Director’s Note:

In God’s Pocket is my love letter not only to my great-grandmother and my family, but to every woman carrying the weight of inherited fear.

I have often wondered where fear begins. How much of it belongs to us, and how much has been passed down through the silence and survival of those who came before us? This question became the heartbeat of this piece.

The Drowned Girl is not simply a character. She is the shape fear takes when we give it a body. The echo of everything that tells us to stay small, and stay safe. But she is also a reminder that fear only has the power we surrender to it.

In telling Kitty’s story, I found myself returning to one truth again and again: the strength we spend our lives searching for has never existed outside of us. It has always been waiting beneath the surface, asking only that we trust it.

My hope is that as you leave the theatre, you carry with you the idea that while fear may be inherited, courage can be too.

Synopsis:

In God’s Pocket is based on Kitty Cantwell’s harrowing escape from the final voyage of the SS Florizel. Shortly after departing St. John’s on the night of February 23, 1918, the Florizel encountered two major issues en route to her destination – a quick stop in Halifax and then on to New York.

First, a fierce winter storm that dropped visibility to less than 25 metres in all directions. With the water too icy to drop sounders (a tool used to measure ocean depth), Captain Martin began navigating by charts and calculations alone. As one of the most experienced Captains in the entire Bowring fleet this should have been a routine exercise.

However, unbeknownst to him was the second issue (which would prove to be fatal) – Chief Engineer John V. Reader had countermanded Captain Martin’s order for full steam and slowed the ship to less than half. Knowing that arriving in Halifax late enough would mean debarking and staying the night (and therefore he’d be able to be with his pregnant wife), he kept this decision secret. So after approximately 9 hours Captain Martin gave the order to haul west, believing they had rounded Cape Race.  In reality, the ship was headed straight for disaster.

A few minutes later the Florizel struck the rocks head-on at Horn Head Point near Cappahayden. The impact ripped open the hull, and the wind and sea did the rest. Of the 138 passengers and crew aboard, 94 people lost their lives.

Kitty survived by making it to the Marconi Room, a 7 x 8 shack protected by the funnel, along with around 30 other passengers and crew members. They huddled together in that cramped space for over 27 hours before rescue boats were able to make it close enough.

While certain characters and details have been adapted for dramatic purposes, this story is based on these true, tragic events.

Production Crew:

Written By Victoria Fuller

Directed by Victoria Fuller

Choreography by Katy Noftall and Vanessa Warren

Lighting Design by Victoria Fuller and Mara Noftall

Costume Design by Liz Fuller

Production Management by Lynda Yearwod

Featuring Music by Michael Peter Olsen and Kyle Duffin

Original Song “I Draw a Breath” written by Victoria Fuller

Set Design by Liz Fuller and Victoria Fuller

Props by Liz Fuller and John Fuller

Set Construction by Ron Putt, John Fuller, Liz Fuller, Sam Fuller, and Carl King

Cast:

Miranda MacDonald as Kitty

Katie Billard as Annie

Andrew Halliday as Michael / Gene

Erin Enguehard as The Beachcomber / Helen / Marie

Jacob Kavanagh as Samuel / Phil Jackman

Bailey Miller as Betty Munn / William

James Karfilis as Henry Dodd / John Munn

Adrian Yearwood as John V. Reader / Jim

Kathleen O’Grady as The Drowned Girl / Joan

Evelyn Pardy as Young Kitty

Mcaleigh Macdonald as John / Victoria

Featuring Mosaic Dance Company as The Sea:
(Ava Afonso, Shawna Gallagher, Claudia Avery, Isabelle Dunne, Rachel Bishop, Vanessa Warren, Kathleen O’Grady, Quinn McGettigan, and Grace Newman)

Check us out on instagram or facebook to see the full cast headshots and bios, and feel free to drop us a like and follow while you’re there!

Our Sponsors:

Donors:

Rhonda & Gordon Higgins, Debbie & Harvey Codner

Special Thanks:

John Fuller, Sam Fuller, Sydney Fuller Amy Jackson, Andrew Noftall, Rob Currie, Jessie Clancey, Deborah Greeley, Carl King, Dave Bugler, Barb Ashley, Kristen Sellers, Allistair Rice, Ron Putt, Ed & Ann Williams, Peter Dunn, Meghan McCabe, Ignite Dance, The LSPU Hall Staff, St. John’s Arts & Culture Centre, NTV News, CBC Radio

Company Mandate:

Echo Productions operates with a simple truth at the core of everything we do: the spark that makes you an artist – the one that first lit you up, that called you toward connection, empathy, and expression – that spark is worth protecting.

Too many artists lose their light navigating a system built on rejection, urgency, scarcity, and impossible expectations. At Echo, we reject that.

We are not here to feed the machine. We are here to rebuild. To reignite. To remind you that you are still an artist.

Even if you stepped away. Even if you’re tired. Even if the system told you no.

This company now exists to offer a space where art can be made for its own sake. Where community matters more than competition. Where your full identity is welcome and your creative soul is safe.

In God’s Pocket was created in that spirit.

If it resonates with you, we invite you to stay connected. Drop us a line to join our mailing list and keep abreast of upcoming events, community offerings, and more.

Lastly, indie theatre thrives on word-of-mouth! If you enjoy the show, please feel free to take a photo after the performance and/or share your thoughts online, and make sure to tag us on instagram (@echo_productions) or facebook (facebook.com/echotoronto).

Thank you for witnessing this work and supporting indie theatre.