top of page
catalina-de-erauso_edited.jpg
Elaine-Avila2-500x500_edited.jpg

Elaine Avila

WORKPLAY  2015

Lieutenant Nun 

 

by Elaina Avila

Lieutenant Nun 

 

THE TRUE STRANGE STORY OF A 17th CENTURY NUN WHO BECAME AN INFAMOUS CONQUISTADOR

“There is no name for what I am. You would have to make a new word.”

It’s the 17th Century; the armies of Spain are slaughtering their way across the New World, and one renowned conquistador, Antonio de Erauso, is famed for his ferocity – until, on trial for murdering his own brother, facing execution, Antonio pleads for clemency – by revealing that he’s actually an escaped nun. Imprisoned and enchained, haunted by the ghosts of the slain, the Lieutenant Nun confesses the story that has been kept secret for so long….

“New words must be freshly made, on the spot,
for a creature you have never seen, a fruit you have never tasted. It’s the New World!”

Elaine Avila, a Canadian playwright of Azorean/Portuguese descent, has a passion for exploring untold stories. Frequently incorporating music, politics and humor, her work is described as “bold, intelligent, forthright, spirited, compassionate… inviting, wide-ranging” (Caridad Svich), “open, generous” (Erik Ehn) and “a wonderful writer, tremendously gifted, reliable, and innovative.” (Suzan-Lori Parks).  Her plays have premiered in Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, New York City, Seattle, New Mexico, Lisbon, Portugal and London, England. Recent/upcoming work: Jane Austen, Action Figure; Kitimat; Quality: the Shoe Play, Lieutenant Nun, Burn Gloom, La Frontera/The Border, Lost and Found in Fado. Awards: Victoria Critic’s Circle for Best New Play, Audience Favorite Festival de Cocos, Panama City; Winner, Disquiet International Short Play Competition, Lisbon; Canada Council (numerous). She has taught in universities from British Columbia to Tasmania, China to Panama. Publications include: NoPassport Press (Jane Austen, Action Figure and other Plays, in 24 Gun Control Plays), Howlround, Canadian Theatre Review, American Theater, Café Onda, TCG Circles (Artistry and Innovation, Crossing Borders) Contemporary Theatre Review, Lusitania. She is the Playwright in Residence at Pomona College in Los Angeles and was recently distinguished as a descendentes notáveis (Notable Descendant) for her theatre work by the Government of the Azores, Portugal.”

MENU

CONTACT

Puente Theatre

1368 Craigdarroch Road

Victoria, BC

V8S 2A7

778 977-6398

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

WITH GRATITUDE

Puente Theatre acknowledges with deep gratitude that we live, work, and create on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking Peoples, now known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

As a company dedicated to amplifying diverse voices and connecting cultures through theatre, we honour the enduring presence, knowledge, and creative spirit of the Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded these lands for thousands of years. We recognize that reconciliation is an ongoing practice, and we are committed to listening, learning, and acting in ways that support justice, equity, and meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.

We  invite our audiences,  collaborators, and communities to reflect on their own  relation-ships with the land and to join us in building a more inclusive and respectful future.

unnamed-18.jpg
0-4.jpeg
unnamed-13.jpg
unnamed-16.jpg
unnamed-17.jpg
bottom of page