Shrouds and Stays: The Ballad of Jane Wright

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Date: May 23
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Where: Theatre

A Live Performance by Catherine Wright

A family, a ship, a monkey, a sugar bowl, a storm…

It is 1890. Jane sets off from England on a perilous journey aboard the merchant sailing ship Bay of Panama. Her husband is captain, and she is the only woman on board. 130 years later, Jane’s great-great granddaughter Catherine discovers her story and is compelled to share it through narration, original songs, recitations and movement.

Here is a story of seafaring days gone by, of family ties, love and loss, forces of nature, inner courage and continuum - themes which will resonate in this province.

Cost: $20 plus HST. 10% Discount for Rooms members. Tickets are available online or by calling (709) 757-8090.

Thanks to ArtsNL for their support of this project.

Performer Bio:

Catherine Wright is a storyteller, multi-arts practitioner and arts educator who divides her time between St John’s and Port Kirwan, Newfoundland.

A versatile performer who brings warmth and passion to her storytelling, Catherine has presented a broad range of stories (folk and fairy tales, personal narratives, ballads, hybrid shows) at festivals, schools, theatres, galleries, outdoor venues and online, in her over 30 years of performance experience. Her background in dance is apparent in her storytelling style, and she often interweaves songs and recitations into many of her performances.

Shrouds & Stays: The Ballad of Jane Wright is Catherine’s newest show, a true shipwreck story of family, love, loss and continuum. Funded by ArtsNL, the show was launched in 2024 with further performances scheduled in rural community venues in Newfoundland and Cornwall, UK in 2025.

Catherine is past president of St John’s Storytelling and current provincial representative for Storytellers of Canada (SC-CC).