“Melanie Teichroeb is brusque, bawdy, and unapologetic in her Viking warrior solo show Shield Maiden.”—Stir Magazine
Travel back in time to a 10th century Viking RED Talk (yep, like a TEDTalk) held in an ancient Swedish longhouse and get schooled on what it means to be a warrior woman.
As Viking Garrison Commander Ingrid Larsdottir comedically endeavours to engage new recruits, she inadvertently reveals her own tragic and violent personal history. Watching this warrior struggle with her trauma is unsettling. Witnessing her tap into her inner strength is inspiring. Ingrid’s clarion call for equality and new recruits wins! She empowers women to reclaim the warrior archetype in a substantive way.
Shield Maiden was written by Melanie Teichroeb who was inspired by the #MeToo Movement. Her live performance reflects the rage, humour, resiliency of women. The redheaded Viking addresses sexism, gender bias, sexual freedom, and trauma. Teichroeb draws on her own inner warrior to play this character.
Shield Maiden is a feminist solo show using a character from the past to encourage equality. It peels back the curtain to expose the truth that not enough has changed in the treatment of women since the time of Vikings…one thousand years ago.
“More than a millennium ago in what’s now southeastern Sweden, a wealthy Viking warrior was laid to rest, in a resplendent grave filled with swords, arrowheads, and two sacrificed horses. The site reflected the ideal of Viking male warrior life, or so many archaeologists had thought. New DNA analyses of the bones, however, confirm a revelatory find: the grave belonged to a woman.”
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/viking-warrior-woman-archaeology-spd
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT – Melanie Teichroeb
I acknowledge that I am an uninvited guest of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, and gratefully live, work and create on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish people.
Melanie Teichroeb is a playwright, performer and disrupter.
Teichroeb sees her writing and performance art as a way to connect deeply with people through shared emotions and experiences. Feminism and innate curiosity are cemented in her process. Melanie is mother to a fierce daughter and partner with a man who does a darned good of keeping up. She lives on a small Gulf Island off the west coast of Canada.
WOMEN WARRIOR SUPPORT
Robin Kelly was the dramaturg/director for the premier performance in 2018 at Cultivate Theatre Festival, Gabriola.
Nicolle Nattrass was the dramaturg/director for the remount in 2019 at FronteraFest in Austin, Texas and United Solo Theatre Festival on Broadway in NYC!!!!
Sandy Cumberland has played many pivotal roles for Shield Maiden – stage manager, road manager, agent, production manager and more.
Shield Maiden is now officially under the umbrella of The Gabriola Theatre Centre. Producer Jasmine Howes is working with Melanie on Shield Maiden and future shows.
Each of these women has supported my show and is a valued warrior sister. Sköl!
SHIELD MAIDEN PERFORMANCE HISTORY
2018
Cultivate Theatre Festival, Gabriola Island, workshop (Robin Kelly – Dramaturg/Director)
Phoenix Theatre, Gabriola Island, workshop (Nicolle Nattrass – Dramaturg/Director)
2019
Premier at FronteraFest, Austin, Texas (Nicolle Nattrass – Director)
United Solo Theatre Festival, New York City, New York (Nicolle Nattrass – Director)
2022
Theatre on the Edge, Shuswap, BC (Melanie Teichroeb, Sandy Cumberland – Directors)
Sunset Theatre, Wells, BC (Melanie Teichroeb, Sandy Cumberland -Directors)
2023
Discovery Series, Port Theatre, Nanaimo, BC (Melanie Teichroeb – Director)
The Anvil, New Westminster, New West, BC (Melanie Teichroeb – Director)
2024
The Max Cameron Theatre, Powell River, BC (Melanie Teichroeb – Director)
2025
ArtsDepot, London, GB (Melanie Teichroeb – Director)
Canada House, Canadian Embassy, London, GB (Melanie Teichroeb – Director)
CONTRIBUTORS
Hilary Britton-Foster – Lighting Designer
Dave Pettit – Introduction Voice Over
Paul Tedeschini – Additional Voice Over
Dave Teichroeb – Music Editor, Set Construction
Dianna Bonder – Costume Construction
Jules Molloy – Videography/Film Editing
Sean Danby – Film Editing
Mitch Anderson, Dave Teichroeb – Videography
Katt Campbell – ASL Interpretation
