GREAT CANADIAN THEATRE COMPANY
A Study Guide
Written by
Directed by
HANNAH MOSCOVITCH
ERIC COATES
Following an ill-fated operation in the most volatile region
of Afghanistan, four Canadian soldiers recount different
versions of the mission. Their stories reveal how the human
equation – personal relationships and sexual tensions – can
affect the outcome. Step into the ravaged psyche of the
contemporary soldier in uncompromising terms with this
dramatic story of modern warfare. Hannah Moscovitch, the
award-winning playwright of East of Berlin returns to
GCTC.
Welcome to the Great Canadian
Theatre Company!
Special thank you to
GCTC’s Student Matinée
Partners
GCTC’s Education Program
Student Matineé
Wed. Feb. 13, 12:00pm Noon
Study Guide researched and written
by Jim McNabb
And
The Harry P. Ward Foundation
and The Crabtree Foundation
Page 1
AMELIA: THE GIRL WHO WANTS TO FLY
THE PLAY
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
STUDY GUIDE Contents
The Play …………………………1-5
Plot, Themes …………… 2
Playwright, Director.. 3
Designs …………………….. 4
Rehearsals………………… 5
The Script ……………… 6 - 10
An Excerpt …………. 6– 8
Terms …………………. 9, 10
Background Material . 11-17
Afghanistan ………….. 11
Canada’s Engagement
….………………… 12 – 14
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
Peacekeeping …………. 15
PTSD ………………………. 16
Women and Gays in
Combat Roles …………. 17
Additional Resources ….. 18
Activities ………………… 19, 20
What’s On in the Lorraine
Fritzi Yale Gallery ….. 21
Theatre Etiquette ………. 22
Playwright Hannah Moscovitch
says:
“I wrote This is War because of the
confluence of three events in the
spring of 2008. 1) I read an editorial
in The Globe and Mail that asked why
Canadian playwrights were only
writing about the American war in
Iraq, and were not writing about our
war in Afghanistan. 2) The Banff
Centre was calling for play proposals
to celebrate their seventy-fifth
anniversary. 3) I was meeting with
military consultants and war
journalists and talking with them
about the experiences of our troops
in Panjwaii for a CBC radio show I was
working on. And as I was talking to
soldiers and journalists, I was
becoming increasingly preoccupied
with the fact that we were at war,
and that our society would soon count
a lot of very young veterans who
fought a modern coalition war in a
desert as part of its numbers. I was
also interested in the fact that
journalists and war reportage tended
to represent killing, in war, as either
heroism or atrocity. Soldiers, on the
other hand, spoke about killing as an
adrenalized split-second decision. And
that blind instinctive second in which
killing did or did not occur was, it
seemed to me, the essence of war.“
The Creative Team
Writer: Hannah Moscovitch
Director: Eric Coates
Set and Costume Design:
Brian Smith
Lighting Design: Jock Munro
Sound Design: Steven Lafond
Fight Choreographer:
John Koensgen
Assistant Director:
Geoff McBride
Stage Manager:
Chantal Hayman
Apprentice Stage Manager:
Katherine Dermott
The Performers
Sarah Finn: Master Corporal
Tanya Young
Brad Long: Sergeant Chris
Anders
Drew Moore: Private Jonny
Henderson
John Ng: Sergeant Stephen
Hughes
THIS IS WAR
Upcoming Plays

Mar. 18 – Apr. 6, 2014

June 3 - 23, 2014
Dancing with Rage
The Burden of SelfAwareness
U
Visit us at
www.gctc.ca
UH
Page 2
THE PLAY
Plot:
A group of soldiers have returned from their mission in Afghanistan and are being
questioned by an unseen/unheard member of the media about an unfortunate incident.
As they gradually open up, they reveal how seemingly inconsequential actions on the
night before and the day of the incident led to actions that may or may not have been
the best choices. Should protocol or compassion have ruled? Did emotional conflicts
and alliances play a part in decision making? Lives were at stake, both of Afghan’s and
Canadian’s, and the choices made then have to be lived with now. Each combatant has
scars that will not be easily lost.
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
Themes and Issues:
Some of the issues dealt with are: morality and its effects on decision making, deception,
compassion, the need for connection while in stressful situations, the dynamics of mixing
genders in combat missions, and dealing with the after effects of battle.
Structure:
As each soldier is interviewed speaking to someone in the media, they try to justify their
actions or hide certain parts of the truth. Flashbacks in their minds show us the events as
they unfolded and some of these memories are shared with the interviewer, while others
are not. This spiral of interviews and memories finally lead us to revelation of the actual
catastrophic incident and why so many lives were changed or lost
THIS IS WAR
Characters:
Sergeant Chris Anders – the medic in camp, who happens to be gay; he tries to be
caring and understanding with the soldiers who are in traumatic situations.
Private Jonny Henderson – a naïve 20-yr. old from Alberta, a ‘real guy guy’ whose
masculinity masks his romanticism. He falls heavily for the woman in camp.
Sergeant Stephen Hughes – the rather volatile commander of the Forward Operating
Base who, like the others, is in need of human connections.
Master Corporal Tanya Young – a young woman in a combat role; has had a tough
upbringing and knows how to handle herself in a man’s world, but has difficulty
controlling her feelings and instincts.
Page 3
WHO HELPED PUT THIS SHOW TOGETHER
THE PLAY
Playwright Hannah Moscovitch
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
Hannah is an Ottawa native whose parents helped found the
Great Canadian Theatre Company. She is a graduate of the
National Theatre School of Canada and attended the University
of Toronto. Hannah is one of Canada’s most in-demand
playwrights, her work having been produced across Canada and
the USA, including at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto where she
is currently playwright-in-residence.
Hannah’s work has won multiple Dora [Toronto Theatre] Awards and she’s been
nominated for many Literary Awards including the Governor General’s Literary
Award. She has recently been commissioned by the NAC to adapt Anne-Marie
MacDonald’s award-winning novel Fall on Your Knees. If you like This Is War try to
read some of her other works: Essay, The Russian Play, The Mill Part II: The Huron
Bride, The Children’s Republic, Little One, East of Berlin and In This World (for
young audiences). Moscovitch was a featured contributor to the award-winning
radio drama Afghanada which interviewed hundreds of soldiers on the frontline of
the Afghan War.
