News Archives: Jake's Gift - GPRC Performance Series
Wednesday, October 8th, 2014
The second presentation of the GPRC Performance Series is a one-woman play which has been described as a “moving, poignant, exceptionally funny and timeless” memorial to WWII. Jake’s Gift was conceived, written and is performed by Julia Mackey, and will be presented at the DJC Performing Arts Centre at GPRC on October 20 and 21, 2014.
In June 2004, Julia Mackey traveled to Normandy, France, for the 60th anniversary of D-Day, which she says, "… was one of the most moving and powerful experiences of my life.” She then returned for the 70th anniversary this past June, and presented her one-woman play, Jake’s Gift, which is inspired by the stories that were shared with her by WW2 veterans ten years ago.
Julia has performed Jake’s Gift over 700 times since August 2006, winning awards and delighting audiences wherever she goes. From Wells, BC to Juno Beach, this amazing story of a WW2 veteran’s reluctant return to Normandy, to find the grave of his brother who never came home, has paid homage to those who fought and died for their country. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry and will touch your heart with its perfect simplicity.
“I am a veteran of the 2nd world war, and this play and its performance made a greater impression on me than all the memorial services I have ever attended.” - Antony Holland, Actor, Founder of Studio 58, and Order of Canada Recipient, Gabriola Island, BC
“Moving, poignant, exceptionally funny and timeless… one of the best pieces of theatre I have ever seen.”- Karen Jeffery, Artistic Director, Sunset Theatre, Wells, BC
“Jake’s Gift – which Mackey conceived, wrote and performs – is theatre in its purest form. It is an instant love affair between performer and audience. This is a jewel of a show you simply can’t afford to miss.”
~ Louis Hobson, Theatre Reviewer, The Calgary Sun, Calgary, AB
To learn more about Jake’s Gift and Julia Mackey, please visit http://www.jakesgift.com.
Tickets for the GPRC Performance Series are available at Revolution Place Box Office (formerly Crystal Centre). Contact the box office at 780-538-0387 or visit crystalcentretickets.com.
Check out the whole series at gprc.me/performanceseries. Upcoming performances following Jakes’s Gift include The Mask Messenger, Black Umfolosi, and Medicine.
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