On Nov. 11, Ain’t Gonna Study War No More, a unique musical and spoken word presentation by some of Vancouver Island’s best-known folk/roots artists will be performed at Courtenay’s Old Church Theatre.
Owing its tone to the anti-war movement of the 1960s, the show is unusual in its approach to the subject.
“Most Remembrance Day shows seem to be about glory, honour, sacrifice, patriotism… the material in this show is coming from a different direction,” producer Doug Cox said. “It’s about family, loss, the awful tragedy and frustration of it all. Much of the material is conceived, written and performed either by women or from a women’s perspective”.
The show will feature Juno Award winner Helen Austin, folk music icon Colleen Eccleston, award-winning producer and artist Doug Cox, and show producer Mick Sherlock.
Material for the show has been chosen by each performer. It ranges from anti-war folk songs of the 1960s to gospel, to ancient folk songs and pop songs from the 1990s. The format for the show will be an ever-popular ‘in the round,’ with each artist presenting their own material and joining in with each other as well.
“That’s really where the magic happens,” said Mick Sherlock. “The potential for an exciting collaboration with other musicians. You never really know how it’s going to work until you are in the moment.”
With the ongoing conflicts in the Ukraine and the Middle East, the performers hope to be a voice towards changing the narrative from being one of just remembrance to also being one of concern for those currently experiencing war.
Tickets for the show are available at www.oldchurchtheatreshows.com