As we are halfway through Black History Month, there are many ways to learn and celebrate Black history in Ottawa. The story of Canadian icon and trailblazer Viola Desmond takes to the National Arts Centre (NAC) with Controlled Damage from Feb. 13-22.
“The story follows the life of Viola Desmond and her success as a teacher and entrepreneur, her love life, becoming a business owner, and basically experiencing life as a whole, leading up to her now iconic moment in the Roseland Theatre, which had actually propelled her as a figure for civil rights in our country,” says Deborah Castrilli who plays the lead role of Viola Desmond.
(L-R): Deborah Castrilli, Cameron Grant, Julie Martell in Controlled Damage. Photo by @stoometzphoto.
On November 8, 1946, Viola Desmond entered the “whites only” section of the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Unbeknownst to her, the theatre was segregated, and after offering to pay the tax difference on her ticket (which was one cent) she was jailed and charged with tax evasion after being dragged out of the theatre.
“So [the play] explores the life of this woman who was a determined, curious person, and how that moment also affected her life moving forward,” says Castrilli. “It’s more of a celebration of her in her entirety, rather than just focusing on that moment.”
Castrilli says that it’s been an honour to portray Desmond in this performance and to connect with her story. Her perseverance is something that she is most inspired by.
“I’m definitely in awe of her drive and determination, especially in the era that she lived in,” she says. “There were definitely limitations then for women, but especially Black women, women of colour, on what they could do or access they had to a certain independence — but she would never let that stop her.”
JD Leslie, Deborah Castrilli in Controlled Damage. Photo by @stoometzphoto.
On Feb. 15, the NAC will be hosting a Black Out Night, that will coincide with the performance of Controlled Damage. Black Out Nights, which have been running at the NAC since 2023, offer Black audiences the opportunity to experience with their community, which ultimately reflects the Black experience.
The evening will begin with a pre-show chat with playwright of Controlled Damage Andrea Scott, director Cherissa Richards and professor and award-winning journalist Nana aba Duncan. Following the performance, an afterparty themed on the Harlem Renaissance and the Roaring Twenties will take place, which embraces the spirit of the era the show is set in.
Castrilli has never performed in a Black Out Night before, although she’s attended some in the past.
“I’m personally very excited to feel that energy,” she says. “Just to feel the energy and support of the room of people who maybe can empathize with the story in a different way will be so fun to explore. And we also get to celebrate together afterwards, which is super fun.”
Deborah Castrilli, Matthew G Brown in Controlled Damage. Photo by @stoometzphoto.
Controlled Damage is written by playwright Andrea Scott, and directed by Cherissa Richards — two incredible people in the Canadian theatre world. Castrilli says that they were able to give much insight into her performance and the overall story.
“They are both such powerhouse individuals and extremely passionate about their work and this story,” she says. “With Andrea offering her words and her nuance to the story, and then Cherissa with her really bold, passionate vision, I just felt very supported and uplifted in the work I had to do as well.”
Castrilli is looking forward to audiences connecting with Desmond’s story, and the sense of reflection her life can bring to the present day.
“I hope people walk away with a bit more grace and understanding for themselves and for others,” she says. “And an appreciation, not just for Viola, but maybe reflected in people in their own lives as well.”
Controlled Damage is playing at the NAC from Feb. 13-22. You can purchase tickets at the NAC’s online box office. An ASL interpreted performance of Controlled Damage will take place Feb. 22 at 2pm, and can be requested by messaging the Learning Coordinator for English Theatre Aimee Bouchard at aimee.bouchard@nac-cna.ca. The Black Out Night performance takes place on Feb. 15, with the pre-show starting at 6:30pm and the afterparty at 9:45pm. For more information on this, or the show in general, check out the NAC’s website.
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