Read articles on this young and inspirational theatre artist in the August, 2011 issue of
Now Magazine: http://www.nowtoronto.com/stage/story.cfm?content=182173 and in a
2012 article by Amanda Sage at http://kickasscanadians.ca/hannah-moscovitch .
Director Eric Coates
THIS IS WAR
Eric Coates joined GCTC as Artistic Director in
October 2012 and immediately went to work
programming the 2013-2014 season. Coates is not
only directing This Is War this season, he is also
playing the central character in The Burden
of Self Awareness in June. Coates “… wanted to program a season by and about
Canadians – with a particular focus on Ottawa artists. Four of the scripts are by
women – two of whom grew up here. GCTC is committed to its community.” (The
entire team working on This Is War including the playwright is composed of
artists native to Ottawa.) Coates comes to GCTC after a ten-year stint as Artistic
Director at the Blythe Festival in Huron County, Ontario. This festival whose
mandate is to produce exclusively new Canadian plays is perhaps the most
important company to promote playwriting in Canada. Coates says he is
extremely proud of the festival's new play development record during his own
time as artistic director. There were 28 world premieres, 12 scripts published and
two finalists for the Governor General's Award. Eric Coates’ directing credits in
Blyth include Dear Johnny Deere, Vimy, Against the Grain, The Ballad of
Stompin’ Tom, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, and The Drawer Boy. He has also
directed for Thousand Islands Playhouse and Drayton Entertainment. As an actor,
Eric spent four seasons with the Stratford Festival and has performed in regional
theatres in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and New York. He has also
appeared in several Canadian television series, television movies and the feature
films.
Page 4
DESIGNS
Costume Sketches
and Set Model
The
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
Master Corporal Tanya Young
Private Jonny Henderson
The
Claudia
Model of the Set Design
THIS IS WAR
Brian Smith
Set and Costume Designer
Sergeant Stephen Hughes
Sergeant Chris Anders
Page 5
REHEARSALS
GCTC
Rehearsal Pictures
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
The Company gathers for the first reading of the script: Brad Long (L),
‘Anders’; Sarah Finn, ‘Young’, John Ng, ‘Hughes’; Drew Moore, ‘Henderson’; Eric Coates, director; Geoff McBride, Ass’t Dir.; Jock Munro, Lighting Designer; (front) Apprentice Stage Manager Katherine Dermott.
John Ng (Sgt. Hughes)
John Ng (Sgt. Hughes), Sarah
Finn (Mcpl. Young)
THIS IS WAR
Drew Moore (Pvt. Henderson), Sarah
Finn (Mcpl. Young)
Sarah Finn (Mcpl. Young). Brad
Long (Sgt. Anders)
Page 6
THE SCRIPT
Page 1 of 3
Excerpt from the Script
It’s night, or dusk, and we’re somewhere outside at camp, some dark corner. TANYA is
holding a dead cigarette butt in her hand. JONNY is nearby.
TANYA: So? So buddy? Hell of a first day for you.
JONNY: (JONNY spits.) Yuh.
JONNY: (JONNY spits.) Ran up. Got the pressure dressing on him. He was…yelling…
TANYA: (Beat.) You okay?
JONNY: Just—I like can’t feel my…anything: is that normal?
TANYA: You’ll come out of that. Then you’ll feel really bad. (TANYA flicks her cigarette
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
butt away. Then she sticks a couple of fingers in her mouth, runs them along her gums,
while she says:) I just smoked a pack of smokes I think my gums are bleeding.
JONNY: You came to like…find me, to see if I’m okay?
TANYA: Yeah. (Beat.) Man it’s dark out here. (Beat.) If we’re gonna stand here buddy
you can distract me at least.
JONNY: (sexual, grinning) How? You mean like…sexy? … (clicks at her)…
TANYA: (formal, a warning) Private?
JONNY: Okay: Sorry, I’m just kidding. Sergeant flipped out. He punched the dirt. Did
you see that?
TANYA: (Shrugs.) He gets emotional about his guys.
JONNY: You…? Like the Sarge?
THIS IS WAR
TANYA: (shrugs) I don’t know, sure: I did a tour with him he’s…like family, like a …older
brother—actually he’s kinda like my Dad.
JONNY: Yeah?
TANYA: Yeah my Dad can talk you into doing things like: lending him your boyfriend’s car
that you happen to have the keys to, so he can go crash it into a parked car in
Mississauga.
JONNY: Car was totaled?
TANYA: That boyfriend was so good about it too—didn’t freak out. Just said, “shit happens.”
GCTC
Page 7
THE SCRIPT
Page 2 of 3
JONNY: Nice guy?
TANYA: Nice guy.
JONNY: I’m that guy: nice guy.
TANYA: Yeah?
JONNY: There was this girl in high school—her name was Sarah Jean Greene—I did
stuff like that for her, like when her cat ran away I put up posters for it, for her…cat,
and I was always throwing myself off stuff to impress her—
TANYA: Like what?
JONNY: I jumped off a portable at school and broke my arm. ( They laugh.) Yeah it
sucked.
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
TANYA: So?
JONNY: So?
TANYA: What happened to her?
JONNY: She’s still in Red Deer? Oh we’re not dating now or anything: I’m…single—?
TANYA: Yeah but what happened, you uh…?
JONNY: No, no. She wrote on my cast though: “Get better hugs Sarah Jean”. But no I
didn’t get lucky. She was on the virginity committee at school actually, that should have
uh…clued me in. But I respected that. I could respect that. I mean I’m not a virgin!
I’m…not a virgin: my first time was on a spin-the-bottle. (JONNY spits.) Some girl in
from Calgary, someone’s cousin, she was nineteen, I was fifteen, she kept saying, “you’re
so cute, you’re so cute, Jonny, you’re so cute.” She had on a t-shirt with the word cute on
it: it was up against my face the whole time I couldn’t even see what was happening.
THIS IS WAR
TANYA: (Beat.) You lost your virginity playing spin-the- bottle.
JONNY: Yeah. (JONNY spits.)
