Latest news with #Sproule
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cannibal chronicle
Dauphin-raised playwright Sophie Guillas's appetite for small-town folk drama and queer fables emerges in How They'll Tell It, a gossipy dish set in a fictionalized resort community in her home province. Premièring tonight at the West End's Gargoyle Theatre, the first full-fledged production by the What If Theatre Company brings the audience to the shores of Waska, where a once-bustling tourism industry has withered away and died. What killed it was the type of trauma that envelops a community's total history — think Waco, Texas or Aurora, Colo. — and to a certain extent dictates its future reputation and atmosphere. In Waska, a cannibalistic spree in 1985 still reverberates decades later, with the wounds still open and painfully fresh, even for the generations born long after the police tape disappeared. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS Maia Woods plays Celia and Jade Janzen is Ivy in How They'll Tell It, a local production premièring at the Gargoyle Theatre this week. After meeting the entire cast — Jade Janzen, Josh Pinette, Maia Woods, David Lange, Angela Robbie and Laurie Monk — on the first page, the story then shifts to one of Waska's abandoned, derelict cabins, where Ivy (Janzen) polishes off her own version of the property's backstory to interested buyers: whether its accurate, and whether accuracy in storytelling is even possible, defines the narrative that afterward unfolds. 'So much of the play has to do with community reception and who owns storytelling,' says What If's Cali Sproule, who directs, designed the set and serves as dramaturge. In a small community, says Oakbank's Sproule, information travels at lightning speeds, often without verification or sufficient interrogation — the printed legend maintains a lasting dominion as it spreads across the regional map. Guillas, who holds a master's degree in English from the University of Western Ontario, is a devotee of British playwright Caryl Churchill, and in her scholarship has focused on the intersections of queer history, horror stories and 'lady cannibalism.' Her thesis, which fed directly into the script, began as a slasher novel entitled What's Eating the Victorians? JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS Laurie Monk as Jenny and Angela Robbie as Doreen. She and Sproule — who served as assistant director to Herbie Barnes on David McLeod's Elevate: Manaaji'idiwin at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre — have been working to bring the story to stage for the better part of two years. Last year, the company held a staged reading as part of the Village Conservatory for Music Theatre's Festival of New Works. With additional support from the Canada Council for the Arts and from the Gargoyle, a theatre dedicated to the development of new work, the production runs until June 8. At last year's Fringe Festival, Guillas and Sproule, who met through the University of Manitoba's Black Hole Theatre Company, collaborated on 40 Below, earning a three-fish review from Rory Runnells, who called the production 'sufficiently sturdy.' As a poet, Guillas has been published in The Fiddlehead, and her short fiction has appeared in FreeFall Magazine. Next up for the duo is the creation of a medieval murder mystery called The Garden Hermit, which recently received funding from the Manitoba Arts Council. photos by JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS From left: David Lange, Angela Robbie and Jade Janzen star in How They'll Tell It, a local production about a small town with a cannibalistic history. If you value coverage of Manitoba's arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. Ben WaldmanReporter Ben Waldman is a National Newspaper Award-nominated reporter on the Arts & Life desk at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ben completed three internships with the Free Press while earning his degree at Ryerson University's (now Toronto Metropolitan University's) School of Journalism before joining the newsroom full-time in 2019. Read more about Ben. Every piece of reporting Ben produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
06-03-2025
- CBC
Jury in Banff stabbing case finds accused guilty of manslaughter not murder
Social Sharing A man on trial for second-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing in Banff has been found guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter. John Sproule, 23, was originally charged with second-degree murder in the September 2022 death of Ryden Brogden, 27. Jurors began deliberating Tuesday afternoon and returned with the verdict Wednesday at 9 p.m. Justice Johanna Price will hear sentencing arguments at a later date. Sproule admitted to fatally stabbing Brogden but maintained he was acting in self-defence. The weekend of the stabbing, Sproule was in Banff with his family and was out bar-hopping with his brother. Brogden had stopped in the mountain town with his friend, en route to a fishing trip in B.C. The friends were also bar-hopping. While outside the Dancing Sasquatch, Sproule asked to bum a cigarette from Brogden. According to Sproule, Brogden told him to "f–k off" and then pushed and suckerpunched him. 'A a fist fight' Sproule testified that Brogden "ragdolled" him down the street, throwing punches and pulling his shirt over his face. When he was pinned up against a picnic table, Sproule says he pulled out his work knife and began swinging and stabbing at Brogden. The defence filed photos showing a number of injuries to Sproule's face. Defence lawyers Cory Wilson and Matt Browne argued their client was "violently and brutally attacked" by Brogden. Prosecutors Kaitlyn Perrin and Mykel Long argued that Sproule's response to the initial conflict was "not reasonable" and said that he "took a knife out and used it in a fist fight." The victim suffered 19 stab and slash wounds.
