The Bone Bridge

7 Actors: 4 women (20 – 60s), 3 men (40-60s)
One Act
Running time: 110 minutes

 

A charismatic ‘Leader’ raises goats that he names after foreign dignitaries as he hides from an international war crimes tribunal. He is especially fond of a nanny goat he calls “Madeleine Albright”.

Beginning in an apartment in Bosnia and ending in a suburban kitchen in North America, The Bone Bridge spirals in and around the very personal lives of individuals working to rebuild their lives after conflict. As the Leader is found in hiding and goes on trial for human rights abuses, the delicate balance that has been struck is about to be blown wide open. The Bone Bridge is an exploration of civil conflict, nationalism and the culpability of leadership – when home and country are lost, and neighbour has turned on neighbour, is it humanly possible to recover?

 

“Reconciliation requires four things: truth, justice, mercy and peace. These four elements often contradict each other. For example, justice often involves punishment and violence, which is the opposite of mercy. Or, speaking the truth creates more conflict, which is the opposite of peace. However, without all four elements, reconciliation cannot exist.”

John  Paul Lederach

 

The Bone Bridge’s development was supported by the BC Arts Council. The play was developed through the Citadel Theatre’s Playwrights Forum, and workshopped at Playwrights Foundation in San Francisco. The play has received readings supported by Amnesty International, and has had well-received public readings at the University of Calgary Consortium for Peace Studies, Stanford University and Custom Made Theatre (San Francisco).

Finalist for the Herman Voaden Prize

Finalist for the Mario Fratti-Fred Newman Political Play Competition (NYC) 

Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival (San Francisco)

Winner of the  National UpRising Prize in Canada for plays concerning social justice

Winner of the Woodward International Playwriting Prize in the U.S.