TANYA: Wow.
JONNY: Yeah.
TANYA: So—wow—the bottle’s going around and you’re hoping it’s not the fat girl on the
field hockey team.
Page 8
THE SCRIPT
Page 3 of 3
JONNY: (laughing) Yeah!
TANYA: I was on the field hockey team.
JONNY: Yeah?
TANYA: Goalie.
JONNY: Hot.
TANYA: Opposite of hot.
JONNY: Hot.
TANYA: I wore a metal bra that was kind of hot.
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
JONNY kisses TANYA. After a moment TANYA pulls back. JONNY immediately says:
JONNY: Yeah I’m sorry: sorry I…just kissed you? I don’t know why I just did that.
Yeah—I don’t know why I did that—I mean I have a thing for you but that was weird—
wrong—I’m sorry.
TANYA: It’s okay.
JONNY: (Beat.) Are you gonna charge me?
TANYA: No.
JONNY: (Beat.) Can I do it again?
TANYA: No.
JONNY: (Beat.) (charming) But…can I do it again? (Beat, then low, sincere:) I want to
so…bad, like...
THIS IS WAR
TANYA looks at him. When – and only when – JONNY gets a physical cue from TANYA,
JONNY kisses her. They kiss. Sexy. Sexy because JONNY is so infatuated. TANYA
breaks it off.
“She was on the virginity committee at school actually”
Page 9
THE SCRIPT
Terms in the Script
Page 1 of 2
Coalition Forces – NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) alongside
the Afghan National Army. The ISAF is made up of a militia from a number of
countries including Canada, USA, UK, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany and
others.
Panjwaii – one of the most volatile districts in Kandahar Province, which is in the
south western part of Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan. It is often considered
the spiritual home of the Taliban and is populated by approximately 77 thousand
people, mostly poorly educated peasants. Canadian forces were stationed here
alongside the Afghan National Army during 2007 and 2008 trying to secure the region
against the Taliban.
American Surge – In late 2009, President Obama announced a surge in American
troops to 30,000 in order to turn the tide and bring an end to Taliban hostilities. This
increase in power was rumoured earlier in 2008.
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
Pashtu - also known as Afghani is the native language of the Pashtun people of SouthCentral Asia Pashtu is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan, the other being
Dari. Some words learned by Canadian soldiers early in their deploy would be: “Stop”
= “darawem”; “hello” = “as salam aleikum”; “friend” = “dost” or “malagräy”; “goat” =
“biza”; “no” = “na”; “yes” = “aw”, “thank you” = “tashakor”; “go back” = “maktab ta
wahab”.
THIS IS WAR
Taliban - an Islamic fundamentalist political movement in Afghanistan . It spread
from Pakistan into Afghanistan and formed a government from September 1996 until
December 2001, with Kandahar as the capital. While in power, it enforced its strict
interpretation of Sharia law, causing leading Muslims to be highly critical of the
Taliban's interpretations of Islamic law. The Taliban were condemned internationally
for their brutal treatment of women. The majority of the Taliban are made up of
Pashtun tribesmen. The Taliban and their allies committed massacres against Afghan
civilians, denied UN food supplies to 160,000 starving civilians and conducted a policy
of scorched earth, burning vast areas of fertile land and destroying tens of thousands of
homes during their rule from 1996 to 2001. After the attacks of September 11, 2001,
the Taliban were overthrown by the American-led invasion of Afghanistan. Later it
regrouped as an insurgency movement to fight the American-backed Karzai
administration and the ISAF. The Taliban have been accused of using terrorism as a
specific tactic to further their ideological and political goals.
Terp – slang for interpreter.
IV - Intravenous therapy is the delivery of liquid substances directly into a vein used to
correct electrolyte imbalances, to deliver medications or blood transfusion or as fluid
replacement to correct dehydration. The intravenous route is the fastest way to deliver
fluids and medications throughout the body.
KAF – Kandahar International Airport or Kandahar Air Field, the location of the
largest military base in the country including hospital facilities.
THE SCRIPT
Page 2 of 2
Page 10
IED - An improvised explosive device is a homemade bomb constructed and used in
ways other than in conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional
military explosives, such as an artillery round, attached to a detonating mechanism.
Roadside bombs and explosives attached to suicide bombers are a common use of
IEDs. They are used in Afghanistan by insurgent groups and have caused over 66% of
the Coalition casualties.
Peacekeeping - refers to activities that tend to create conditions that favor lasting
peace. Usually sponsored by the United Nations at the international level,
peacekeepers monitor and observe peace processes in post-conflict areas, and may
assist ex-combatants in implementing peace agreement commitments that they have
undertaken. Such assistance might include confidence-building measures, powersharing arrangements, electoral support, strengthening the rule of law, and economic
and social development.
Joint Op – a military operation in which the Canadian forces coordinate with the
Afghanistan National Army (ANA).
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
Geneva Convention – treaties and protocols that establish the standards of
international law for the humanitarian treatment of war, negotiated following the
Second World War. The Geneva Conventions defined the basic wartime rights of
prisoners (civil and military), established protections for the wounded, and established
protections for the civilians in and around a war-zone.
Nine-liner – 9 Line MEDEVAC Request, a radio code used to ask for evacuation of a
patient, usually by helicopter, which includes location, urgency, injuries, treatment
already begun, nationality and status.
Blackhawk – a four-bladed, twin-engine utility helicopter used for troop transport,
electronic warfare and aeromedical evacuation.
Bunker – an underground defensive military fortification designed to protect people
or valued materials from falling bombs or other attacks.
Tac vest – an armoured garment worn on the torso to protect against small arms fire
and knife attacks and which is also designed to carry gear and ammunition in an
assortment of pockets.
THIS IS WAR
DUI – Driving under the influence; drunk driving.
Chlamydia – a bacterium causing the most common sexually transmitted infection in
humans worldwide. Chlamydia infection can be effectively cured with antibiotics.
FOB – Forward Operating Base: a secure but very basic installation to accommodate
troops in a war zone.
Comms – Communications group
Page 11
BACKGROUND
Afghanistan
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a country in
Central Asia bordering on Pakistan, Iran and several other
states, with a population of approximately 30 million. It
has an area approximately the size of Saskatchewan.
