Vanier Theatre will premiere the brand new play Fractured this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 in the Studio Theatre.

The play is the result of collaboration between acting coach Robinson Wilson and the cast of 13 George P. Vanier Secondary students.

The idea for the play, which focuses on the aftermath of a fictional school shooting, is one that Wilson has wanted to explore for some time.

There are other one-act plays that centre on this topic — but not in the way he wanted to — sharing the stories of those who have survived. It was when he was working with Vanier’s senior Improv team on their Life event that Wilson figured out this was the right time and the right group to create this play. 

The work that Vanier students were doing was so honest and strong that Wilson realized that this was the group with whom he wanted to take on this project.

Since then, students have been researching all aspects of school shootings to help create the play. Initially they had to explore the topic generally, but as the research went on their research became more narrow and defined. Along the way they were generating a great deal of writing based on their findings.

Wilson mixed much of this writing with his own — and after a great deal of workshopping and rewriting — the play is in its final form.

The result may not be what you expect — along with the moments of heartbreak there are many humourous and hopeful ones as the characters reflect on how their lives have been changed by the experience.

Fractured is presented this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Vanier Studio Theatre. Entrance is by donation and half the proceeds will go to the fundraiser for Kymme Patrick.

She is a theatre instructor in the Comox Valley who has made a huge impact on young performers and the theatre community in general.

The money will go towards the expenses involved in her battle with cancer.

— Vanier Theatre