Burnt Sienna

by Kris Alvarez

This project began when audiences were invited to eavesdrop on a dinner party conversation where Fillipina Canadian Kris Alvarez hosted a variety of guests who grew up ‘brown’ in Regina. With a shared meal as the catalyst, Alvarez elicited profound, funny, honest, and challenging discussions of identity. The sold out events were overwhelmingly successful; entertaining and accessible, while packing a punch. Clearly, this work was a potent form of community engaged performance. While the dinner party aspect persists, over time the work evolved into a talk-show/variety show format – semi-scripted, improvisational, spontaneous, raw, and rough around the edges – allowing more time and space for safe, humorous, and respectful conversations around the complexities of race, cultural traditions, and privilege.

Photo Credits: Danielle Tocker