‘Hooked from the start’: Winnipeg play about cannibalism explores intersection of Queerness and survival

It’s not every day a play about cannibalism ends up on a Manitoba stage.

But at Winnipeg’s The Gargoyle Theatre, the team behind “How They’ll Tell It” is serving up something all audiences will be able to sink their teeth into.

“‘How They’ll Tell It’ takes place in a fictional Waska, Manitoba,” explains play director Cali Sproule. “And in this town 40 years ago there was a series of cannibal attacks by these two women. And then, (in) ‘How They’ll Tell It,’ we flash forward to present-day 2025 and we meet two other women who are telling the story of this cannibal attack.”

Sproule says the play explores many themes, but primarily how Queerness and survival intersect.

“We have this idea of ‘the monster,’ and so when we think of the cannibal, there is this monster in our heads without the thought of instances in history where it was a necessity for survival,” she said. “And then similarly when some folks think about Queerness, there is this idea of ‘the monster.’ And it’s really interesting to strip away that identity and just look at the human.”

The Gargoyle Theatre’s owner, Andrew Davidson, says “How They’ll Tell It” – written by Sophie Guillas – was an easy sell.

“Local theatre creators come in and talk with me, and when they told me about this play that took place in a fictional Manitoba town, about a cannibalistic incident that took place 40 years ago and how the city’s dealing with the trauma now, I was hooked from the start,” Davidson said.

The theatre owner says supporting independent theatre in Winnipeg is “incredibly important,” and he likes taking chances on emerging artists.

“I’m a writer by nature and history, and I was working on plays and I found that it was a real challenge to find a workshop space to develop new plays,” Davidson said. “I thought this was something that I could offer the community and I’m very glad that that’s what we’re doing here.”

What’s now The Gargoyle Theatre has been around since 1912, Davidson says.

“It was originally a neighbourhood cinema for silent movies,” he explained. “So it’s been around for about 113 years and it’s fulfilled a number of functions.

“We actually renovated pretty much every inch of this theatre during the pandemic. I took possession of the theatre in 2019. Perfect timing to buy a theatre. But it gave me two years to work on the space.”

Davidson says audiences can keep expecting excellent works from Winnipeg artists.

“Our mandate is entirely local, original plays. Everything’s a world premiere.”

“How They’ll Tell It” runs until June 8.