A Zoom workshop with the purpose of creating a collectively written poem for our up and coming anthology -Friendly Spike

With Gratitude and Hope 

The Friendly Spike Theatre Band December 2022

       During these challenging times it is difficult for many of us to experience the happiness that the Holiday Season promises. We at The Friendly Spike Theatre Band (FSTB) can, however, express our gratitude to you, our community, for providing us with hope for brighter days ahead. Let’s feel happy about the many great things we accomplished together this past year, 2022. 

       After many months in production, in late January of this year, POEMDEMIC! , our anthology of poems based on the lived-experience of the Covid-19 Pandemic 2020/21, was ready for print.  Published by Secret Handshake Books, the collection is now available at The Secret Handshake Gallery, 360 College Street, Unit 301, on Saturdays between 2 and 4pm.  It is a strong historical document as well as an artistic one, and has been acquired for inclusion in Library and Archives Canada, as well as the Covid-19 collections of City of Toronto Archives and the Archives of Ontario. 

       Sadly, during the past few years our community has lost many important members. The lessons they taught us live on in our thoughts, words and deeds. Advantages and opportunities we benefit from today were made possible by those friends who have gone before us. Spring 2022 gave us the chance to reflect on this in our presentation Remembering Friends.  It was a virtual gathering featuring award-winning song/poet Honey Novick. We were all encouraged to share, grieve, learn and celebrate those who are no longer with us, yet who left a precious and indelible mark. 

       Our Remembering Friends presentation also gleaned many new friends, including Sarah Wells.  After hosting this zoom event Sarah joined the FSTB team and became the Administrator of our Friendly Spike Theatre Plus (FSTP) Facebook page! This, as well as becoming our regular zoom event host!  If you have not already, we encourage you to visit FSTP (https://www.facebook.com/people/Friendly-Spike-Theatre-Plus/100063728301505/ ) and become a ‘friend’ to follow our postings. 

       Readings from POEMDEMIC! was a two-event virtual presentation in autumn of this year, giving voice to the eloquent literary works within our anthology. It was a wonderfully successful endeavour and brought together 39 poets from across Canada and the U.S., to share their work with each other and with appreciative listeners.   

       The Covid-19 Pandemic, unfortunately, is still with us. Like so many other organizations we were motivated to pivot and develop new modes of expression.  Indeed, POEMDEMIC! is an example of this.  We are, therefore looking forward to introducing another literary project in the new year.  This project entitled Quae Nocent Docent  (Latin for ‘what hurts teaches’) will include poems and musings about illness, disability, loss, trauma and courageous survival.  Our aim is that this publication will inspire hope and further strengthen our resilience.  Please let us know if you would like to participate in this project. A call for submissions will be posted in January. 

       In closing, we wish you the best of the season, and thank you for your continued support of The Friendly Spike Theatre Band.  Indeed, we are better together. 

FSTB website: www.friendlyspike.org 

FSTB is a registered charity and donations from those who are able may be made at CanadaHelps: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-friendly-spike-theatre-band/ 

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View our latest publication: “POEMDEMIC!”. Click browser back button to escape.

HOT OFFTHE PRESS!

I’M MAD (I Matter Making A Difference), by Honey Novick, with The Friendly Spike Theatre Band (CreativeVocalizationStudio, 2020) is a delightful art book detailing the history of our theatre within the context of an epic poem!

As well as a tax deductible receipt, every donation of 50.00 or more will receive a copy of this wonderful new publication!’

Donations to our important work is  easy through Canadahelps

Thanks!!

The Friendly Spike Theatre Band (FSTB)

A company dedicated to the pursuit of social justice.

PROUDLY WE’RE YOUR FAN

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