Docudrama ‘Seeds’ re-enacts court battle with Monsanto

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society proudly presents Seeds on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 starting at 8:00 p.m. at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Seeds is the third of five shows in our 2015/16 Theatre series.

Porte Parole’s Seeds is a dramatic re-enactment of the 4-year legal battle between Monsanto, one of the world’s biggest biotech corporations, and Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser. This play by Annabel Soutar sparks conversation and debate about genetically modified food, bio patents and our food future.

“I’m thrilled to be introducing audiences to playwright Annabel Soutar and her remarkable piece Seeds.” says Chris Abraham, Artistic Director at Crow’s Theatre. “When I read it for the first time, I couldn’t put it down. Her dogged pursuit of the truth is entirely gripping, as are her observations of the social and political implications of the paradigm shift in genetics happening under our feet.”

With a script taken from court trial transcripts and interviews with Schmeiser, Monsanto representatives, farmers, academics, lawyers and scientists from across Canada, Seeds leads us through a suspenseful labyrinth of legal conflicts around patent rights, scientific showdowns about GM food, and property clashes between farmers and the biotechnology industry.

“I can’t wait for the conversation and debate that will be sparked by this show.” adds Abraham.

Co-founded in 2000 by Soutar and actor Alex Ivanovici, Porte Parole is a bilingual Montreal theatre company dedicated to the creation and production of documentary plays about contemporary Canadian stories. Porte Parole has presented seven plays in Montreal and in regional theatres across Quebec. In this February Performance in Vernon, Canadian icon Eric Peterson (Corner Gas and Street Legal) plays the role of Schmeiser.

A journalistic docu-drama, Seeds lets the audience examine all sides of the debate and ultimately make their own decisions.

Tickets for SEEDS are $40 for adults, $37 for seniors and $35 for students. Call the Ticket Seller Box Office at 250-549-SHOW (7469) or log on line to www.ticketseller.ca for tickets and more information.