From ancient times, Afghanistan has been an important
crossroads for trade between China, India and Persia (now Iran), and hence
the Middle East and Mediterranean via the Silk Road. It has been home to
various peoples over the centuries and seen many military campaigns
including those of Alexander the Great
from Greece, the Arab Muslims,
Genghis Khan from Mongolia and
modern Western forces. The
influences of the Persian Empires and
of the Muslim religion are seen most
fully in today’s Afghanistan. Modern
history began in the 18th century with
the rise of the Pashtun people whose
native land was Persia. When India
was a British colony (mid 19th century to mid 20th century), Afghanistan fell
under British influence in an attempt to modernize it. After Britain left
India in 1947, a struggle began between the United States and the USSR for
influence. This resulted in a 1979 war between Soviet forces and the USbacked mujahideen forces which left USSR occupying the land. This was
followed by a 1990 civil war, the rise and fall of the extremist Taliban
government and then the 2001 to present war. In December 2001, the
United Nations Security Council authorized the creation of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to help maintain security in
Afghanistan and assist the Karzai administration.
THIS IS WAR
Three decades of war made Afghanistan one of the world's most
dangerous countries. While the international community is rebuilding wartorn Afghanistan, terrorist groups are actively involved in a nationwide
Taliban-led insurgency, which includes hundreds of assassinations and
suicide attacks. According to the United Nations, the insurgents were
responsible for 80% of civilian casualties in 2011 and 2012. It suffers from
several challenges, including being world's most corrupt country and a major
source of opium, and is the World’s largest source of refugees.
Afghanistan is a mountainous country
with fertile plains in the north and
southwest. Although it has numerous
rivers and reservoirs, large parts of the
country are dry and rely on irrigation
systems for agriculture. It has a relatively
harsh climate with very cold winters and
hot summers. It has very rich untapped
mineral resources and petroleum deposits.
BACKGROUND
GCTC
Page 12
Page 1 of 3
Canada's Engagement in the Afghanistan War
Canada's role in the Afghanistan conflict began in late 2001. Canada secretly sent its
Canada's role in the Afghanistan
first group of soldiers from Joint Task Force 2 in October
2001. The first official
conflict
contingents of regular Canadian troops arrived in Afghanistan in January–February
2002. Canada took on a larger role as part of NATO’s International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) starting in 2006 after the Canadian troops were redeployed to Kandahar
province in the south of the country. There were 2,500 Canadian Forces (CF)
personnel in Afghanistan in 2006, of which 1,200 were the combat battle group.
Canada withdrew the bulk of its troops from Afghanistan in 2011, with the Infantry
Battle Group withdrawn by the end of July, and all Canadian Forces personnel and
equipment withdrawn from Kandahar by the end of December 2011. Approximately
950 newly posted specialized Canadian Forces personnel were posted to the NATO
Training Mission-Afghanistan to continue the training of the Afghan National Army and
Afghan National Police. This mission took place mostly around the capital, Kabul.
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
Background: On September 11, 2001, terrorists
attacked the World Trade Buildings in New York
and the Pentagon in Washington with great loss
of life. The terrorist organization behind these
attacks was identified as al-Qaeda and their
backers the Taliban centred in such countries
as Iraq and Afghanistan. NATO sent in the ISAF
with forces from the USA, Canada and other
countries aimed at identifying and neutralizing
al-Qaeda members in Afghanistan, as well as
toppling the Taliban regime, which was claimed
to be supporting international terrorism.
Canada's reasons for participating in the mission were as follows: 1. Defend Canada's
national interests; 2. Ensure Canadian leadership in world affairs; and 3. Help
Afghanistan rebuild. Canada had learned from its peacekeeping missions in Croatia
and Somalia that a more active combat role was necessary, meaning that NATO was
running the mission rather than the UN.
THIS IS WAR
More detailed operations: Regular forces arrived in Kandahar during January–February
2002. In March 2002, members of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI)
fought alongside U.S. Army units during Operation Anaconda in the Shah-i-Kot Valley.
Canadian forces also undertook Operation Harpoon in the same region. Other forces
in the country provided garrison and security troops. In August 2003, the Canadian
Forces moved to the northern city of Kabul where it became the commanding nation
of the newly formed ISAF. Canada named this Operation Athena and a 1,900-strong
Canadian task force provided assistance to civilian infrastructure such as well-digging
and repair of local buildings. In March 2004, Canada committed $250 million in aid to
Afghanistan, and $5 million to support the 2004 Afghan election. In February 2005,
Canada doubled the number of troops in Afghanistan from 600 troops in Kabul to
1200. In spring 2005 it was announced that the Canadian Forces would move back to
the volatile Kandahar Province as the U.S. forces handed command to the Canadians
in the region. Operation Athena ended in December 2005 with the fulfillment of the
stated aim of "rebuilding the democratic process" in Afghanistan.
Operation Archer began in February 2006 and was part of the American military
command. By the spring of 2006, Canada had a major role in southern Afghanistan,
with Task Force Afghanistan being a battle group of 2,300 soldiers based at Kandahar.
Page 13
BACKGROUND
Page 2 of 3
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
Canada also commanded the Multi-National Brigade for Command South, a main
military force in the region. In May 2006, the Canadian government extended
Canadian military commitments to Afghanistan by two years, replacing earlier plans
to withdraw soldiers in 2006. At this time, the Taliban were massing and began a
major offensive, and the Canadians were caught in the middle. Operation Mountain
Thrust began in the summer in 2006. Canadians
of the 1 PPCLI Battle Group were one of the
leading combatants and the first ones fighting
when the Battle of Panjwaii took place. Daily
firefights, artillery bombardments, and allied
airstrikes turned the tides of the battle in
favour of the Canadians, but soon after,
Taliban fighters flooded back into the Panjwaii
District in numbers estimated to be 1,500 to
2,000 fighters. Canadians launched Operation
Medusa in September in an attempt to clear
the areas of Taliban fighters from Panjwaii once and for all. This led to the second,
and most fierce Battle of Panjwaii in which daily gun-battles, ambushes, and mortar
and rocket attacks were targeting the Canadian troops. The Taliban were eventually
surrounded by the Canadian Forces and after weeks of fighting, the Taliban were
cleared from the Panjwaii area and Canadian reconstruction efforts in the area began.
