Новая пьеса в Садбери поднимает острую проблему опиоидного кризиса и бездомности

New play in Sudbury, Ont., tells story of the city’s most vulnerable, in their own words City Medicine is about the city’s opioid and homelessness crisis A new play currently on stage at YES Refettorio outdoor theatre in downtown Sudbury points the spotlight on the city’s opioid and homelessness crisis. Playwright and director Sarah Gartshore wrote City Medicine after listening to people with lived experience share their own stories. The play features a series of monologues and vignettes that tell that story through the perspectives of people who use drugs, their loved ones and even an outreach worker frustrated with a political system that they believe doesn’t properly address the crisis. Gatshore says the work is meant to acknowledge how people are feeling in this moment, whether they avoid Sudbury’s downtown, or like the outreach worker, believe all levels of government need to do more to address the problem. “We’re not trying to change anyone’s mind,” said Gartshore. “We’re just trying to share things that maybe people didn’t know. And the people in Sudbury are thirsty for knowledge.” City Medicine is one stage four nights a week until Aug. 29. In his CBC Radio documentary about the play, reporter Jonathan Migneault shares behind-the-scenes insights about City Medicine from Gartshore and the actors, who all have some personal connection to the subject matter.