[ID: A horizontal teaser poster with painted black text that reads Don’t Give Up On Me, Dad. A white silhouette of Andy’s head is to the right. White text at the bottom reads Written and Performed by Andy Jones. The background is blue and yellow.] 

RCA Theatre Company Presents Don’t Give Up On Me, Dad

The show runs approximately 1hr 45 min with an intermission.

CONTENT ADVISORY: This show deals with sensitive subject matter and is not suitable for younger audiences. 

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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

Don’t Give Up on Me, Dad is actor/writer Andy Jones’s very personal story about the insight, courage, and unique humour of his son Louis as he battled with the mental and emotional anguish that led to his suicide.
This one-man show is a heartfelt and sometimes humorous analysis of Louis’ long journey through the health care system.  Andy lends his voice to the rising cry for compassion, care, and a quantum leap in funding for research into mental illness.

If you or someone you know is experiencing “the storm of the heart, soul, brain, and mind” please reach out to the resources below. 
Bridge the Gapp
Doorways
Mental Health and Addictions
Thrive
Calm Place

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A Message from our Artistic Animateur

Welcome to RCA Theatre’s premiere production of our 2024-25 Season. I am thrilled to open an exciting Season lineup with DON’T GIVE UP ON ME, DAD, the latest one-man show from the incomparable, iconic Andy Jones.

This play represents my favourite kind of theatre: a story with the ability to galvanize audiences. It’s a piece with a rallying cry. It’s urgent. It stays with you. Andy tackles the personal struggle of his late son Louis with the sort of compassion he calls for in our healthcare system, in our societies. And he does so with that unmistakable twinkle in his eye, finding levity and hope in the mire; Andy’s unique ability to turn over a rock and examine the dark earth underneath is such that, once the rock is moved, he allows the light in.

It’s been an honour and a privilege to partner with the Arts & Culture Centres as Presenters to bring this important, unforgettable show province wide. Following that, with heartfelt thanks to funding from Year of the Arts and Celebrate NL, Andy will continue on to more rural and remote areas of Newfoundland and Labrador with what he calls the “fluorescent lights” version of the show – in other words, one that can happen in a church basement, in a legion, in a gymnasium. It’s an exciting initiative that removes barriers to entry for folks who live far from the Avalon, far from hubs like Corner Brook and Gander, because theatre should be accessible to all – and so should mental healthcare. If you are as moved by this show as I have been, I ask that you please spread the word to friends and family members who might want to catch this extraordinary show on its cross-province journey.

Thank you for joining us at the historic LSPU Hall. By purchasing a ticket, you are supporting the creation of live, vital theatre in our province, and contributing to a healthy arts ecosystem wherein artists are paid fairly for their work. Theatre can’t exist in a vacuum, and you, our audiences, are key to its future.

Please enjoy the show, and we hope to see you again soon!

-Meghan

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Cast and Creative Team

[ID: Andy Jones is a white man in his seventies with a white beard and white hair. He is wearing a dark plaid shirt and is standing in a grassy yard.]

ANDY JONES
Writer/Actor

Born in St. John’s NL, Andy Jones (he/him) has performed in film and theatre productions across Canada –including his one-man shows: Out of the Bin, Still Alive, King O’Fun, To the Wall, and An Evening with Uncle Val – all of which premiered at the Hall.
Andy is grateful to the RCA, to his supportive family and friends, and to a stellar production team for the opportunity to perform Don’t Give Up on Me, Dad. Andy especially wishes to thank his partner Mary-Lynn, his daughter Martha, and of course their son and brother Louis Jones Bernard. We love you, Louis!

[ID: White man in his 60s wearing an old fashioned hat.]

CHARLIE TOMLINSON
Director

Charlie Tomlinson is a St. John’s based theatre maker. He and Andy have collaborated for over 40 years on four of Andy’s one person shows.  He co-created the play The Drowning Girls which continues to be produced world wide. Occasionally to be seen on TV and most recently in Melanie Oates film Sweet Angel Baby. Upcoming is a production of Oderin which he is co-directing with Amber Borotsik. Oderin is a theatre work inspired by the poems of Agnes Walsh at the St. Johns Arts and Culture Centre in January.

[ID: Robyn has pale skin, short dark hair, and green(ish) eyes. She’s wearing a pale blue collared shirt (and a neutral expression) and standing in front of a dark blue backdrop.]

ROBYN VIVIAN
Production Manager

Robyn Vivian is a theatre artist currently based in St. John’s, Ktaqmkuk/Newfoundland. Her production credits include: I Forgive You, The Imaginary Real, and Everybody Just C@lm the F#ck Down (Artistic Fraud), Room For a Pony (Persistence Theatre), and The Fire Kedgy’s Howl (NDW/NAC). Her scripts include Equinox (Zee Zee Theatre), Deeper (Unnatural Disaster Theatre, Page1 Theatre), SNATCH (Theatre Perimetric), Lights Out, and the digital short BURROW (Eastern Front Theatre). She has performed with White Rooster Theatre, RCAT, Power Productions, Under the Bridge Productions, and Geordie Theatre, and she was a member of the inaugural National Queer and Trans Playwriting Unit.