In September 2006, Canada committed
tanks and an additional 200 to 500 troops
from the Strathcona Regiment which is
based in Edmonton. In December 2006,
the Canadians launched Operation Falcon
Summit into Zhari District, north of
Panjwaii. The Canadians gained control of
several key villages and towns that were
former Taliban strongholds and cleared
out pockets of Taliban resistance. The
operation concluded with plans to build a
new road linking Panjwaii with Kandahar's
Highway 1 that runs east-west through Zhari. The focus then became working
intimately with the Afghan army, police and civil administration to hold onto cleared
areas rather than subsequently lose them to returning Taliban, as had previously
occurred throughout the South and East.
THIS IS WAR
In March, 2008, the Canadian government voted to extend the military mission past
February 2009 into 2011. The extension of almost another three years was to have a
focus on reconstruction and training of Afghan troops, and set a firm pullout date,
calling for Canadian troops to leave Afghanistan by December 2011. In December,
2009 U.S. president Obama announced a major surge in American involvement of
approximately 30,000 troops, the bulk of which would be stationed in the Kandahar
region. By late June 2010 control of much of Kandahar Province was transferred to
the United States 101st Airborne Division. Canadian troops began to withdraw from
Afghanistan and all Canadian Forces personnel and equipment were out of Kandahar
by the end of December 2011.
Figures released by Canadian Department of National Defense in January 2011
show that a total of 158 Canadian Forces personnel have been killed in the war since
2002 and the total number of Canadian soldiers injured and wounded in more than
nine years of war reached 1,859 by the end of December 2010.
BACKGROUND
GCTC
Page 14
Page 3 of 3
As mentioned earlier, approximately 650 Canadian Forces personnel still remain in
Afghanistan and are involved in the training of the Afghan National Army and the
Afghan National Police. By March 2014 the withdrawal from Afghanistan should be fully
complete.
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
When all NATO troops are withdrawn this year, Afghanistan will still face huge challenges: the expanding cultivation of opium poppies and the accompanying corrupttion of drug lords and their support for militants could
threaten the fragile government in Kabul. It’s estimated
that Afghanistan is responsible for 90% of the world’s
heroin. Despite the dangers, the country is in much
Poppy farmer
better shape than twelve years ago. Canada is proud of
the effects of its investment of aid and personnel in bringing about social change in
Afghanistan. Within five years, more than six thousand schools have been rebuilt and
eight million children are now in school, 2.6 million of them girls. (During the Taliban
era, fewer than a million children were in school, almost none of them girls.) Roads
and bridges have been repaired, new roads have been built, and new wells have been
dug. Canada has helped clear about one third of the estimated 10 to 15 million
landmines in Afghanistan. Access to health clinics is vastly better than it was five years
ago, the infant mortality rate has been halved in recent years and life expectancy is
now more than 60 years, compared to 40 a few years ago. Programs in rural
transportation, safe drinking water, irrigation, and schools are among the twenty
thousand projects that are now underway. More than sixteen thousand locally elected
community development councils have been created, and in free elections women now
occupy a third of Afghanistan’s parliament. Almost every Afghan has access to mass
media in the form of television, numerous newspapers and the internet.
Canadian soldier training Afghan troops
Dams and Irrigation Canals
THIS IS WAR
Sundown Ceremony at Kandahar Air Field
Girls get a chance for education
Page 15
BACKGROUND
UN Peacekeeping
As a result of the Suez Crisis in 1956, Lester B. Pearson of Canada
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his efforts in creating a
mandate for a United Nations Peacekeeping Force. Pearson, who would
later become Canada’s 19th Prime Minister is considered the father of
the modern concept of peacekeeping. Canada’s role in the development
of and participation in peacekeeping during the 20th century led to the
establishment of Canada as a prominent world power. Canada's commitment to multilateralism has been closely related to peacekeeping efforts. This, therefore, gave Canada
credibility and established it as a nation fighting for the common good of all the world’s nations
and not just their allies. Since 1995, however, Canadian direct participation in United Nations
peacekeeping efforts has greatly declined. That number decreased largely because Canada
began to direct its participation to military operations through NATO, rather than directly to the
UN. Hence, the title The Afghanistan War rather than peacekeeping operations in
Afghanistan.
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
The international community usually looks to the UN Security Council to authorize
peacekeeping operations in trouble spots around the world. Peacekeepers monitor and
observe peace processes in post-conflict areas and assist former combatants in implementing
the peace agreements they may have signed. Such assistance comes in many forms,
including confidence-building measures, arrangements for the sharing of power, support in
holding democratic elections, strengthening the rule of law, and economic and social
development. Accordingly, UN peacekeepers can include soldiers, police officers, and civilian
personnel.
Canada has played a key role in peacekeeping operations in many of the world’s hot
spots including Cyprus, Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Croatia, Kosovo, Eritrea and Sudan.
THIS IS WAR
Canadian peacekeeping mission in Cypress,
which effectively ended the war between
Turkey and Greece
Canadian army medics in Ethiopia
In Rwanda, where over 800,000 people were
killed in a genocide, a Canadian peacekeeper
escorts some children safely to school.
Peacekeepers in Sarajevo, Bosnia
Page 16
BACKGROUND
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may develop after a
person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as serious injury, sexual assault or
the threat of death. A person might be identified as experiencing PTSD when a group of
symptoms such as disturbing recurring flashbacks, avoidance or numbing of memories of the
event, and high levels of anxiety continue for more than a month after the traumatic event.
Most people who experience a traumatizing event will not develop PTSD. Women tend to
develop PTSD more often than men while children are less likely to experience PTSD after
trauma than adults, especially if they are under ten years of age. War veterans are commonly
at risk to PTSD.
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
Typically the individual with PTSD tries to avoid all thoughts, emotions and discussion of
the traumatizing event and may experience amnesia for it. However, the event is often
relived by the individual through flashbacks and nightmares. The symptoms are considered
acute if lasting less than three months, and chronic if persisting three months or more.
