living histories
In collaboration with the BC Black History Awareness Society
Now booking 2026 & 2027
Living histories
Bring the memory of Mifflin Gibbs to your school or public space
Each booking includes a comprehensive Teacher’s Guide
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Morning or afternoon booking with three rotating performances. Approx 90 students in each rotation. A short “question period” available after performances.
Best suited for smaller school populations
$900 + GST and access to Teacher’s Guide
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Mifflin Gibbs spends the day at your school! Four rotating performances in your school gym, per grade and/or # of students. Approx 90-120 students in each rotation.
End of day theatrical “question period”, and provided classroom activity “Viva Voce!”. For larger school populations.
$1,400 + GST (most cost effective!) and access to Teacher’s Guide
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Living Histories: Mifflin Gibbs has been tested and is best experienced in smaller groups of students, to fully immerse themselves in the historical interpretation.
Our professional actors use storytelling and performance to help students imagine living in the history as it happened. Encouraging participation and engagement allows students to empathize with the actor, and retain the heart behind the history.
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Interested in a full day booking but want to dive more in depth over 2 or more days? A classroom residency could be a good fit!
Customized for each school and number of students.
Pricing
From $900 - $5,000* + GST | Local Victoria
From $2,500-$8,000* + GST | BC-Wide
*Fee will be calculated based on time spent in classroom, prep, and travel costs
Available Dates
October - December 2026
April - May, 2027
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Add additional classroom workshop to half or full day program.
Led by Theatre/Teaching Artists Erica Petty and Monica Ogden
Story Theatre employs professional artists who specialize in drama and theatre education and who work in a process that empowers children to create and share their own theatrical work and stories.
Workshop Topics
Improvised Theatre and Games
Storytelling
Stagecraft and Design
Community Building w/ Visual Arts
Working Together as a Team
Anti-Racism / Anti-Bullying* led by Filipina Artist/ Gender Studies Educator Monica Ogden
*All Anti-Racism or Anti-Oppression based workshops are subject to availability and prior consultation between Story Theatre educators and principals/school admin
$75 + GST per 50 minute workshop | Local Victoria
$200--$400* + GST per 50 minute workshop (minimum 4 workshops) | BC-Wide
*Sliding scale per tour destination. Early bird and district-wide booking discounts available.
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Flexible performances to compliment your programming! Whether roaming your space in character, delivering monologues, or a Q&A. Suitable for all age groups.
Available for:
Libraries
Museums
Community Centres
Theatre Spaces
Range between $1200-$1800 + GST depending on programming needs. Fee may be negotiated within your access to funding. Send us an inquiry by emailing monica@storytheatre.ca
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How many performances do my students attend?
Every student will see one 25 minute performance block (based on suggested age groups), participate in one in-classroom activity Viva Voce! and attend one interactive Question Period session at the end of the day.
Each school will be provided a “plan your day” document and will work with the Story Theatre team to build a day that works for everyone.
What is “Question Period”?
At the end of a full day booking, we welcome all classes to come back to the gym and participate in QP with Mr. Gibbs as their elected representative.
Classroom “delegates” chosen by each teacher will share back their learnings from the Viva Voce activity provided. Mr. Gibbs will respond, answer, and engage with students in character about anti-racism.
Students are welcome to keep their completed art, or offer them to Mr. Gibbs to keep.
Do you offer pay-what-you-can or sliding scale?
Yes, Story Theatre offers sliding scale pricing wherever possible within the touring year. We work closely with schools, libraries, theatres, and community spaces to negotiate within every parties needs.
As a non-profit, Story Theatre aims for programming to be free to the public, with costs covered by grants, subsidies, and school districts and/or presenters.
Are there additional resources you recommend to keep learning about Mifflin Gibbs?
Yes! In addition to our Teacher’s Guide and reference list, we recommend visiting the BC Black History Awareness Society website for more learning and resources
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs himself wrote an autobiography!
Shadow and Light : An Autobiography with Reminiscences of the Last and Present Centuryby M.W. Gibbs
Go Do Some Great Thing : The Black Pioneers of British Columbiaby Crawford Kilian, Adam Rudder
BOOK AHEAD
April 27 - May 22, 2026 School Tour
Victoria, Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Prince George
Tour now concluded!
Nov 9 - Dec 4, 2026
School Tour
Book by Aug 3 for Earlybird
25% off - Local Victoria
15% off - BC Wide
“Mifflin Gibbs Day”
November 19, 2026
Book by Aug 3 for Earlybird
Victoria, BC
Public performances
April 25, 2026: Meet Mifflin Gibbs
Maritime Museum of BC
One day only! April 25th is your final opportunity to experience 1858: Black Routes, Black Roots exhibit at the Maritime Museum of BC. To bid farewell to this impactful display in style, we’re welcoming an esteemed guest all the way from 1866!
In partnership with Story Theatre and BC Black History Awareness Society, we invite you to step back in time and meet Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, the first Black person to hold elected office in British Columbia.
Through the art of historical interpretation, this “Living History” performance brings the 19th century to life. Mr. Gibbs, who served as a Victoria City Councillor for James Bay, returns to answer questions from his “constituents” and share his pivotal role in shaping Canada.
Co-created by Director Adonis Critter King and Producer Monica Ogden, this program bridges the gap between the past and the contemporary, offering audiences of all ages a chance to learn from our history to build better futures.
Join us for this special closing event:
When: April 25, 2026, 11:00am – 3:00pm with break from 11:45am-12:45pm
Admission to the museum this day will be “Pay what you can!”
Meet the team
Marlee Michael Pearl - Historical Interpreter of Mifflin Gibbs
Adonis Critter King - Director, Writer/Co-Creator
Yvonne Kushemererwa - Tour Manager
Monica Ogden - Artistic Producer of Living Histories Program, Co-Creator
Fran Morrison - BCBHAS History Advisor
Erica Petty - Set & Props Design
Santiago Domínguez-Cortes - Historical Consultant
Sarah Shepherd - Costume Design
Kemi Craig - Engagement Leader at BC Black History Awareness Society
Jamila Douhaibi - Executive Director at BC Black History Awareness Society
Produced by Story Theatre in partnership with BC Black History Awareness Society 💐
☀️ Adonis C. King - Writer, Director & Co-Creator
☀️ Monica Ogden - Artistic Producer of Living Histories Program, Co-Creator & Historical Interpretation Training/Teacher’s Guide
☀️ Marlee Michael Pearl - Historical Interpreter of Mifflin Wistar Gibbs
☀️ Yvonne Kushe - Tour Manager
☀️ Sarah Shepherd - Costume Design
☀️ Erica Petty - Set & Projection Design
☀️ Fran Morrison - Historical Advisor & Board Member of BCBHAS
☀️ Santiago Dominguez-Cortes - Historical Consultant
☀️ Jamila Douhaibi - Executive Director of BC Black History Awareness Society
☀️ Kemi Craig - Engagement Leader of BCBHAS & Manager of the Black and Here Centre
Graciously supported by Theatre SKAM. Made possible with generous support from the BC Arts Council, The Province of British Columbia via Community Gaming, the Capital Regional District Arts and Culture, the Victoria Foundation, and the Government of Canada via the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program through Canadian Heritage (MARP).
expressions of interest
Performer roster
Living Histories Mifflin Wistar Gibbs
virtual submissions open
Story Theatre welcomes ongoing virtual audition submissions for performers interested in joining the roster to portray Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, and future historic characters, as part of the Living Histories program. Expressions of interest for 2027 are open.