[ID: Brandon is a white man in his early thirties. He has short brown hair, brown eyes, and a short brown beard. He is wearing a light blue collared shirt and is standing in front of a solid blue wall.]

BRANDON HILLIER
Stage Manager

Brandon Hillier (He/Him) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist based in Newfoundland and Labrador. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) from Memorial University of Newfoundland and has recently returned to his alma mater to complete a Master’s of Applied Literary Arts. Brandon is drawn to many aspects of theatre making and can be found in a wide variety of roles both on stage and behind the scenes. He is known as an actor, director, producer, fight choreographer, a sound/lighting operator, a stage manager, and generally – “a handy fella to have about”.

[ID: A white woman with short grey hair and light eyes. She’s wearing glasses and a grey coat with a leopard print scarf.]

MARY-LYNN BERNARD
Assistant Stage Manager

Besides her recent work as a puppeteer in the Newfoundland and Canadian tours of Queen Of Paradise’s Garden, (including the Banff Centre, The National Arts Centre and Vancouver Writers Festival), Mary-Lynn Bernard has acted in many productions including Beyond Therapy (Christpher Durang), Salvage, The Story Of A House (Michael Crummey) The Christmas Mummers Play (Mummer’s Troupe), The Marriage Proposal and The Bore (Anton Chekhov), Overruled (George Bernard Shaw), Pilk’s Madhouse (Ken Campbell), the children’s theatre production of Jack Five-Oh (Andy Jones and Philip Dinn), Later That Same Life (Connie Hynes), Tabloid Wedding (Joan Sullivan) and Uncivil Servants (Steve Palmer).

[ID: Alison is a 29 year old white woman with blue eyes and reddish hair. She is wearing a black shirt.]

ALISON HELMER
Set Designer

Alison Helmer is a multidisciplinary artist who has been deeply and continuously influenced by her studies and experience working on the east coast. Born and raised on the prairies, she began her theatre education with the Stagecraft program at Grenfell college before completing the Scenography program at the National Theatre School of Canada. She approaches her artistic practice through a lens of fantasy, history, and traditional storytelling. She is excited by theatre that pushes the boundaries between convention and experimentation, and that seeks to fulfill our shared search for truth, escape, and connection.

[ID: Brian is a bearded while male in his thirties with brown hair and blue eyes.  He is wearing a black shirt in front of a blurred dark background with a window over his shoulder.]

BRIAN KENNY
Sound Design

Brian is a designer from Mt. Pearl and is a graduate from The National Theatre School of Canada, and Sheridan College. Selected credits include: Supper Club, The Dialysis Project [RCA Theatre Company], Everybody Just C@lm The F#ck Down, Between Breaths [Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland], La Cage Aux Folles [Stratford Festival] Anne of Green Gables the Musical [Charlottetown Festival], Fall On Your Knees [NAC], Jersey Boys [Citadel], Kelly vs Kelly [Musical Stage], Come From Away in concert [Marquis, Mirvish]. Brian is a member of the board of directors for RCA as well as the The Associated Designers of Canada.

[ID: Renate is a white woman in her 50s with long brown hair and brown eyes. She is wearing a turquoise and white checked shirt and is sitting in front of a neutral beige background.]

RENATE POHL
Lighting Designer

Renate is very pleased to be working with Andy, Charlie, and the RCA team on this touring production. Renate is a Set, Lighting, Projection and Costume Designer and Associate Professor in the Theatre Program at Memorial University, Grenfell Campus. She has worked with RCA Theatre Company, Persistence Theatre Company, Double Sure, Arts and Culture Centres, She Said Yes!, NAX, White Rooster, C2C, Artistic Fraud, Opera on the Avalon, Theatre Newfoundland Labrador, Eastern Front Theatre, Mixed Company, Nightswimming, Old Earth Productions, Free Will Players, Union Theatre, Greenwich Theatre, Bush Theatre, New Ambassadors Theatre, Arcola Theatre, and Heart and Soul.

[ID: Jessica is a white person in her 30s with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is wearing a blue shirt and is sitting in front of a dark background.]

JESSICA POWER
Music Direction

 After completing a Bachelor’s in Music at Memorial University and Master’s in Music Therapy at Concordia University, Jessica moved to Washington, D.C. to work as a Music Therapist in a senior living setting. While there, she also acted with Keegan Theatre in An Irish Carol (Anna) and The Undeniable Sound of Right Now (Lena). Jessica’s local theatre credits include: St. John’s Women’s Festival of Theatre: W;t (Susie Monahan); Wonderbolt Circus: Servant of Two Masters (Clarice); c2c Theatre: Leisure Society (Paula); Rising Tide Theatre: Nobleman’s Wedding (Nancy). Jessica is grateful to be a part of this beautiful show!

[ID: Anne is a woman with pale beige skin, brown eyes and dark hair. She is wearing red lipstick, a black turtleneck and is standing in front of a red background.]

