76 Centimeters

[ID: A horizontal teaser poster with black text that reads 76 Centimeters with white text below that reads by Xavier Michael Campbell. A white image of a official looking document with black buildings on top and white snow is to the right. The background is orange.]

An RCAT Significant Other Series Show in partnership with TODOS Productions

Written by Xaiver Michael Campbell
Directed by Santiago Guzmán
Cast: Jamal Weekes & Blake Pyne
Technical Direction by Sarah White
Lighting Design by Bob Stamp
Set and Props Design by Brenda Duran
Sound Design by Daniel Fuchs
Costume Design by Mariia Kero
Projection Design by Pat Dempsey
Stage Management by Sophia Molnar
Production Management by Cassandra Munroe
Intimacy Direction by Robyn Huxter
Assistant Direction by Xaiver Michael Campbell
Social Media and Outreach Coordination for TODOS by Lydia Makaga
Rehearsal Photography by Joe Kisusi
Videography by Brian Amadi
Live Audio Description by Power Up Productions
ASL Interpretation by Triangular Communications
Accountability Liaison for TODOS Productions Ruth Lawrence

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Land Acknowledgement

RCA respectfully acknowledges that the land on which we currently create, perform, and gather is the ancestral homelands of the Beothuk, whose culture has now been erased forever. The island we colonially call Newfoundland is the unceded, traditional territory of the Beothuk and the Mi’kmaq. Labrador is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Innu of Nitassinan, the Inuit of Nunatsiavut, and the Inuit of NunatuKavut. We ask that before you watch the performance tonight, you take a moment to reflect on whose land you are standing on, whose land you were born on, and whose land you currently live on. We ask that you reflect on how that land was taken care of, and how it is taken care of now, and finally who currently walks freely on it. If this reflection makes you uncomfortable we ask that you sit in that feeling and question it. Let it help you work towards reconciliation, something we can only achieve together. Thank you.

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Synopsis

A modern love story versus the snowstorm of the century.
Late January 2020, the City of St. John’s issues a state of emergency during Snowmaggedon.
Inside their basement apartment, long-term couple, Abe and Samson are in the midst of their own storm. They battle Canada’s alleged well-regulated immigration system & each other, while their seaside town is relentlessly pummeled.
As the snowdrifts grow, the storm rages on both out in the world & inside their home. Can they find a way through the tempest together? Will love be enough?
A tender, loving, romantic drama oozing with heart-felt comedy.

General Warning: flashing lights, use of herbal cigarettes, pulsing projections, strong language and mature content.
Trigger Warning: mentions of suicide

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Director’s Note

Sometimes the biggest act of love is letting go.

Samson and Abe have gone through ups and downs in their 6 year old relationship. Whilst the future ahead of them seems bright, an incoming storm will force them to face each other and crack their hearts right open, only to allow them to truly communicate. Perhaps in the most hilarious and painful way possible only Newfoundland and Labrador can offer.

The love in our production is palpable. From the playwriting to the dramaturgy, the direction and the acting, the design and the marketing, the technical and production planning. I am grateful to every single member of our company that has brought this hilarious drama to life.

In times where compassion and empathy is at risk due to who we are and where we come from, plays like ours become incredibly important.

Thank you for supporting our production and I hope you enjoy the show.

-Santiago

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Playwright’s Note

76 Centimeters is inspired by the rallying of community that was needed when Snowmageddon walloped St. John’s and surrounding communities in Winter 2020. As a new playwright, it is beyond my wildest dreams to see this story on the stage. I have been fortunate to have invaluable support from my community in getting this play to where it is now. To my mother, my partner, my family and friends, thank you for nursing my anxieties regarding sharing this love story; this play is a testament to your belief in my storytelling. From TODOS Productions, the LSPU Hall, and PARC, to ArtsNL, and the City of St. John’s, this play has been blessed to have you. I am indebted to every actor who has breathed life into Samson and Abe and has taught me more about these characters. Finally, 76 Centimeters would not be possible without my dramaturge and director, Santiago Guzmán, who has been unwavering with his dedication and generous with his numerous talents. To the entire 76 Centimeters family, past and present, I thank you. Community, and family, is so integral to the tender, but turbulent love story of Samson and Abe. As you watch and listen to these scenes unfold before you, I hope you bear witness to the layers and depth of community that was involved in the creation of this play. It is my sincerest wish that you enjoy the show. 

