Dear Editor,

I sat in the audience and my chest swelled with pride as I watched the production of The Thief of Love, a presentation by the young members of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s summer workshop. The actors, singers and dancers were impressive indeed, and the subject they chose to explore was extremely important. I congratulate those responsible for the production and hope I can encourage them to continue their work.

Especially at this time, the community needs this kind of open, entertaining discussions that allow those of us struggling with the realities of differences in our communities to laugh, cry and get angry from the comfort of a theatre seat, to take away with us possibilities for a sane future offered by sensitive performers with no other agenda but to communicate their unspoiled insight.

Above all, however, I must congratulate the writer and director of the production, Terez Davis-Nixon, whose ability to mold young people and help them find the eagles in themselves was obvious in every item. The production called for acting, dancing and singing, with at least three original songs, but it was as convincingly presented as any workshop production I’ve seen.

I look forward to seeing Davis-Nixon given the support to move the energy my wife and I experienced to a much wider stage, to help us have the conversations we need to have to heal our community.

I look forward to more of the same.

– Patrick Rahming