Key City Theatre presents:
The Knitting Pilgrim
Big Ticket Plus: $25
Big Ticket: $29
Regular: $35
One man with lots of questions. Three huge knitted tapestries. A fifteen-year journey to look for answers, with lots of funny, moving life experiences along the way.
The Knitting Pilgrim
Kirk Dunn, an actor, writer and internationally renowned knitter, is fascinated by the many ways in which knitting can bring people together and help them see eye to eye. In this multi-platform world, he uses original, out-of-the-box knitting and his unique perspective in a variety of ways: as visual art to create conversation around interfaith empathy (see his installation, “Stitched Glass”) and homophobia; as the foundation for theatre that uses knitting to tackle anti-Semitism and Islamophobia (book his one-man show, “The Knitting Pilgrim,” or the upcoming WWII play “Spycraft” about a woman who spies on the Nazis by knitting code into ordinary garments); hosts a podcast and digital series to enter into gentle, curious conversation with people of other faiths to understand their point of view (check out “The Knitting Pilgrim Talks” on YouTube or Spotify); designs patterns that feature an artist’s palette of rich colours (see his original patterns available on Ravelry); and gives workshops in improv on the needle, colourwork, and knitting and spirituality, to share the amazing transformation this humble craft can offer individuals and communities. Kirk looks for common ground to knit people together through empathy, understanding and art.
Show Synopsis:
The Knitting Pilgrim is a one-hour, one-man interdisciplinary show, followed by a 30-45 min talkback. The audience
meets Kirk Dunn as he knits in front of three large projection screens. He welcomes the audience and suggests he
teach them how to knit – a gentle entry into a conversation about Kirk’s life as a churchgoer, actor and knitter, and
how, prompted by the tragedy of 9/11, he found himself knitting a triptych of tapestries, designed in the style of
stained-glass windows, which explore the commonalities and conflicts of the Abrahamic faiths.
On stage are baskets of yarn and needles so the audience can knit along if they like. Kirk tells them that he will use all
of the pieces which the audience knit during the tour into a new piece of art to represent people knitted together.
As Kirk’s performance builds, the screens are used for image and video projection, including interviews with Christian,
Muslim and Jewish consultants who add their perspectives to his journey. At times comedic, at times soulful and spiritual, but never preachy, Kirk intertwines stories of the rise of xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, fear of ‘the other,’ and how social media pours gasoline on the fire.
He also talks about the trials and tribulations of what ended up being a 15-year journey completing the tapestries, his doubt about his art, and questioning his right to address the interfaith issues which plague the world. At the end of the show, Kirk has—through his humble manner of making no pronouncements and only asking questions—knitted together the strands of his stories to demonstrate that the Abrahamic faiths have more in common than not, and that they all strive for the same thing: peace.
After the faith leaders on the screens wish the audience Peace, Shalom and Assalamu alaikum, Kirk pulls down the screens to reveal the magnificent knitted tapestries, unlike anything else in the world. He invites the audience to come close, take a look, and engage in conversation, not just now, but moving forward, with peace and empathy, in their own lives.
Colour with Kirk: A Knitting Workshop
Tuesday April 22
6:00-9:00
Registration: $20
Location: Cranbrook, 1401 5 St N, Cranbrook, BC V1C 3M3, Canada
Enjoy a three-hour workshop with knitter Kirk Dunn, The Knitting Pilgrim and creator of the Stitched Glass tapestries. Kirk will talk about the use of multiple colours in his knitting to create a tremendous range of depth, colour and texture, and share the simple techniques he uses to achieve advanced results.
Intermediate skill level – participants must know how to knit and purl. All materials provided.