Delayed onset if the symptoms may occur after six months, or even some years later.
Persons at risk include combat military personnel, victims of natural disasters, concentration
camp survivors and victims of violent crime. Individuals often also experience "survivor’s
guilt" for remaining alive while others died. Causes of the symptoms of PTSD are
experiencing an event involving death, serious injury or threat to oneself or others when the
individual felt intense fear, horror, or powerlessness. Persons who are employed in
occupations which expose them to violence (such as soldiers) or disasters (such as
emergency service workers) are also at risk. Children or adults may develop PTSD
symptoms by experiencing bullying, mobbing or prolonged family abuse.
Alcohol abuse and drug abuse commonly co-occur with PTSD. Resolving these problems
can bring about a marked improvement in an individual's mental health status and anxiety
levels. People with PTSD oftentimes also suffer from depression or other mental disorders.
Anyone with PTSD is at a high risk for suicide. PTSD is highly treatable with a combination
of drug therapy and psychotherapy.
THIS IS WAR
During World War II, many American soldiers were hospitalized for mental disturbances; in
fact, after thirty-five days of uninterrupted combat, 98% of them showed psychiatric
disturbances in varying degrees. Although PTSD-like symptoms have also been recognized
in combat veterans of many military conflicts since then, the modern understanding of PTSD
dates from the 1970s, largely as a result of the problems that were still being experienced by
US military veterans of the war in Vietnam. Previous diagnoses now considered historical
equivalents of PTSD include “stress syndrome”, “shell shock”, or “battle fatigue”. Lady
Percy’s speech in William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1 (act 2, scene 3, lines 40–62) in
which she describes the behaviour of her husband recently returned from war, represents the
first accurate description of the symptoms of PTSD.
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BACKGROUND
Women and Gays in the Canadian Forces
In This Is War, a woman and an openly gay male are part of the front line combat
unit. Their presence is a non-issue in this play although it does bring about some of the
conflict in the narrative. But gays and women were not always part of the Canadian
military. How did this come about and is it working?
“The Canadian Forces pride themselves on being an organization that doesn't
discriminate on the basis of gender, sexuality or race.” This is now a formal position with
Canada’s military which has an open-door policy. They want recruits in uniform and
increasingly they want them on the front lines, and that is something worth applauding,
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
according to a leading advocate for the LGBTQ community.
"In comparison with what we have seen in the United States with the challenges
around gays and lesbians and trans people serving in the military, it certainly is impressive
that Canada has taken the posture it has with its military," Cherie MacLeod, executive
director of PFLAG Canada, says. "It says a lot about the strength and courage that Canada
has in creating more inclusion in our society."
In 1992, the Canadian military repealed a law, which made homosexuality a violation
punishable by release from the Canadian Forces. Since then the organization has been
steadily rolling out a list of policies aimed at eradicating discrimination and giving LGBTQ
soldiers the same rights as everyone else wearing the uniform.
Canadian women have played an important role in our country’s military efforts over
the years, overcoming many barriers to serve in uniform as nurses and in an expanding
variety of other roles. This service continues today, with females now serving alongside
their male counterparts in all Canadian Forces trades. More than 2,800 Canadian Nursing
Sisters served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War, often
close to the front lines of Europe and within range of enemy attack. Canadian women
were not permitted to serve in other military roles during the First World War. Second
World War nursing sisters were commissioned officers , in fact, Canada’s military nurses
were the first in any Allied country to have officer status. Canadian women also served in
other military roles during the war, however, and some 50,000 eventually enlisted in the
air force, army and navy in clerical, administrative and support roles, then as drivers,
mechanics, radar operators and coding technicians.
With the unification and modernization of the Canadian military in the late 1960s, the
doors finally began to open for women to enlist and enter non-traditional roles. Today,
women deploy on combat missions, captain vessels and command flying squadrons. Their
career paths are as open as those of men.
THIS IS WAR
The United States military excluded gay men and lesbians from service until 2011.
The military consistently held the official view that LGBT people are unfit for military
service. President Barack Obama removed restrictions on service by gay, lesbian, and
bisexual personnel as of September, 2011. Transgender Americans continue to be barred
from joining any branch of the military. Although women have been involved in the U.S.
military since the late 1700s, only in 2013, amid much controversy, were they allowed into
combat roles.
Corporal Venessa Larter of the
Canadian Forces conducting a patrol in
Afghanistan village. May 2006.
Page 18
RESOURCES
Movies and DVDs:
Lone Survivor (2013) American war film written and directed by Peter Berg,
and starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, and Emile Hirsch. Set during the
War in Afghanistan, the film dramatizes the failed United States Navy SEALs
mission, in which a four-man SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team
was tasked to track Taliban leader Ahmad Shah.
Afghan Luke (2011) Canadian film directed by Mike Clattenburg. The central character, Luke
Benning (Nick Stahl), is a journalist investigating the possible mutilation by Canadian snipers of
corpses in Afghanistan. The country appears increasingly incomprehensible and surreal as Luke
undergoes a series of bizarre adventures.
Opium War (2008) Afghan black comedy film directed by Siddiq Barmak. The film was shot
entirely in Afghanistan and revolves around the experiences of two American soldiers who crash
their helicopter in the Afghan desert and find themselves at the mercy of the natural elements and
an eclectic family of Afghan opium farmers. In order to create a realistic setting of an opium poppy
field, Barmak had to obtain permission from the Afghan government to plant the crop because
growing opium poppies was declared illegal in Afghanistan in 2002.
Websites:
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada%27s_role_in_the_Afghanistan_War Extensive
coverage of Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan.
http://www.afghanistan.gc.ca/canada-afghanistan/storiesreportages/index.aspx?lang=eng Large collection of published articles on Canada in
Afghanistan
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/glen-pearson/canada-afghanistan_b_2341777.html
An article by Glenn Pearson: When Did Canada Stop Being a Peacekeeping Nation?
http://www.afghanistan.gc.ca/canada-afghanistan/stories-reportages/index.aspx?lang=eng List of
Canada’s involvement in Peacekeeping operations.
http://www.cp24.com/on-the-front-lines-the-changing-face-of-our-military-1.72388 Article on the
inclusion of gays, lesbians, women in the military.
