Dancing Sky’s apocalyptic fairytale brings hope for new future

“We are not the species to fix this.”… It’s the text that struck actor Peace Akintade the hardest when she first read Kelley Jo Burke’s new play Greensleep, A Fairytale for the End of Days.

“It’s normal to think that we will be the heroes of the story, that we will fix the climate crisis,” says Akintade. “There are protests, meetings and marches but, what if the answer is just being still and getting out of the way. Letting nature fix itself?”

Greensleep continues playwright Kelley Jo Burke’s fascination with fairytales. (Eric Eggertson)

“I describe it as an episode of The Twilight Zone that gets eaten by a fairytale.”

Dancing Sky Theatre’s artistic director Angus Ferguson approached Burke to write a play looking at the natural world. Greensleep, April 26 – May 12, 2024 takes our preconceptions about climate change and turns them upside down. There’s no saving the world in this dark and funny tale.

“I describe it as an episode of The Twilight Zone that gets eaten by a fairytale. People don’t want to grind down to the end. I was much more interested in new beginnings,” says Burke. “There are a group of people who have survived. We see what these characters are left with after the end of days and how they go about starting again.”

The play takes advantage of the talented people within the production team telling the story through puppetry, dance and music. As the story unfolds, nature comes to life in front of the characters.

Kyle Kuchirka and Peace Akintade (l-r) are part of the cast bringing this dystopian future to life. (Britainy Zapshalla)

“It’s been really exciting creating this show as a collective,” says actor Savana Gallant. Everyone in the cast comes from different backgrounds as artists and its one big smorgasbord of entertainment on stage. It’s really beautiful.”

“This is about rebirth and if it leaves them feeling hopeful in a genuine way, I’ve done my job.”

For the playwright, Greensleep is a continuation of her love affair with fairytales.

“I discovered fantasy section of the library when I was a kid and I haven’t left,” says Burke. “I love stories that pass hands. Fairytales and myths change as they are told through the generations. I hope the audience laughs and feels right along with these characters. This is about rebirth and if it leaves them feeling hopeful in a genuine way, I’ve done my job.”