Prepare to laugh and cry at a play that explores how we define compassion. ‘Whose Life Is It Anyway?’ will be playing at The Cultch starting this Tuesday March 11th, running until Saturday March 22nd.

Whose Life Is It Anyway? may leave you examining your own perspective on the right-to-die issue, currently under public scrutiny.

Written by award winning playwright Brian Clark, the play is set in a hospital room with the action revolving around main character Ken Harrison. Ken, a brilliant sculptor was in a car accident and is now paralyzed from the neck down. Determined to be allowed to die, Ken’s will comes up against an equally strong medical establishment determined to do its job by keeping him alive.

James Sanders, founder of Realwheels, was first inspired by the play as a young 21 year old with quadriplegia, new to the world of disability.  Although it might seem counter-intuitive, this play was a gift that inspired him to carry on.  “Today this play highlights for me the reality of everyone’s future.” For James, the play isn’t about the value of a life lived with disability, but rather, he emphasizes, about “an individual’s right to choose.”

Rena Cohen, Managing Director explains, “James Sanders possesses a vision for the company that sets Realwheels apart.  We occupy a truly unique niche engaged with both the professional theatre community, and the disability community.” With Whose Life is it Anyway?, we’re providing a theatrical platform for discussion around right-to-die issues. The play brings wit, intelligence, and compassion to the discussion, and it’s also tremendously entertaining!”

Rena is proud to be associated with the value that Realwheels expresses through production activity, “I see the impact that we have on audiences and I also see the impact that we have on the community of people with disabilities. In addition to professional productions such as Whose Life is it Anyway?, Realwheels also provides experiences in the performing arts to the disability community, a community typically underserved when it comes to theatre. Our work fills me with tremendous pride and love and makes me feel very privileged to be with this company.”

To learn more about the thoughts of this writer on the play and sitting in during the rehearsals of Whose Life Is It Anyway?, click here to read a post written on Being Emme, a site known for rave theatrical reviews.

James Sanders and Noelle Sediego (Assistant to Pam Johnson, Set & Prop Design) sit through a table read at rehearsals, as photographed by Rena Cohen.

Whose Life Is It Anyway? will be playing at The Cultch from March 11th to 22nd, nightly at 8pm.  Purchase your tickets for March 13th or 18th and enjoy a lively post show Q & A session. Realwheels is offering Sign Language Interpretation provided by A.S.L. Interpreting Inc., and a Described Performance by VocalEye for those with vision loss offered at the matinee on Sunday, March 16th at 2pm.  Tickets are available now from The Cultch starting at $18 or call 604-251-1363.

Connect with Realwheels on Facebook and Twitter to get involved in the conversation around #WhoseLife and be sure to leave your comments on the show.

Enjoy the Performance!  We look forward to your thoughts on it!