Books: Contact Charlie: The Canadian Army, the Taliban and the
Battle That Saved Afghanistan by Chris Wattie (2008). n the summer of
2006, Canadian soldiers fought a fierce battle against the Taliban in
Afghanistan's Panjwaii district. In Contact Charlie, National Post reporter
Chris Wattie provides an intense battle narrative and a tribute to the Charlie
Company of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Available at
Ottawa Public Library.
FOB Doc: A Doctor on the Front Lines in Afghanistan : A War Diary by Ray Wiss (2009). In this
diary, Canadian doctor Ray Wiss, who spent nearly his entire tour in combat, describes the various
challenges of working on different bases in Kandahar province. Available at OPL.
THIS IS WAR
Outside the Wire: The War in Afghanistan in the Words of Its Participants (2007) A collection of
first-hand accounts written by soldiers, doctors, and aid workers on the front lines of Canada's war
in Afghanistan. Available at OPL.
The Patrol: Seven Days in the Life of A Canadian Soldier in Afghanistan by Ryan Flavelle (2011).
In 2008, Flavelle, a university student and reservist in the Canadian Army, volunteered for active
service in Afghanistan. In this memoir, which was long listed for the 2012 Charles Taylor Prize for
Literary Non-Fiction, he recounts his experience. Available at OPL
The Savage War: The Untold Battles of Afghanistan by Murray Brewster (2011). On the tenth
anniversary of Canada′s involvement, journalist Brewster assesses Canada′s role in the Afghan
war, examining how the war has been conducted both on and off the battle field. Available at OPL
The Taliban Don’t Wave by Rob Semrau (2012). Captain Robert Semrau, the Canadian soldier
who was arrested for allegedly killing a mortally wounded Taliban soldier, gives a first-hand
account of war in Afghanistan. Included are descriptions of the challenges of working with the
Afghanistan National Army (ANA). Available at OPL
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ACTIVITIES
THE NET
Activities Before and After Seeing the Play
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Before Seeing the Play
1. Activity involving the Script Excerpt:
(Study Guide pp.6 - 8)
In teams of 3 with one person designated as
the director, have the students read, block out
and rehearse the scene involving Master
Corporal Tanya Young and Private Jonny
Henderson. Decide what motivates each of
the characters and the methods they use to
achieve their goals. What do you think each
one wants? Try to bring to life these people
who are each searching for recognition,
acceptance and human contact. Remember
that Tanya and Jonny are thousands of miles
from home and are living in dangerous and
uncomfortable circumstances. Be aware of
the changes that occur in each character as
the scene progresses. Following the
suggestions of the director, try staging the
short scene for the class.
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2. Designing and discussion activity:
Understanding that this play takes place in
several different locations and time periods
and that scenes slip quickly back and forth
between them. Also, remember that this is
partly a memory play. After looking at Brian
Smith’s solution in his set design, try to
come up with an alternative design which is
more realistic. How could this be possible?
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GCTC STUDY GUIDE
THIS IS WAR
3. Research Activities: Read the section on
playwright Hannah Moscovitch who is native
to Ottawa. Research if there are other
playwrights who either come from Ottawa or
are currently living here. What plays have
they written? What venues are available for
a person who writes plays here in Ottawa?
Look into the opportunities offered for
playwrights through Ottawa’s Fringe Festival
in June. Is it possible to have a studentwritten play produced at your school? What
topics would be of interest to student or adult
audiences in our city?
If you enjoy reading plays, you might want
to borrow another script by Hannah
Moscovitch from your public library and
become familiar with her style and stories
she chooses to tell.
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4. History Discussion Topic: The fear in our
Western world today is directed toward radical
Islamist activities. The history of a native
Afghan is very different and therefore there are
different fears. Read the section on Afghanistan
(p. 11) and conduct a discussion on what might
be important to an Afghan and how he/she
might feel about the presence of foreign forces.
Why do you think the radical Islamist Taliban
became so influential in Afghanistan and why
will it remain a threat after foreign forces leave
this year?
5. Familiarization with the Background of
Events in the play: Read the section on
Canada’s involvement in the Afghan War (p 12
– 14). Discuss why Canada has been part of the
conflict from the beginning. How is this
operation different from a Peacekeeping
operation?
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6. Writing project : Write a series of letters
home describing life in a front-line camp and
what your thoughts are about the war. Make
these letters to different people (i.e. your
mother, your best buddy, your girl friend/boy
friend, your grandfather) so that the way you
describe life or an important event or issue will
be different.
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7. Use of the Resource Page : Explore some of
the websites mentioned on p. 20 to go into
greater depth on a particular topic. Read one of
the recommended books on the Afghanistan
War. View Youtube videos on Canada’s
involvement in Afghanistan or watch one of the
recommended movies.
8. Art Viewing: Teachers should encourage
students to read page 21 and to examine the
paintings by these five local artists on display in
the Lorraine Fritzi Yale Gallery in the upper
lobby. Have a discussion following the visit to
GCTC on how the art works parallel the
experience of This Is War.
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9. Behaviour at a Play: Distribute copies of
the page on Theatre Etiquette found on page 22
of this Study Guide. Remind students that polite
and respectful behaviour is expected for all to
enjoy the play. Remind them that anyone who
disrupts the performance by inappropriate
behaviour may be asked to wait in the lobby.
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ACTIVITIES
Activities Before and After Seeing the Play
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Activities After Seeing the Play
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
10. Analytical Activities. After seeing the
play the teacher could conduct a class
discussion on any of the following topics:
- Style of writing; effectiveness of the
language to suggest characters.
- Style of acting chosen for this show; the
arc or changes that occur in each
character as the play progresses; the use
of movement and physical mannerisms;
the believability of each of the actors in
his or her role.
- Themes explored in the play – what was
the play about? What do we learn from
it? What is controversial about the topics
covered? Is the story relevant to today’s
society in Ottawa?
