An Evening of Winter Tales

Nine performers will take stage on January 20 to share stories as part of PopUp Storytelling’s latest event, Snowblind.

Matt Carter

Greg Everett knows the power of a good story. Over the past few years the Fredericton-based playwright and performer has become an important artist in the city’s theatre community. In addition to writing plays, Everett also leads a writer’s group at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre and organizes storytelling events in “innovate performance spaces at unconventional times”.

Everett launched PopUp Storytelling last fall with a Halloween themed performance at Bellwether, a popular consignment clothing shop in downtown Fredericton. Last week, he announced Snowblind, his next event and one that expands the PopUp Storytelling concept to accommodate close to a dozen performers.

Snowblind is the second iteration of PopUp Storytelling and it will be taking place at the Picaroons Roundhouse on January 20 from 7-10 p.m. Admission is by donation, proceeds from the door and a percentage of sales will be donated to Family Enrichment and Counseling Services here in Fredericton.

“Each PopUp Storytelling event has a theme, and I knew that I wanted the theme for the winter session to be Seasonal Depression and Winter Isolation,” said Everett. “January 20 is Blue Monday, which has been popularized as the most depressing day of the year, so that’s the date I decided to go for.

“I also knew from early on that I wanted the event to benefit mental health in Fredericton. Family Enrichment and Counseling Services are the only organization in town with consistently good reviews, and they have helped a number of people very close to me.”

The evening will include stories by Anthony Bryan, Alex Rioux, Rebecca Salazar Leon, Travis Flynn, Jenn Flewelling, Scott Shannon, Thandiwe McCarthy, Kat Hall and Greg Everett. The evening will also feature live painting by Ysabelle Vautour, a visually impaired mixed media artist from Grand Barachois N.B.