Vancouver play ‘White Noise’ explores cultural differences, Indigenous perspectives

Breaking down internalized racism and celebrating cultural differences, all with the power of comedy, the play White Noise is set to premiere at the Firehall Arts Centre in Vancouver this weekend.

The play is presented by Savage Society, an organization created in 2004 for Indigenous theatre and film artists to “tell their own stories, sourcing myth, tradition, and the contemporary Indigenous perspective.”

It was written by Indigenous playwright Taran ‘Standing Sunrise’ Kootenhayoo, who passed away before he could see the full production take place.

“We had presented it at the Talking Stick Festival, as almost a full production,” artistic director Kevin Loring explained. “We were set to premiere it the following year, and then the pandemic shut us down. So, we had to postpone that opening. In that interim time, we lost Taran.”

“Now, we have the opportunity. The play is ready to be staged and so, we’re going to do that in his honour.”

This was Kootenhayoo’s first and only play.

“[White Noise] is about an Indigenous family that’s new to a neighbourhood. They have dinner with a non-Indigenous family. The cultural differences between the two families surface … and hijinks ensue, as they say,” Loring said.

He says the play deals with several current issues and “pokes fun” at preconceived notions about Indigenous people and modern culture.

“It’s a play that really talks about or engages with a lot of of things that are very current in our news cycles. A lot of issues that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people might have perspectives on or questions about, and it does it in a way that is very comedic, and very fun, and very current.”

In regards to using the word savage in the name of his company, Loring says on the website:

“The word Savage carries a negative connotation in western society which has historically abhorred the natural state of the world, endeavouring to dominate, confine and exploit it rather than to live with or in support of it. We see Savage as meaning humanity in its natural state, humanity in nature. Savage Society seeks to attack fiercely ignorant and preconceived notions.”

Opening night for White Noise is April 16.