At the beginning of Andrea Ledding’s first play Dominion the actors are given a challenge. Before even a page of text can be seen it reads, “Great creative liberties must be taken with this play.”

It’s a challenge that cast and crew at Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre have taken to heart for this world premiere. This show is a dark, honest and sometimes ridiculous look at Canadian history as seen through a very tiny lens. We meet two couples Jack and Marie-Phillipe who’ve just moved into a new home and Tatawaw and Nimitaw, the previous owners who are now locked in the guest bathroom.

Danny Knight, Joshua Beaudry and Andrea Folster (l-r) star in Dominion at Studio 914 until October 22, 2017 / Britainy Zapshalla

“This play is an analogy of Canada and its history,” explains director Curtis Peeteetuce. “Canada is the estate and the bathroom is the reserve system.” The show takes audiences through time from the first settlers in the 1800s all the way up to present day.

When Dominon was chosen for the 2017/2018 season, Peeteetuce knew it was going to push boundaries. “The first time I read it, I buried my face in my hands and thought, how am I going to do this?” He explains, “Staging this play forces you to really look at how dark, poignant and funny Canada’s history is. There’s just so much to it.”

“The first time I read it, I buried my face in my hands and thought, how am I going to do this?”

Peeteetuce says this play does deal with weighty issues of race and politics but there are great moments of humour as well. “This show isn’t about creating white guilt,” he says. “It’s about looking at the relationships, the systems we live in and finding the humanness.”

GTNT hopes this show will open up new discussions about reconciliation. As the play puts is, “We’re counting on you to find a good finish!”

Dominion runs at Studio 914 until Oct. 22, 2017. Tickets are $15 – $20 click here for more information.