Where Have All The Buffalo Gone?
Written by Tai Amy Grauman
Co-Directed by Amanda Testini and Chris McGregor
A Métis love-story that transcends time to safeguard history.
Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? is a love story through the ages. Two star people and a Buffalo, fall to earth and continue to reconnect throughout history. Our play covers seven different periods of Métis history. We bear witness to the emergence of the Métis nations across the plains, the robust colonization that arises from the fur trade, the disappearance of the buffalo and the political uprising of the Métis Association of Alberta. The story begins during creation amongst the stars and ends in the present day.
Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? specifically shares scenarios from the Callihoo family’s stories, incorporating fiddle music, jigging and a life-like buffalo puppet. Inspired by historical events of the Métis people of Canada, this original play for young audiences explores the loves, the losses and the fight of Treaty 6’s Métis people – and their love and kinship to the buffalo.
Photography for “Where Have All The Buffalo Gone?” by Javier Sotres Photography, featuring Lynny Bonin, Issiah Bull Bear, and Sofi Munson (Buffalo puppeteer). Production and Puppet Design by Dusty Hagerüd, Costume Design by Alaia Hamer, and Lighting Design by Jack Goodison.
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Recommended Audience: Grade 4 - Grade 12
Run Time: 50 minutesAvailable for theatres, festivals, and schools.
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Includes 'Pre-Performance Activities' to help prepare your students for a live performance. Use the synopsis and vocabulary sections to review concepts and words the play mentions!
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Find a press release, bios, marketing materials, and more in our Presenter Kit dropbox folder.
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THEATRES
Technical Rider: DOWNLOAD [PDF]
Lighting Cue Sheet: DOWNLOAD [PDF]
Technical Drawing: COMING SOONSCHOOLS
Please review the requirements for hosting a show prior to booking. COMING SOON -
The characters in Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? depict scenes that would have happened in Métis history. And there are several marriage proposals! These historical actions are addressed in our study guide and include:
1830: Marie is skinning a rabbit with a knife. She also shoots a buffalo with a rifle. The buffalo dies and is cut up by Marie.
1885: Louis has a musket in silhouette, we hear gunshots (a depiction of the battle of Batoche).
1925: Marie and Louis run away from residential school and ascend to the stars (they die).
The musket and the knife are stage props and are representative of the time in history, the situation, are used to tell the story.
SCHOOL PERFORMANCES
Want to book a show to perform in your school? Contact Petrice or submit a booking request.
Petrice Brett
Booking & Marketing Coordinator
petrice@axistheatre.com
604 669 0631
from the blog
“The play was so so so fun to watch.”
"I loved the play. The play was so so so fun to watch. Thank you for the amazing play."
— Grade 4 student
“... the difficult material of the play is very educational for older kids to learn about.”
“The play was a perfect length offering an ideal amount of time to grasp the whole story. In my opinion, this play is appropriate for the age range from grades 4-12. It is visually appealing for younger kids (the life size Buffalo is amazing) while the difficult material of the play is very educational for older kids to learn about.”
— Quinn McGregor, KItsilano Secondary (Grade 11)
“Everyone should see this piece, for all ages.”
“I just wanted to say, my husband, daughter (12) and I just came home from attending the live performance of “Where Have All The Buffalo Gone?” and it was so brilliantly well done. Everyone should see this piece, for all ages. It’s educational in a fun way, and keeps you engaged the whole time. I cried twice, my husband said it was more than that. Good thing it was dark in there. A total must see!”
— Laura Ayotte (Audience Memeber)
