STRAIGHT STITCHING PRODUCTIONS was founded by Shirley Barrie, Arlene Mantle and Lib Spry and has been producing award winning theatre for young audiences since 1989. The company's first production Straight Stitching, won a Chalmers Award for Outstanding Theatre for Young Audiences and was nominated for a Dora Award. Carrying The Calf, set in a self-defense class forwomen, won the Dora Award for Theatre for Young Audiences and playwright Shirley Barrie again won a Chalmers Award. In 1995 the company toured What If...? a play for very young audiences in Ottawa and Toronto.

The performance:

Brigit Bondfast: Space Scientist was written by Shirley Barrie, directed by Ken Chubb, designed by Chris Bryden and featuring Lib Spry as Brigit.

Brigit Bondfast wants to go to Mars. But on this particular day, it doesn't look likely. She and her co-scientists are trying to find a way to grow food on the space shuttle and things are going very badly! She comes home to see if she can't solve the problem there, only to find a group of eager primary school students waiting for her. Unable to disappoint the children who have come to see her home laboratory, she takes them on wild ride of science and imagination where ladders and space ships, vinegar and chocolate cake, hula hoops and hockey sticks all come together in a physical extravaganza as she works out one step in the solution to growing plants in space.

Brigit Bondfast: Space Scientist is a colourful and vibrant mixture of eccentricity, solid science and problem solving, which takes a delightful look at the human side of a scientist's life.

Technical requirements:

• We need the gym clear of any activity 1 1/2 before the performance and 1 hour afterwards.

• 15' x 15' floor performance space on the floor, NOT on the stage.

• The performer will require a dressing room.

• Maximum audience is 150 SK-Gr.3

• A teacher's guide will be sent in advance.