-Xaiver

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Development History

Winter 2020
Selected as part of TODOS Productions’ First Writing Mentorship (dramaturgy by Robert Chafe and Santiago Guzmán)

September 2020
Online reading at the 5th Annual St. John’s Short Play Festival (directed by Santiago Guzmán)

November 2022
Workshop and Public Reading through PARC NL New Play Workshops and Reading Series (dramaturgy by Santiago Guzmán)

April 2023
Online reading at OutFest, Halifax, NS (directed by Santiago Guzmán)

May 2023
Selected as part of Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre playwright’s retreat
(dramaturgy by Santiago Guzmán)

March 2024
Workshop and open presentation funded by ArtsNL with TODOS Productions (dramaturgy and direction by Santiago Guzmán)

February 2025
World Premiere produced by TODOS Productions in association with Resource Centre for the Arts, St. John’s, NL (dramaturgy and direction by Santiago Guzmán)

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Cast and Creative Team

[ID: Xaiver is a black man with a curly afro, a beard and moustache. He is wearing gold rimmed glasses and a black coat. He is staring into the camera. He has dark brown eyes.]

Xaiver Michael Campbell
Playwright and Assistant Direction

Xaiver Michael Campbell from Kingston, Jamaica, has lived in St. John’s, Newfoundland for over a decade. Xaiver feels that living in Jamaica, prepared him for life on the Rock. Minus the snow, sleet and lack of sun – the people are equally warm and friendly. His work has appeared in the Malahat Review, Riddle Fence and in the anthologies Us, Now and Best Canadian Stories 2024. Xaiver was named a Writers’ Trust Rising Star. He co-authored Black Harbour: Slavery and the Forgotten Histories of Black People in Newfoundland and Labrador with Heather Barrett. A Single Dreadlock is Xaiver’s debut picture book. And 76 Centimeters is his first play. (For headshot, please credit Munyaradzi Siyawamwaya/CBC.)

[ID: Santiago, a brown person, is smizing at the camera. They are rocking short, dark brown, curly hair and a moustache. Santiago is wearing a blue romper with a black undershirt. He also wears colourful bracelets and rings.]

Santiago Guzmán
Director & Dramaturge

Santiago Guzmán (he/they) is an award-winning playwright, dramaturge, performer, & director originally from Metepec, Mexico, now based in St. John’s, NL. Artistic Director of TODOS Productions & Artistic Director of Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre.
Santiago’s work aims to put local, under-represented narratives and characters on the frontlines, whilst inviting audiences to appreciate the vibrancy of Newfoundland and Labrador from a diverse perspective.
In 2019, Santiago was listed as an innovator in Atlantic Business Magazine’s edition of 30 under 30: Newfoundland and Labrador. He was awarded the inaugural John Palmer Award in 2022 through the PGC for being a change-maker in the theatre industry with their advocacy in the arts regarding equity, diversity, and anti-racism. In 2023, he was inducted into the YWCA’s St. John’s Circle of Distinction with the Inspired Innovation Award for the same values.
Santiago’s work is very gay, very brown, and very real. Santiago believes representation matters. www.thesantiagoguzman.com

[ID: Jamal is a dark-skinned black man in his thirties with dark brown eyes, and close shaved face with a black goatee and mustache. The  hair on his head is black and low and is cut in a skin fade style. He is wearing an all white round neck t-shirt and an unbuttoned light blue denim shirt over it.]

Jamal Weekes
Samson

Jamal is a storyteller. A proud Caribbean creative, he eagerly explores various methods of storytelling—from filmmaking to acting on stage and screen. This Bajan sun seeks to examine themes and concepts that explore what it means to be, and what makes us – we.

[ID: Blake is a white person in their mid twenties with brown eyes and long brown hair. They are wearing a dark blue button up shirt.]

Blake Pyne
Abe

Blake Pyne is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on acting, singing, musical theatre, and physical theatre performance from Swehl-tcha (Cultus Lake, B.C.). He holds a diploma from the Randolph College for the Performing Arts’ Triple Threat Program and the National Theatre School’s acting program.
Selected theatre credits include “Actor 3” In a workshop of DUCKS (Banff Centre), “Argonaut” in the five-time Dora award winning production of Madea (Canadian Opera Company), “Caliban” in The Tempest, “Jess (Blake Pyne)” in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] (Again),
and “Valere” in Moliere’s The Flying Doctor (Perchance Theatre 2022-2024), “Pierre” in Cole Hayley’s There Is Nothing You Can Do (NTS) “The Baron Docteur” in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Venus (NTS), and “Hart” in Kevin Kerr’s Unity 1918 (C.S.O.P.A) where he won the award for Best Youth Actor in the Fraser
Valley Zone Festival. Blake is so excited to be back on the rock, and is very grateful every single day for the opportunity to collaborate with so many incredible artists to create Canadian theatre, and recognizes his privilege in being able to do just that.

[ID: Sarah is a white person in her 30’s with brown eyes and long brown hair. She wears a teal-coloured snapback hat put on backwards and is smiling while standing in front of a large aquarium.]

