dunham............................................................ Doris

Joël Garbutt.................................... Michael / Glen / Man 1

William Gunter........................................................... Hart

Bronwyn Smyth....................................................... Sunna

Emma Stevens...................................................... Beatrice

Elli Suppes................................................................. Mary

 

Stage Manager............................................... Willow Isaac

Assistant Stage Manager....................................... Jen Gieg 

 

PRODUCTION STAFF

Head of Set........................................................ Charlie Buller

Head of Lights ......................................... Phoenix Charamuga

Production Assistant .................................... Kimberly Fredrick

Head of Sound ................................................ Neko Goertzen

Costume Coordinator........................................ Ruby Maclean

Head of Props.................................................. Nicolas Zitaruk

House Manager..................................................... Alexis Hios

COSTUMERS

Jessica DesJarlais, Lee Frketich, Charlie Henrickson, Amirah Mansilla, Precious Okpo, Jonalyn Tolentino, Samantha Wilson

BACKSTAGE ASSISTANTS

Niko Harper, Ayla Stewart

CARPENTERS / PAINT CREW

Aslan Baley, BJ Bergen, Cameron Campbell, Ky Dikland, Olivia Gamblin, Arlo Giesbrecht, Willow Isaac, Jordan Legace, Emma MacIsaac, Syiles Makridis, Avery Mittermayr, Gia Pham, Foxx Pinkerton, Israel Pursina, Ayla Stewart, Solani Svingen, Erika Tate, Hope Uplindo, Dwight Vitor, Naomi Woodfield, Keely Zacharias

TECHNICAL CREW & DESIGN ASSISTANTS

Jordan Bremner, Lynne Budd, Georgia Bullock, Nathan Corpus, Melissa Dusabenyagasani, Clark Louise Gonzales, Maggie Kliewer, Marlon LaForte,  Jordan Lagace, Angela Li, Matthew Shoup, Ridwan Akoridi Salami, Niamh Ukrainec, Emma Wake

FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG

Department Chair...................................... Adam Parboosingh

Master Carpenter / Production Instructor.............. Aaron Frost

Assistant to the Master Carpenter...................... Rachel Baziuk

Production Coordinator..................................... Delton Kreller

Assistant Prod Coordinator / Production Instructor Colin Wiens

Department Technician....................................... Tyler Nguyen

Costume Instructor......................................... Brenda McLean

Production Instructor............................... Steve Vande Vyvere

Movement Instructor.............................................. Aria Evans

Stage Management Instructor............................ Leslie Watson

Poster and Layout............................................. Lovissa Wiens

Running time: Approximately 2.5 hours including one intermission

Content information: References to infant/childbirth mortality, death, and epidemic; sexual content; smoking of herbal cigarettes; and use of theatrical water-based fog.

A Quiet Room is available for anyone who requires it.  Please see House Management in the lobby for any accessibility needs.

Please turn off your cell phone.

The photographing, video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Prairie Theatre Exchange, Rainbow Stage, University of Manitoba

Kimberly Fredrick, Emma MacIsaac, Sean Neville, Kim Riddell, Robin Vande Vyvere

I.A.T.S.E. Local 63 for its continuing support of our Production students

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

On World Theatre Day, I reflect on a world in chaos: the US and Israel are waging war in the Middle East, US interventions in Latin America go unchecked, and fascism is encroaching everywhere. We stand at the brink of a third world war—something I never thought I’d say, nor expected my children to experience. Yet, here we are, confronting uncertainty and the grim possibility of war, all in a world still reeling from a pandemic that claimed over 7.1 million lives. That figure is sobering to write.

Unity (1918) invites us to examine the past, at the moment the First World War (1914-1918) ended. The Spanish Flu struck with the same force as our recent global pandemic. The characters experienced what we did—fear, panic, loss of hope, and grief. Yet, at the core of this play, making it timely and relevant, is a beating heart of hope—hope for the future, for love, for community. History teaches us that amid the pain and horrors of war, this heartbeat persists—our heartbeats, regardless of colour, creed, or religion, endure. Our shared humanity, compassion, and need for community endure. We need to come together.

This is what theatre is to me. The coming together of community. It is the salve and the pact we make with each other to come together, our heartbeats beating as one, to see the glimmer of hope within the chaos and sadness. Thank you for continuing to believe in the power of theatre and community. Your presence here, with us, with all of the incredibly talented young artists in this program, is the salve for our times. These young artists, like the play's young characters, are the future. They are the ones who will get us out of this cycle of destruction. Because their hope seems to be intact, even in the face of such a bleak world. This play is for them, for all younger generations who are trying so hard to get rid of the labels and categories that have divided us for so long. Like phoenixes rising from the ashes, their new world order will be one of love and hope. Happy World Theatre Day and welcome to the theatre. I hope you enjoy the show.

Thank you to the 4th year Honours in Acting students at the 蘑菇视频: your imaginations, your energy, and your laughter carried us through the darkness of this play. To the production students and faculty in the Theatre and Film program: you have made me feel welcome during my time here. Thank you for trusting me during this process. To my husband Peter and my daughters Emma and Stella: I couldn’t do what I do without you in my life.

Mariló Núñez

Please mark your calendar for some more year-end presentations:

ALL THE BAD KIDS GO TO MARS   Apr 11 & 12

MUSICAL THEATRE CABARET   Apr 17

See our website at /theatre-film/  for more information.

 

 

 

 

Content Information for UNITY (1918)

Infant/childbirth mortality

Death

Epidemic

Sexual Content

Use of water-based theatrical fog

Smoking of herbal cigarettes

 

Information about the ACTF (Getting Here & Accessibility)

To learn more about attending one of our performances at the Asper Centre for Theatre and Film, including Accessibility information, visit the Getting to the ACTF page.

TO RESERVE TICKETS

Parking

There are a variety of parking options available on and around 蘑菇视频's downtown campus, including a number of casual, short-term parking lots. Parking availability and rates are subject to change.

For more information, visit the 蘑菇视频 Parking Map.

Past Performances