CBC
04-03-2025
- CBC
Closing arguments take place in Banff stabbing trial
Social Sharing A B.C. man on trial for murder "took a knife out and used it in a fist fight," prosecutor Kaitlyn Perrin told jurors Monday during closing arguments in the case of a fatal stabbing in Banff in 2022. John Sproule, 23, admitted to killing the 27-year-old man outside of a Banff bar in September 2022 but has maintained throughout the trial that he acted in self-defence. "Ryden Brogden's death is tragic," said defence lawyer Cory Wilson. "But tragedy is not evidence of murder." Closing arguments took place Monday. Wilson asked jurors to acquit his client while Perrin asked the panel to find him guilty of second-degree murder. On the September long weekend in 2022, Sproule was in Banff with his parents and other members of his family. Sproule and his brother were bar-hopping on the night of the killing. Brogden, from Priddis, Alta., was with his friend in Banff for the night en route to B.C. for a fishing trip. The victim and accused had never met before the violent interaction in Banff. In the early morning hours of Sept. 3, the two pairs were outside the Dancing Sasquatch when Sproule tried to bum a cigarette from Brogden. A physical altercation ensued. Sproule testified that he was pushed and sucker punched by Brogden, who told him to "f–k off." In response, Sproule testified he said, "What the f–k is wrong with you?" "Johnny Sproule was violently and brutally attacked by Ryden Brogden for absolutely no reason," Wilson told jurors. 'Narrative of lies' From there, Sproule said, Brogden "ragdolled" him around, punching him repeatedly and then pulled his shirt over his head so he couldn't see. Sproule said he couldn't get away and pulled out his work knife from his jeans pocket and swung it at Brogden. The victim suffered 19 stab and slash wounds. "In the course of a fist fight, Mr. Sproule took out a knife and began using it against his opponent," said Perrin. "This is not a reasonable response given the brief nature of this fight." A key witness for the Crown, Howard Pearse, testified he heard Sproule threaten to "shank" Brogden. But even Pearse told a "narrative of lies," argued Wilson. The Crown conceded that Pearse was "impeached on multiple occasions" but still asked jurors to accept his testimony about the shank threat.
CBC
19-02-2025
- CBC
Man on trial for fatal stabbing had blood-alcohol level 2x legal driving limit, jurors hear
Social Sharing The man accused of murdering Ryden Brogden in Banff had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal driving limit at the time of the stabbing, a forensic toxicologist estimated for jurors Tuesday. John Sproule, 23, is charged with second-degree murder in the 2022 death of Brogdon, 27. A jury trial entered its second week on Tuesday with testimony from forensic toxicologist Tracy Cherlet. Jurors heard that Sproule and Brogden got into a fight outside of a Banff bar on the night of Sept. 3, 2022. Brogden was stabbed 12 times and suffered another seven sharp force wounds. Three of the stab wounds were fatal injuries, according to an agreed statement of facts (ASF). Under questioning from prosecutor Mykel Long, Cherlet told jurors that based on testing done three hours after the stabbing, Sproule's blood-alcohol level at the time of the fatal attack was estimated to be between 0.161 and 0.196. At those levels, Cherlet said a person is considered intoxicated and can be in an exaggerated emotional state, may show an increase in risk-taking behaviour and an increase in self-confidence. Under cross-examination from defence lawyer Cory Wilson, Cherlet confirmed that other symptoms for that level of intoxication could include decreased comprehension, judgment and perception as well as confusion and disorientation. Security cameras caught fatal altercation On the night of the stabbing, Sproule was in town for a vacation with his family. He was out drinking with his brother Josh that night. Brogden, who was from Priddis, had stopped in Banff en route to B.C. for a fishing trip with a friend, Howard Pearse. The two pairs of men ended up at two different bars at the same time. Just after midnight on Sept. 3, 2022, the four men were outside of the Dancing Sasquatch. At the time, Brogden was having a cigarette. The altercation was caught on security cameras from two businesses. Police also collected video from a witness's cellphone camera. Sproule fled after the attack. A police dog tracked his route and discovered the bloodied folding knife on Banff Avenue and a blood-soaked T-shirt in a planter at the Bear Street Parkade.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man on trial for fatal stabbing had blood-alcohol level more than 2x legal driving limit, jurors hear
The man accused of murdering Ryden Brogden in Banff had a blood alcohol more than twice the legal driving limit at the time of the stabbing, a forensic toxicologist estimated for jurors Tuesday. John Sproule, 23, is charged with second-degree murder in the 2022 death of Brogdon, 27. A jury trial entered its second week on Tuesday with testimony from forensic toxicologist Tracy Cherlet. Jurors heard that Sproule and Brogden got into a fight outside of a Banff bar on the night of Sept. 3, 2022. Brogden was stabbed 12 times and suffered another seven sharp force wounds. Three of the stab wounds were fatal injuries, according to an agreed statement of facts (ASF). Under questioning from prosecutor Mykel Long, Cherlet told jurors that based on testing done three hours after the stabbing, Sproule's blood-alcohol level at the time of the fatal attack was estimated to be between 0.161 and 0.196. At those levels, Cherlet said a person is considered intoxicated and can be in an exaggerated emotional state, may show an increase in risk-taking behaviour and an increase in self-confidence. Under cross-examination from defence lawyer Cory Wilson, Cherlet confirmed that other symptoms for that level of intoxication could include decreased comprehension, judgment and perception as well as confusion and disorientation. Security cameras caught fatal altercation On the night of the stabbing, Sproule was in town for a vacation with his family. He was out drinking with his brother Josh that night. Brogden, who was from Priddis, had stopped in Banff en route to B.C. for a fishing trip with a friend Howard Pearse. The two pairs of men ended up at two different bars at the same time. Just after midnight on Sept. 3, 2022, the four men were outside of the Dancing Sasquatch. At the time, Brogden was having a cigarette. The altercation was caught on security cameras from two businesses. Police also collected video from a witness's cellphone camera. Sproule fled after the attack. A police dog tracked his route and discovered the bloodied folding knife on Banff Avenue and a blood soaked T-shirt in a planter at the Bear Street Parkade.
