Made in Canada
Where does our food come from? Who grows it? Who is nourished by it? Made in Canada aims to bring the experiences of Temporary Foreign Farm Workers to the stage – the unseen people who plant, tend, and harvest the food we eat.
After the live operetta version had to be canceled due to the 2020 pandemic, Made in Canada was adapted into a song cycle, podcast and concert. Check them out below!
The Song Cycle
The Podcast
With lyrics by Pedro Chamale and music by Mishelle Cuttler, Made in Canada’s song cycle blends Mariachi influences with lyrics sourced from the words of seasonal temporary foreign workers, news articles, and government legal texts surrounding the Temporary Foreign Workers Program.
The Concert
Following the Made in Canada song cycle release, the songs were shared in an engaging and informative concert format, shedding light on the challenges that workers face on Canadian farms. The concert was presented at the Firehall Arts Centre, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Blackout Theatre’s Stand Festival, the Heart of the City Festival, and Summerland’s Ryga Festival.
The MiC podcast was created as a companion to the song cycle. Over 10 episodes, Playwright Pedro Chamale delves deeper into the themes and words of each song in the cycle. With the help of guest agricultural workers and experts, Pedro explores the lack of workers’ rights in theTFW program.
The Operetta
Despite being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rice & beans remains eager to bring the full live operetta version of Made in Canada to the stage. Keep an eye on our website for news on the next steps of this iteration.