H’art Centre marked its 20th year in Kingston with a major production at the Isabel Bader Performance Centre from April 20-21, 2018 and would like to thank everyone who made the event possible.
“We started 20 years ago with the belief that people with developmental disabilities in our community had more to give and that the arts could be an incredible vehicle to help them do that,” said Katherine Porter, Executive Director of H’art Centre. “Over the years, thousands of people worked together to make this belief a reality. A Gift From Martadella is our gift to Kingston, our way celebrate and show we have even more to give.”
A Gift From Martadella, by Kathi Toth Switzer, David Archibald and H’artists was directed by Kathryn MacKay and featured over 40 performers from H’art and the community onstage, in the orchestra pit, in a media presentation, and behind the scenes.
Almost twenty years ago, Kingston met Martadella in H’art’s first theatre production entitled “Martadella’s Gift”. She was a young girl who used a magical bubble wand to communicate in her own special way. Martadella challenged and inspired others to look beyond appearances and to search for the beauty and unique gifts of those who appear different. A Gift from Martadella was a brand new story about another young woman who embarks on a journey of new personal discoveries drawing inspiration from that same magical bubble wand from years ago.
The play was part of Isabel Bader Human Rights Festival and the three-performance run capped off with a Gala reception on the evening of Saturday, April 21st. Senator Patricia Bovey gave a moving speech that highlighted the importance of championing the Arts for all.
As signature sponsor, Josée Thériault of Thériault Wealth Management Team, RBC Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities made the performance and Gala possible. The Isabel Bader Centre and The Ballytobin Foundation, a philanthropic organization that helps to give access to performance space at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, also made significant donations to help bring it to the stage. We thank the Ontario Arts Council for being an early supporter during the development and production stage.