Umbrella Stage Company set for Where We Belong

The Umbrella Stage Company is set to mount the New England Premiere of Mohegan theatre-maker Madeline Sayet's ground-breaking one-woman show, Where We Belong.

Where We Belong at Umbrella Center for the Arts

With great humor, insight, and imaginative storytelling, the autobiographical play weaves together Indigenous history, Shakespeare, cultural legacy, the power of language, and legend. It recounts Sayet's 2015 journey to England to pursue a PhD in Shakespeare in the shadow of the Brexit vote. Moving between nations that have failed to reckon with their ongoing roles in colonialism, she grapples with what it means to remain or leave her own home as a Mohegan, but discovers comfort in mirroring the footsteps of her ancestors who traveled to England in the 1700s.

Performed for the first time by an artist other than Sayet herself, it is helmed by fellow Indigenous director and playwright Tara Moses and stars GiGi Buddie. This brand new staging in Concord, MA during the Semiquincentennial of the beginning of the American Revolution raises timely questions of whose histories are told, how, by whom, and in what language.

"Madeline's story is uniquely personal, but universally relatable. Following the completion of the original tour with Madeline at the center," says Brian Boruta, Umbrella Stage Producing Artistic Director, "we wanted to explore how the play could evolve, be adapted for other performers, and reveal a continuing relevance for future productions and new audiences. Sayet originally developed the play in partnership with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in association with The Folger Shakespeare Library, and is engaged with the Umbrella team on this next evolution.

The show runs Feb. 28-Mar. 23 (press opening Sunday Mar. 2, 3:00PM), including a special Student Group Matinee Wed. Mar. 12 at 4PM, and select performances will feature engagement opportunities.

• Dinner & A Show packages are available for all Thursday night performances
• Talk Backs scheduled following performances on March 12, 16 and 20
• Childcare with art activities for youth ages 5-12 is available through The Umbrella's Kid Care program for parents interested in attending the March 16 matinee

Planned community engagement activities will also highlight art and experiences of Concord's native Nipmuc and Massachusett tribes, including a concurrent gallery exhibition of work by Nipmuc photographer Scott Strong Hawk Foster.

Check out the full list of shows in Boston now playing.