ANNE TROAKE
Movement Choreographer

Anne Troake is a multi-disciplinary artist from Twillingate, Newfoundland. Her practice is rooted in dance and choreography but also includes documentary filmmaking, video installation, manual therapy and therapeutic movement. Her work has been broadcast and exhibited on television networks and in public venues across Europe, the U.S., Asia, South America and the Pacific southwest, including exhibits at The National Arts Centre, the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the Goethe Institute.

[ID: Sarah is a white woman in her mid-30s standing in front of an aquarium display, smiling at the camera. She has long brown hair and is wearing a teal snapback hat in a backwards fashion. Various aquatic life can be seen in the background.]

SARAH WHITE
Technical Director

Sarah White is a theatre artist from the west coast of Newfoundland. Some recent work includes Production Management for the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, teaching Stage Management at Grenfell Campus (MUN), Touring Technical Director for Terra Bruce Productions, ASM for Resource Centre for the Arts’ Supper Club, LX Designer for Best Kind Productions’ Heathers, TNL’s Our Eliza, and Turncoat Hill for the King’s Point Theatre Project and Technical Director for the St. John’s Short Play Festival. Sarah currently serves as the Associate Technical Director for the LSPU Hall in St. John’s.

[ID: Lucas is a white man with long brown hair and beard. He has dark green eyes and is wearing a grey knit-sweater in front of a light background.]

LUCAS INGS-SIMMS
Swing Tech

Lucas Ings-Simms is a technician, poet, and designer based out of St. John’s, NL. Recent theatrical credits include lighting technician/operator on Come From Away (Gander 2024), head technician/operator on DRIVE (Gander 2024 – directed by Petrina Bromley), technical director for the first NL Sketch Festival (April 2024), producing and a part of the stage management team for both runs of Tamasha-O-Tamasha (This Might Be Satire Productions/ACC/RCAT 2023/2024), and ensemble cast for “Romeo & Juliet” (SBTS 2023).

[ID: Monique Tobin is a white woman with dark hair standing near the coastline.]

MONIQUE TOBIN
Outreach Coordinator

Monique Tobin is a writer, documentary journalist, researcher, public events coordinator, mother of four and advocate for public libraries. Over three decades she has researched, produced and interviewed for public radio and television and independent documentary productions. Monique has toured the province several times with Andy Jones’ Storytelling production, The Queen of Paradise’s Garden as a sound performer and workshop leader in schools and theatres, and across the country, one of the richest experiences she feels lucky to have had.

[ID: Saskia is a white woman in her 20s with short brown hair, green eyes, and round glasses. She is wearing a black shirt and is standing in front of a tree.]

SASKIA SCHULZ-NORVELL
Administrator for Andy Jones Productions
Born and raised in St. John’s, Saskia has been an assistant stage manager for both Wonderbolt Productions and Perchance Theatre, and has a degree in English and Communications from Memorial University. She is honoured to be helping out behind the scenes with this production of Don’t Give Up On Me, Dad.

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Resource Centre for The Arts Staff

Meghan Greeley Artistic Animateur
Luke Rowe Managing Producer
Suzanne Mullett General Manager                                
August Carrigan Communications and Marketing Manager
Ren Follett Box Office Manager
Kevin Woolridge Operations Manager
Ian Campbell Volunteer Coordinator
Brandan Cave Box Office Supervisor
Flora Chubbs Box Office Attendant/ Bartender
Cheney Emberg Box Office Attendant/ Bartender
Jen Fleming Box Office Attendant/ Bartender
Angela Hsu Box Office Attendant/ Bartender
Paul Warford Box Office Attendant/ Bartender
Sarah White Interim Technical Director
Phil Winters Theatre Technician

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[ID: 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. The photo shows the red theatre seats of the Hall.]

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Over the next season, RCA is embarking on an ambitious plan to build on its remarkable history. We invite you to join us – to ensure that our stories continue to be told! Our commitment to Live. Local. Creative. has resulted in some our province’s greatest theatrical works, by artists who have gone on to national acclaim. We offer meaningful engagement and full expression of the diverse voices that make up our province today: some have been here for many years, some we are just welcoming now, and some were here long before us.

Check out what Andy Jones has to say about becoming a monthly donor!

Thank you to the LSPU Hall Volunteers!

[ID: A faded photo of the Hall with the word Volunteer in pink and green blocks written vertically down the left side. The white Hall logo is in the top right corner.]

Volunteers are the backbone of the theatre community.
We would truly be lost without them and can not thank them enough for their wonderful work.

Why volunteer at the Hall?

Visit lspuhall.ca/volunteer or e-mail our volunteer coordinator Ian at volunteer@lspuhall.ca to find out how!

• You get to see live theatre for free!
• Looking for a free date night with your partner? Volunteer together!
• Volunteer with your friends and have a safe night out together.
• Looking to expand your social circle? Join a community of like minded theatre lovers.
• In high school and need volunteer hours? We got you.