- Structure of the script – The story is told in
short scenes in various locations often
from the memory or imagination of one
of the characters. Discuss whether this
structure is effective in telling the story
rather than a realistic, chronological
telling of the story. Did you find the
replaying of the scenes from different
points of view confusing? If not, what
helped you follow the structure? How
did the four characters create the conflict
and tension in the narrative? Contrast
each of the four in terms of personality.
Do they represent or symbolize aspects
of society?
- Production aspects:
Costumes – Describe the effect of the
costumes chosen for the production. Did
each costume help to define the
individual character in any way?
Set – What did the set suggest before
the play started? Did it provide the
necessary acting areas for the different
scenes? What mood did the shape and
colour of the set pieces convey; what
effect does its minimalist style have on
the viewer’s understanding of the story?
Props – Were the various props chosen
wisely to advance the narration?
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THIS IS WAR
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- Production aspects: (continued)
Lighting – Did the lighting effects
designed by Jock Munro help to define
the location? What moods or
atmospheres were evoked?
Sound – did the sound design by
Steven Lafond complement the
themes and advance the narrative of
the play?
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11. Discussion or writing topic. Discuss
whether the inclusion of a gay character and
a woman were relevant to the play. How did
this add to the tension? How might the
dynamics of the four characters be changed if
gender, sexual orientation or race were not
introduce into the script? Up until relatively
recently gays and women were not allowed
into combat roles (or even the military, in the
case of gays). What were the arguments for
and against this inclusion?
12. Writing Project . After seeing the play,
and while it is still fresh in their minds, give
students the assignment of writing a review
of the production of This Is War. Have them
read reviews of other plays in The Ottawa
Citizen or Ottawa Sun to give them an idea
of the standard approach to theatrical
criticism. Another excellent guide to writing
a review can be found on the Theatre Ontario
website:
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for-high-school-/play-reviews.aspx .
Students should refer to the program
distributed at the matinée, or may refer to
page 1 of this Study Guide for the names of
the various artists who put the production
together to write their reviews. The areas the
review should cover are, in general - and
more specifically when merited - all design
elements (lighting, sound, set and costumes),
the actors’ performances, the direction, the
basic narrative, the dialogue, and the central
theme(s) of the script.
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GALLERY
What’s On in the Lorraine Fritzi Yale Gallery
Each month one or more different local artists are featured in the Gallery
in the upper lobby of the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre. Artists are
chosen by Cube Gallery’s curators Don Monet and Malika Welsh to
complement GCTC’s current production. The artists craft original works
which create thematic dialogues with the plays.
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
The works in this contemporary art exhibition engage with the idea and celebration of memory and
experience. Showcasing the works of 5 local artists, Dominique Dennery, Evelyn Duberry, Prea
Zwarych, Marjorie Lubin and Jane Ladan. The paintings, photographs and sculptures will address
the notion of identity and memory, exploring both the individual journey as well as the collective
memory we all hold. With a focus on the idea of heritage and history and the importance it plays to
the fundamental understanding the present "self", this exhibition celebrates the month of Black
History with an intriguing look
into the memories, experiences
and culture that shapes who
we
are.
This
exhibition
challenges the artist to delve
into their experiences and
express
the
essence
of
memory in an exciting visual
format.
The title Merci Pour Les
Souvenirs (thank you for the
memories) evokes the idea of
memory while addressing the
idea
of
contemplation,
acceptance
and
finally
gratefulness, all of which help
to create a healthy sense of
identity and a space of
resistance.
Altogether
this
show will be a celebration of
memory, of the self, of culture
and of the black women and
their art.
ETIQUETTE
Page 22
Please take a moment to prepare the students for their visit
to the Great Canadian Theatre Company by explaining good
Theatre Etiquette which will enhance the enjoyment of the
play by all audience members:
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Great Canadian
Theatre Company:
The Irving Greenberg
Theatre Centre
Ottawa, corner of
Holland and Wellington
www.gctc.ca
Admin. Office:
(613) 236-5192
GCTC STUDY GUIDE
1. This Is War will be performed in the Theatre of the new
Irving Greenberg Centre.
 It is important for everyone to be quiet (no talking or
rustling of materials) during the performance so others do
not lose their immersion in the “world of the play”.
Unlike movies, the actors in live theatre can hear
disturbances in the audience and will give their best
performances when they feel the positive involvement of
the audience members. The appropriate way of showing
approval for the actors’ performances in this play is
through laughter and applause. It is not appropriate to
whistle or cheer during the performance or during scene
changes but this may be used during the curtain call at
the end of the show for particularly good performances.
For the enjoyment of all, people who disturb others
during the play may be asked to leave the Theatre.
 Please remove your hat while in the Theatre and keep
your feet off the seats.
 It is also important to remember that no food or drink is
allowed in the Theatre. Remember to deposit all garbage
and recyclables in the containers in the Upper and Lower
Lobbys before entering the theatre.
 Remember to recycle the House Program if you do not
take it home with you.
Box Office:
(613) 236-5196
Fax:
(613) 232-2075
Box Office E-mail:
[email protected]
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Andrew Soobrian
Education Coordinator
(613)236-5192 x226
[email protected]
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Get involved
with your local
Theatre. GCTC Your City, Your
Theatre
 Student Matinees
A Midwinter’s
Dream Tale
 Rush tickets $10. With
valid student ID
(availability limited).
 Student
Apprenticeships and
Internships
 Volunteering
To volunteer call 613236-5196 or email
[email protected]
2. It is important that there be no electronic devices used in the
Theatre so that the atmosphere of the play is not interrupted
and others are not disturbed. Cell phones, pagers and anything
that beeps or glows must be turned off and put away.
Cameras and all other recording devices are not permitted in the
Theatre.
3. If you plan to make notes on the play for the purposes of
writing a review, please do not try to write them during the
play. This can be distracting for the actors as well as those
around you. Wait until intermission or after the performance is
finished to write your reflections.
4. This Is War will have a running time of approximately 90
minutes, with no intermission . It’s always a good idea to use
the washroom before the play starts. Anyone leaving the
theatre during the play may not be readmitted.
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This Study Guide was written and researched by Jim McNabb for the Great
Canadian Theatre Company in February 2014. It may be used solely for
educational purposes. Any feedback on the Study Guide would be much
appreciated. Contact the writer at [email protected]
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