Carrying the Calf
Cast: 4f. (Audience. Secondary school and above)
One act.
Indira (17) has dragged her reluctant West Indian friend, Sharon, along to a self defense for women class at the local community centre. Sharon would rather be spending the time with her boyfriend, Calvin. The only other student is Anne, a white single mother of 4. They are all facing a different kind of violence in their lives, but divided by age, race and expectations, they prove a handful for Firoza, the South Asian instructor. It is only when she tells them the ancient story of Fetneh who carried a calf up 60 steps every day for 6 years, that the connections begin to be made and strength of spirit is seen to be as essential as strength of body. The four scenes of the play are linked by katas, the strictly choreographed, powerful sequences of movements that are a central part of karate.
First produced by Straight Stitching Productions on tour to high schools and adult education colleges in 1990. Director: Lib Spry.
Carrying the Calf was published by Theatrefolk, 2003, and is in New International Plays for Young Audiences, edited by Roger Ellis, Meriwether Publishing. 2002
***The production won the DORA Award for outstanding theatre for young audiences in 1990 and Shirley Barrie won a Chalmer’s Award for the script in 1991.
Back to Plays for Young Audiences