BLYTH FESTIVAL – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2013 Season Press Release “FALLING” IN LOVE WITH GARY KIRKHAM When Playwright Gary Kirkham tells a story, he will likely steal your heart in the process. It’s not intentional. He’s not a thief by trade but he certainly has mastered the art of heart-capture and you will certainly lose yours after you see Falling: A Wake, opening Friday, August 30th at the Phillips Studio Theatre in Blyth. In the spring, Interim Artistic Director, Peter Smith, brought in various artists from each of the upcoming productions to talk about the upcoming shows to the Board of Directors. For the production Falling: A Wake, Smith brought in the ‘big guns’ and had Kirkham come to Blyth to talk about the show himself. The room was completely speechless as Kirkham took the floor and told the story of his best friend growing up. Like most boys, they were thick as thieves and as the years passed they learned to value the trust and honest friendship the years had developed. When it came time to seek out their futures as young men, distance became their mutual enemy. They maintained a strong friendship, meeting whenever fate would bring them close, but phone calls and letters were the main mode of communication. One of the last times Kirkham had the opportunity to see his friend, was at a surprise visit to a house party when his friend found himself in the city on a redeye layover and in complete secrecy, arranged a ride and showed up unexpectedly. The warm smile that was emanating from the corners of Kirkham’s mouth had spread throughout the room and each person felt as though they too knew the kindness and gentle nature of Kirkham’s old friend. When Kirkham described the moment when he found out that his dear friend was on Pan Am Flight 103, when a terrorist bomb exploded over Lockerbie on December 21st, 1988, not a breath could be heard. The heartache and pain Kirkham felt in that moment was echoed around the room in an instant. It took 18 years for Kirkham to find the words and the page on which his best friend’s story would come to life. However, when he started writing the play, the story coming to life was strangely, a comedy. Kirkham was confused and wondered if this could indeed be the correct story to tell, he arranged to meet with this friend’s mother and get her blessing. When he told her that he was writing this play, he asked if there was anything that she would wish to see or hear. The only words that she had were, “Gary, make sure it’s a comedy.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the room and a smile on each person’s face. The Board fell in love with Gary Kirkham, again that night and we invite you to do the same.
Falling: A Wake opens in the Phillips Studio Theatre, located on 209 Dinsley Street, Blyth on Friday August 30th at 5pm. Following the 75 minute performance, the Festival will host a Book Launch of Falling: A Wake in the Lower Hall with Gary Kirkham in attendance. To book you tickets for this limited, two-week run, please call the Box Office at 1-877-862-5984 or visit us online at blythfestival.com. The Festival would like to thank season sponsors, CTV and Sparlings Propane as well as production sponsors CIBC and 104.9 The Beach.