Bolsheviki:

Learning Package
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Index

Canada during World War 1

Canada at War
The Conscription Crisis – p3

The Battle of Somme

Still at War…Canada in Afghanistan – p4

The Battle of Vimy Ridge – p5

Behind Bolsheviki

Robert King – p6
David Fennario – p7
Guy Sprung – p8
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Canada during World War 1

 

Canada at War

The First World War began in 1914 and ended in 1918. Two
opposing alliances comprised of all the world's greatest powers
battled on multiple fronts for four long years. During those four years
an estimated thirty million people would be killed. The world would
never be the same.

The conflict that ignited the war was the assassination of Austrian
Archduke Franz Ferdinand. A series of invasions followed that drew
in all the great powers. One of these invasions was the German
invasion of Belgium.

Britain ordered Germany to retreat from Belgium; when Germany

refused, Britain declared war. On 4 August 1914, Canada, as a
member of the British Empire, was at war.

The
Conscription
Crisis

Few French Canadians volunteered for battle. French-speaking

Catholics that fought in English battalions were commanded by
anglophone protestants and they feared poor treatment. Following
the Battle of Somme in 1917, Canada was in dire need of troops and
began conscripting troops for mandatory service via the Military
Service Act. Protests against the act were widespread but tensions
were highest in French Canada. In Quebec, people marched against
the act. On April 1, 1918, four men were killed when the army
opened fire on a crowd in Quebec City.
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The Battle
of Somme
The Battle of Somme was one of the largest battles of the First
World War. Over five months in late 1916, 1.5 million combined
casualties would be suffered in what is recognized as one of the
bloodiest military operations ever recorded.

A great number of Canadian servicemen were lost. On the first day

of battle, the majority of servicemen volunteering from the
Dominion of Newfoundland were killed; the social impact at home
was devastating.

The Battle of Somme was the last advance by the allied forces in
that year. The autumn rains turned the battlefield into a bog and the
offensive staggered to a halt. The Somme had cost Canada 24,029
casualties, but it was there that the Canadians confirmed their
reputation as hard-hitting shock troops.

Still at War...
Canada in
Afghanistan Following the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001, Canada began
co-operating in joint military operations in Afghanistan aimed at
toppling the Taliban regime and neutralizing the threat posed by Al-
Qaeda's existence there. At the time of the invasion, the Canadian
government defined Canada's reasons for participating in the mission
in Afghanistan as follows:

• Defend Canada's national interests;

• Ensure Canadian leadership in world affairs;
• Help Afghanistan rebuild

Nearly ten years later, Canada is still heavily involved in the war in
Afghanistan and the reasons for continuing operations there are
becoming increasingly muddled, fuelling divisive attitudes here at
home. To date, 152 Canadian Forces personnel have been killed in
Afghanistan. As the death toll continues to rise, the importance of
questioning the purpose and validity of the Afghanistan war also
increases. Almost a decade later, is it time to rethink Afghanistan?
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The Battle of
Vimy Ridge

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a engagement fought primarily as part

of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France,
during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian
Corps against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle,
which took place from 9 April to 12 April 1917, was part of the
opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack
for the French Nivelle Offensive.

The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the

German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost
end of the Arras Offensive. This would ensure that the southern flank
could advance without suffering Germanenfilade fire. Supported by
a creeping barrage, the Canadian Corps captured most of the ridge
during the first day of the attack. The town of Thélus fell during the
second day of the attack, as did the crest of the ridge once the
Canadian Corps overcame asalient of considerable German resistance.
The final objective, a fortified knoll located outside the town
of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, fell to the Canadian Corps on 12 April. The
German forces then military retreated to the Oppy–Méricourt line.

Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps in capturing

the ridge to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous
planning, powerful artillery support, and extensive training, as well as
the failure of the German Sixth Army to properly apply the German
defensive doctrine. The battle was the first occasion when all four
divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle
together, and thus became a Canadian nationalistic symbol of
achievement and sacrifice. A 250-acre (100 ha) portion of the former
battleground now serves as a preserved memorial park and site of
the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.
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Robert King - Performer

Robert King is a well-known and highly regarded Canadian actor, he has played leading
roles across Canada in all the major regional theatres. Robert has originated notable roles
working alongside some of Canada’s best playwrights, including David Fennario. He has
been a respected member of the Stratford Festival for 18 years and in that time has
appeared in 22 of Shakespeare’s 35 plays and has starred in many leading roles. Robert has
also played principal roles in film and television. Robert is a graduate of The Dome
Theatre Dawson College, and is thrilled to be back in his hometown of Montreal to be
reunited with David Fennario and Guy Sprung in Infinithéâtre’s production of Bolsheviki,
David’s latest play. Robert considers this a highlight in his career.

On Bolsheviki...

My son is in grade 10 and is studying World War 1. He has been asking me about
history…
What David’s play gives us is history, but seen from the trenches, unvarnished; history
that hasn't been revised. The play asks us to take a closer look at what went on. It shows
one man’s experience, and how that awakened in him a new awareness of how certain
things happen, why they happen. Just a regular guy subjected to the hell of war. For what?

I hope that I can tell Rosie’s story in such a way that will prod folks into thought and
action, actually get folks asking questions of their leaders with the hope of getting clear
answers. It seems a very difficult thing to do these days - getting some one to answer
anything. This story needs to be told. "Is that in your history books?" Rosie asks. Well the
answer is no. Somebody once said something like - it is a fine thing to love your country,
but be very careful of your government.

On Working With Guy and David...

It was an absolute answer to a dream, to work with Guy and David on a new script. They
bring years of solid experience to any project and it is truly an honor to be working on
this play with them. I can't really say enough about what Guy has meant to theatre in
Canada. He has traveled the world working with various theatre companies and founded
companies. His openness and willingness to help and guide new works is greatly
appreciated. He is a great mind. David’s work always provokes, pounds, gets people
thinking. He writes from the heart, his characters are sharply drawn and vital. A person
could meet them on the street.

If Infinithéâtre were doing this play on the moon I’d want to be in it, anytime anywhere.
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David Fennario - Playwright

The Bard of Balconville, David Fennario, is one of Quebec and Canada's most celebrated
playwrights. After nearly 40 years of championing the rights of the Canadian working
class, Fennario returns once again with Bolsheviki, a World War 1 retrospective that
lambasts Canada's current involvement in Afghanistan.

Fennario's history in Quebec is rich and storied. At one time a national celebrity -- during
the 70's and 80's he was the darling of the Montreal anglophone scene and the target of
scorn by francophone critics -- Fennario has since stepped away from the limelight,
choosing to devote his energy to smaller, community based projects such as the current
run of Bolsheviki at Montreal's Infinithéâtre.

Those interested in familiarizing themselves with Fennario's work would do good to begin
with Balconville. One of his most famous plays, the work also demonstrates many of
Fennario's style consistencies: Working class characters who speak colloquially, often in
joual (colloquial french), and whose dialogue is peppered with witty one-liners and
expletives.

"...theatre comes first to Guy Sprung, even before his own self interests, because of his
love of our chosen art form. It's this commitment to theatre that is the source of Guy's
talent as a director, teacher and producer. It's what makes him special. It's what makes his
productions special. He will always serve the artist first."
- David Fennario
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Guy Sprung – Director

Guy Sprung has behind him a full four decades of contribution to theatre in Québec,
Canada and abroad. As a director, producer, writer, actor, and teacher, his list of
achievements is long and varied. Guy is an artistic visionary and a passionate nurturer of
young talent.

Guy's involvement with theatre began in university where he was president of the MgGill
Players' Club and directed more than 40 productions. As a free-lance director working in
both North America and Europe, Guy has overseen numerous masterpieces. Guy has also
helped found and develop theatre companies such as Theatre XV, whose company
members included renowned American playright, David Mamet. Possibly Guy's greatest
contribution to theatre has been his unparalleled support for new, young talent, a tradition
he is maintaining at Infinithéâtre.

Guy has now brought his tremendous vitality, broad vision, and unceasing determination
to the artistic direction of Infinithéâtre. With its mandate to support, develop, produce,
and broker new work by Québec writers, the company has done a great deal to further the
goals of artists all over the province by giving young creators opportunities unheard of a
decade ago.