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The December Man
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Photos by Stoo Metz

The December Man won the Governor General’s Award for Drama in 2007 and is inspired by one of the most tragic and significant incidents in our country’s history, the École Polytechnique Massacre on Dec 6th, 1989. Murphy’s play deals with the fate of a bystander who witnessed the event and could/did not act. The December Man is the story of how he and his family were tragically affected.

"Never doubt the power of theatre to tap into the human soul and wrench it. The December Man [...] is exceptionally powerful and painful theatre delivered by a top-notch, Nova Scotia team.”
Elissa BarnardNS Reviews

For those of us who remember it vividly, this play helps us to understand the terrible aftermath that still lives with us. For a generation that wasn’t born when it took place, The December Man is a revelatory experience. With mass shootings on the rise and gender-based domestic violence at an all-time high during Covid-19, this examination of ‘the bystander effect’ in The December Man is startlingly relevant to Nova Scotians and beyond.

"I burst into tears when Jean came home in the final scene, but obviously not with joy. What a play and what a performance.”
Audience Member2021 Production

The production featured scenic design by nationally-acclaimed artist and long-time HomeFirst collaborator, Sue LePage. It also featured lighting and projection design by Holly Meyer-Dymny, sound design by Steven Naylor, production stage management by Jeana MacIsaac, assistant stage management by Sarah Wakely, technical direction by Matt Downey, outreach by Kiana MacDonnell, associate producing by Rebecca Wolfe, and direction by Mary Vingoe.

The December Man also featured a small three-person cast comprised of some of the brightest talents in Nova Scotia. Zach Faye and Martha Irving each made their HomeFirst debut in this show, while HomeFirst veteran Hugh Thompson marked his fifth production with the company.

"How do you describe an intimate family drama that's so well acted, directed and produced? SO worth seeing - but also warning: it will rip your heart out. It is really powerful.”
Audience Member2021 Production

Buzz about this show...

CAST

Zach Faye as
Jean Émile Fournier
Martha Irving as
Kathleen Fournier
Hugh Thompson as
Benoît Fournier

CREATIVE TEAM

Matt Downey
Matt Downey
Technical Director
Sue LePage
Set Design
Krista Levy Odlin
Costume Designer
Jeana Headshot (1)
Jeana MacIsaac
Production Stage Manager
Kianajosette-headshot
Kiana MacDonnell
Outreach
Holly MD Artist at Work
Holly Meyer-Dymny Lighting/Projection Design
Steven Naylor
Sound Design
Mary Vingoe, a white woman with dark grey and brown hair, is smiling centre frame. She is backlit and wearing a colourful scarf.
Mary Vingoe
Director
sarah Wakely
Sarah Wakely
Assistant Stage Manager
Rebecca Wolfe, a white woman with a chin length bob of dark brown hair, smiles centreframe. She is wearing a white lace shirt that sits slightly off her shoulders.
Rebecca Wolfe
Associate Producer
Additional Team:
Kevin Dacey
Carpenter
Colleen MacIsaac
Graphic Designer

PRODUCTION SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

OPENING NIGHT SPONSOR:


Rosie Porter Realtor
Assante Logo
Assante Wealth Management
Dal Engineering
Dalhousie University Faculty of Engineering
Engineers NS
Engineers Nova Scotia
HollisWealth_EN_RGB
Hollis Wealth
Lake City Cider
Lake City Solar square
Lake City Solar
East Coast Credit Union
East Coast Credit Union
Gary square
Gary Burril, MLA
G&R CPA
G&R CPA
Councillors
Councillor Sam Austin &
Councillor Shawn Cleary

GOVERNMENT & PRIVATE FUNDERS

CCFA_BW_white_e

SECTOR PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS

The December Man
Previous slide
Next slide

Photos by Stoo Metz

The December Man won the Governor General’s Award for Drama in 2007 and is inspired by one of the most tragic and significant incidents in our country’s history, the École Polytechnique Massacre on Dec 6th, 1989. Murphy’s play deals with the fate of a bystander who witnessed the event and could/did not act. The December Man is the story of how he and his family were tragically affected.

"Never doubt the power of theatre to tap into the human soul and wrench it. The December Man [...] is exceptionally powerful and painful theatre delivered by a top-notch, Nova Scotia team.”
Elissa BarnardNS Reviews

For those of us who remember it vividly, this play helps us to understand the terrible aftermath that still lives with us. For a generation that wasn’t born when it took place, The December Man is a revelatory experience. With mass shootings on the rise and gender-based domestic violence at an all-time high during Covid-19, this examination of ‘the bystander effect’ in The December Man is startlingly relevant to Nova Scotians and beyond.

"I burst into tears when Jean came home in the final scene, but obviously not with joy. What a play and what a performance.”
Audience Member2021 Production

The production featured scenic design by nationally-acclaimed artist and long-time HomeFirst collaborator, Sue LePage. It also featured lighting and projection design by Holly Meyer-Dymny, sound design by Steven Naylor, production stage management by Jeana MacIsaac, assistant stage management by Sarah Wakely, technical direction by Matt Downey, outreach by Kiana MacDonnell, associate producing by Rebecca Wolfe, and direction by Mary Vingoe.

The December Man also featured a small three-person cast comprised of some of the brightest talents in Nova Scotia. Zach Faye and Martha Irving each made their HomeFirst debut in this show, while HomeFirst veteran Hugh Thompson marked his fifth production with the company.

"How do you describe an intimate family drama that's so well acted, directed and produced? SO worth seeing - but also warning: it will rip your heart out. It is really powerful.”
Audience Member2021 Production

Buzz about this show...

CAST

Zach Faye as
Jean Émile Fournier
Martha Irving as
Kathleen Fournier
Hugh Thompson as
Benoît Fournier

CREATIVE TEAM

Matt Downey
Matt Downey
Technical Director
Sue LePage
Set Design
Krista Levy Odlin
Costume Designer
Jeana Headshot (1)
Jeana MacIsaac
Production Stage Manager
Kianajosette-headshot
Kiana MacDonnell
Outreach
Holly MD Artist at Work
Holly Meyer-Dymny
Lighting/Projection Design
Steven Naylor
Sound Design
Mary Vingoe, a white woman with dark grey and brown hair, is smiling centre frame. She is backlit and wearing a colourful scarf.
Mary Vingoe
Director
sarah Wakely
Sarah Wakely
Assistant Stage Manager
Rebecca Wolfe, a white woman with a chin length bob of dark brown hair, smiles centreframe. She is wearing a white lace shirt that sits slightly off her shoulders.
Rebecca Wolfe
Associate Producer
Additional Team:
Kevin Dacey
Carpenter
Colleen MacIsaac
Graphic Designer

PRODUCTION SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

OPENING NIGHT SPONSOR:


Rosie Porter Realtor
Assante Logo
Assante Wealth Management
Dal Engineering
Dalhousie University Faculty of Engineering
Engineers NS
Engineers Nova Scotia
HollisWealth_EN_RGB
Hollis Wealth
Lake City Cider
Lake City Solar square
Lake City Solar
East Coast Credit Union
East Coast Credit Union
Gary square
Gary Burril, MLA
G&R CPA
G&R CPA
Councillors
Councillor Sam Austin &
Councillor Shawn Cleary

GOVERNMENT & PRIVATE FUNDERS

CCFA_BW_white_e

SECTOR PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS

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HomeFirst Theatre is located in Punamu’kwati’jk, in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship,” which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) people first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources but recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.
We are all treaty people.
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