Sarah White (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist based in St. John’s. She currently works as the Interim Technical Director at the LSPU Hall and is thrilled to help bring this show to life! Some past projects include: Stage Manager/Production Manager at TNL’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival for both festival and touring productions (2014-2022), LX Designer for Best Kind Productions’ Heathers (2024), TNL’s Our Eliza (2024) and King’s Point Theatre’s Turncoat Hill (2024), Technical Director/Associate LX Designer for RCA’s production and tour of Andy Jones’ Don’t Give Up On Me, Dad (2024) and Technical Director for Terra Bruce Productions’ tour of Let’s Dance! (2023).

[ID: Bob is a white person with grey-haired and a hooded shirt in a black and white photo.]

Bob Stamp
Lighting Design

Originally from St. John’s, Bob has been working in arts and entertainment for more than 40 years. Throughout his career in stage and screen, he has worked in numerous capacities including designer, director and producer. As a lighting designer, Bob has accumulated credits for various projects ranging from theatre, dance, concert production and television to exhibits and special events. He is happy to be working again at the LSPU Hall with TODOS Productions.

[ID: A black and white photo of Brenda, a Hispanic woman with dark brown hair. She is smiling at the camera and wearing a black tank top and tattoos on her right arm.]

Brenda Duran
Set and Props Design

Brenda is an eclectic artist, drawing from her Salvadorian heritage and shaped by her upbringing in Ontario’s diverse cultural surroundings. From a young age, she found passion and inspiration in the world of theatre, dedicating her time to honing her craft and cultivating her artistic voice. After completing her studies and working in Toronto with a BFA in Theatre Production and Design at York University, her journey took her to Nova Scotia in 2017. Since living and working in Nova Scotia, she’s won the 2023 Wes Daniels Design Merritt Award. Her recent theatre credits: Newfoundlanded (Todos Productions) Goodnight Moon (Mermaid Theatre), Heathers: The Musical ( Neptune YPCo), Dance Nation( Heist/ Keep Good Theatre) Alice in Wonderland/Twelfth Night (Shakespeare By The Sea), Downed Hearts ( Ships Company Theatre / EFT), Miracle on 31st Street ( Saint John Theatre Company), Glass Menagerie ( ARC), #iamthecheese (HTFYP/EFT), Fat Juliet( EFT).

[ID: Daniel is a white person in his 30s with dark green eyes, short brown hair and a beard. He is wearing glasses and a black blazer with a white shirt.]

Daniel Fuchs
Sound Design

Daniel Fuchs is a violin performer and teacher based in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He performs actively in many genres ranging from classical to traditional. He is a violinist for the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and the Strong Harbour Strings Collective. He also collaborates with Montreal-based Jewish music ensemble, Siach Hasadeh, who recently recorded their new album, Hapam Yilaveh. Devoted to music education, Daniel teaches students of all ages in his private studio and as a teaching artist at the Strong Harbour Strings Program.
Daniel looks forward to joining the creative team of 76 Centimeters as sound designer. In this production, he uses his skills as a violinist and improvisor to create a soundscape that portrays the wind, a prominent feature throughout the story. In his spare time, he loves to cook, bake, and explore the island of Newfoundland.

[ID: Mariia is a white person in her 30s with brown eyes and green hair styled in a hairstyle with wavy curls. She has red lips and is wearing many red ethnic necklaces and a black blouse.]

Mariia Kero
Costume Design

I am a costume designer with over ten years of experience in the film and photo industries. Since 2009, I have been creating costumes for films, TV projects and photo sessions in Ukraine and other countries. My work is based on thorough research of historical periods and cultures for creating authentic and believable characters.

[ID: Pat is a white man in his early forties. He has greying brown hair, blue eyes and a beard. He wearing a jacket and hoodie.]

Pat Dempsey
Projection Design

Pat (he/him) is a Theatre Practitioner who wears many hats. Selected credits include; Video Design: Song Seekers, Remnants (White Rooster), Drive (ACC), Be More Chill (Best Kind), Everything Has a Hole, I Am a Genius: Does Anybody Here Know Me? (NAX), Girl Meets Tuba (K Bulmer) and Alice in Wonderland (Kittiwake). Sound Design: Penning the Carol, Men of Misfortune (RCAT), Heathers, Be More Chill, Fun Home, Next to Normal, Urinetown: The Musical, Impresario, 13: The Musical and Avenue Q (Best Kind). LX Design: Penning the Carol (RCAT), The Curious Case of Madame D (Wreckhouse), and Drinking Again (NAX) He taught technical theatre at MUN for over a decade and has taught Qlab and other technical skills to High School Theatre Teachers, Theatre Technicians and Theatre Students. He is also an Actor, Technical Director, and is currently the Production Manager for the Gander Production of Come From Away.

[ID: White woman in their 20s with shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes. They are wearing a facemask, a large black and white scarf, and a black coat.]

