Seeds and Salt Theatre Company

05/01/2025

What’s the difference between a dream, a wish, and a reverie?

This is the question driving Dreamers & Schemers, an exploration of Vancouver Island’s history from the Seeds and Salt Theatre Company that will introduce audiences to three iconic figures: Major MacFarlane, Minnie Paterson and Painless Parker.

“Though many of these characters lived more than 100 years ago, their stories reverberate to the present day. Each of them embody the frontier spirit in different ways, whether they were paving the way for the Malahat Highway, saving countless lives during a shipwreck or becoming internationally famous as a circus dentist,” said Maureen Alexander of the Mill Bay Malahat Historical Society.

Alexander prepared the script with local thespian Will Johnson, who is also starring in and directing the show. The remainder of the cast is filled out by Chadd Cawson, Jade Edgar and Svea Young, all of whom bring a vaudevillian flair to the production.

The stories follow the belligerent visionary behind the construction of the Malahat Highway, Major MacFarlane, as well as a lighthouse keeper named Minnie Paterson and dentist who was deemed a “menace to his profession” named Painless Parker. Each of them start with a dream, and proceed to inspiring heights.

“After our successful production of Messages in the Dust last year, I was thrilled to be invited back to showcase these three stories. Entertaining, sometimes ridiculous and absolutely inspiring, these characters will invite you to rethink Vancouver Island history and the amazing people who came before us,” said Johnson.

“Our goal is to make you laugh, make you cry, but most importantly, to make you think.”

With a hand-painted set, over-the-top props and musical interludes, Dreamers & Schemers is a one-hour show that is perfect for families. Starting at the Mill Bay Community League Hall on July 5, it will travel all over the Cowichan Valley for 10 performances before concluding at St. John’s Church on July 27.

Tickets will be $15 for students and seniors, and $18 for adults. For more information and to obtain tickets, email [email protected].

04/01/2025

We're excited to see you in July!

03/28/2025

Have you been to the Malahat Skywalk recently?

Right at the top of its 10-storey structure is an informational placard that looks out over the Georgia Strait — and it's about a historical character who will be appearing in this summer's show!

Major MacFarlane was an eccentric Irishman with an irascible personality who harangued the B.C. government for years about the need to build the Malahat Highway. He surveyed the entire route himself, and eventually succeeded in campaigning for its construction.

MacFarlane will be played by Chadd Cawson in this year's show, Dreamers & Schemers.

03/13/2025

New year, new cast!

The Seeds and Salt Theatre company is thrilled to announce the cast of this year's historical show, Dreamers & Schemers — coming this July!

This year's show will have the same manic, vaudevillian energy as years past, with a whole new set of characters from Vancouver Island's past being brought to life. We share stories about three iconic figures: the visionary behind the Malahat Highway, a heroic lighthouse keeper's wife, and a traveling circus dentist who had a little too much fondness for yanking out teeth.

This year's show will star (L-R) Jade Edgar, Svea Young, Will Johnson and Chadd Cawson.

08/21/2024

So,

Spent the morning updating my Literary Goon blog.

You'll find a selection of photos from the Cowichan Valley Shakespeare Festival of the this year's two productions, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Love's Labour's Lost.

You'll also find a YouTube video excerpt of Messages in the Dust, as well updates about our upcoming sequel. We've already got two historical stories in mind, and they're totally bonkers!

And there's even some cute shots of my son Kristopher sword-fighting in the rain with his buddy Will, perhaps in preparation for their Shakespeare roles in decades to come.

literarygoon.tumblr.com

08/14/2024

Did you miss our show this summer?

Messages in the Dust will be shared online one story at a time, and first up is our vaudevillian caper about whalers in Mill Bay.

Stay tuned for interviews with director Rien Vesseur and writer Will Johnson at the end!

We invite you to join us over the next few months as we reveal five captivating true stories of Vancouver Island’s past that have long been forgotten. The ch...

07/21/2024

Thanks for coming, Tom!

The cast and crew of Messages in the Dust were thrilled to have Tom Paterson in the audience during our fourth performance at the Cowichan Hub. He’s the author of the source material for our fourth story, “Marvellous Miss Mabel”.

Tom is a legend in the Cowichan Valley. He wrote a history column for the Citizen for 23 years, producing millions of words in the process, and authored 30 books.

It was our privilege!

07/18/2024

A rave review for Messages in the Dust!

We’re very grateful to Chadd Cawson of the Cowichan Valley Citizen for attending our opening night and writing this wonderful article.

07/14/2024

This is where history meets reality!

Tonight we performed the opening night of Messages in the Dust with a special audience member in the front row — Elaine Clay, the great grand daughter of a Vancouver Island whaler named Alexander Donaldson.

Our opening story depicts Donaldson’s trial for murder on Salt Spring Island, one of the many stories featured in Clay’s book Seeking a Fortune. Having a family member in attendance was an honour, and a reminder that we’re still connected to our past.

Here’s Clay (centre) with the cast and crew of the show.

Thanks for coming, Elaine!

07/05/2024

Read all about it!

The latest issue of the South Cowichan Connector features a lengthy article about Messages in the Dust that includes interviews with Maureen Alexander, Rien Vesseur and Will Johnson.

Thanks to Chadd Cawson for the great coverage.

We open on July 13!