Sophia Molnar
Stage Manager

Sophia (she/her/elle) earned her BFA from Grenfell’s Technical Theatre Production program at Memorial University with a Minor in Environment and Sustainability Studies. Selected theatre credits include An American Hymnal (Terra Bruce Productions); Lights Out (Workshop); Jewel, The Birds, The S.S. Ethie, Bingo Ladies (The Gros Morne Theatre Festival); Dear Me: (Workshop); How To Make Bread . Merci à tous and enjoy the show!

[ID: Cassandra is a white plus sized woman with hazel eyes and long brown curly hair pulled into a half up, half down style with bangs. She is wearing a black top, a pearl necklace, and hoop earrings with pearls and multicolored gems.]

Cassandra Munroe
Production Management 

Cassandra Munroe is an interdisciplinary theatre artist originally from Nova Scotia, currently calling St. John’s, NL home. She holds a BFA in theatre from Memorial University where she studied Acting and Technical Theatre Production. Cassandra’s work includes credits in the areas of; acting, stage management, directing, and production management. Cassandra is also the playwright of two competition winning plays; Boys Will Be Men, and Inconvenient Attraction which was co-written by Faith Young. Both scripts have been directed and produced by Cassandra with artist collective Just A Concept Productions. Cassandra is excited to be working with Todos for a second show, after joining the team as production management assistant for NewfoundLanded in fall 2024.

[ID: Robyn is a white woman with blue eyes and long brown wavy hair. She is smiling at the camera.]

Robyn Huxter
Intimacy Direction

Robyn Huxter (she/her) is a dog groomer and theatre artist from Steady Brook, NL. Robyn graduated from the Grenfell Theatre Program, where she received the Andre Noble Award and the Tommy Sexton Triple Threat Award. She also holds a Bachelor of Science, in Biology, from Mount Allison University. Robyn has worked and toured with various NL theatre companies, including: Power Productions, Todos Productions, Terra Bruce Productions, Rising Tide, and Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

[ID: Lydia is a black woman wearing braids. She has a nose piercing, wearing a black turtleneck and smiling at the camera. The photo is black and white. ]

Lydia Makaga
Social Media and Outreach Coordination for TODOS

Lydia Makaga is an actress, playwright, production coordinator, and manager from Tanzania who is now based in St. John’s, NL, Canada. She began her film career as a Production Assistant on Hudson and Rex and has since taken on various roles in different productions over the past years.
In 2024, Lydia made her acting debut in Newfoundlanded and Aya and the Masquerades, directed by Santiago Guzmán. Her play The Perfect Daughters was selected for a reading at the 9th Annual St. John’s Short Play Festival. She is part of the 2024/2025 Artist Mentorship Program under the Black Theatre Workshop in Montreal. She is also one of the co-founders of MK SIsters Productions, a social venture that aims to redefine the art of storytelling.
Lydia is committed to constantly expanding her artistic boundaries. She strives to grow and create work that reflects her identity and background as a black woman.

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TODOS Productions

Artistic Director: Santiago Guzmán
Core Members: Robyn Huxter, Ruth Lawrence, Vanessa Cardoso-Whelan, Nora Barker
About: TODOS Productions is a theatre company that seeks to develop, produce, support, and promote the work of Black, Indigenous, Artists of Colour, 2SLGBTQQIA+ artists, landed immigrants, artists with disabilities within Newfoundland and Labrador.

https://www.todosproductions.com/
Instagram: @todosforall

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Special Thanks

Maher Sinno & Jamarie Anfernee Brown, Brian Amadi, Owen Carter, Erin Culmer, Anthony Bryan, Peter Sarty, Lynn Panting Dance, Peter Cowan, Tango Yona, Julia Carr, Neighbourhood Dance Works, Mallory Fisher, Lori Short, Donna Butt and Rising Tide Theatre; Robert Chafe, Patrick Foran and Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland.

TODOS Productions gratefully acknowledges financial support from Canada Council for the Arts, the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, the City of St. John’s, and Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre, RCA Theatre Company, Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, White Rooster Theatre.

[ID: A black and white photo of a dancer with their arms out stretched. The Lynn Panting Dance logo and white text on blue background that says Nurturing Creativity, Confidence, and Community Through Dance. A QR code is below.]

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Sponsors

[ID: The logos of RCA Theatre Company, Canada Council for the Arts, PARC, City of St. John’s, and Arts NL.]

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[ID:A photo of a black Hall toque in front of the NL Republic flag. Black text reads Get your very own Hall Hat! Available at the box office for $20 + tax.]

[ID: A photo of the red theatre seats. A red square with white text reads Seat Campaign Back in the seats again! Ask us how to get your own seat in the historic LSPU Hall’s mainstage theatre.]

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