Marie Clements

Marie Clements is a Métis playwright, performer, director, producer and screenwriter from British Columbia, Canada. Her works explore themes of Indigenous identity, colonialism, and environmental justice through multiple artistic mediums including stage, radio, and film. Clements has written numerous acclaimed plays including "The Unnatural and Accidental Women," "Burning Vision," and "Copper Thunderbird." Her work frequently combines documentary elements with dramatic storytelling, often incorporating multimedia and non-linear narrative structures. As a filmmaker, she wrote and directed "Red Snow" (2019) and "The Road Forward" (2017), both of which received recognition at international film festivals. Her creative output spans theater, opera, film, radio plays and print, demonstrating versatility across different forms of artistic expression. Her work has earned multiple awards including the Canada Council Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award for Theatre, the Governor General's Literary Award nomination for Drama, and the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award. She founded urban ink productions, an Indigenous production company focused on creating and producing Indigenous works.

Readers highlight Clements' ability to weave historical events with Indigenous perspectives through multimedia storytelling. On Goodreads, reviewers note her plays' complex layering of past and present, particularly in "Burning Vision" and "The Unnatural and Accidental Women." Readers appreciate: - Integration of documentary and theatrical elements - Strong Indigenous female characters - Effective use of non-linear narrative structure - Treatment of difficult historical subjects - Creative incorporation of music and movement Common criticisms: - Dense, challenging scripts that require multiple readings - Complex staging requirements that limit production accessibility - Some readers report difficulty following multiple timeline shifts Review data is limited on major platforms: Goodreads: - "Burning Vision": 3.8/5 (42 ratings) - "The Unnatural and Accidental Women": 4.1/5 (15 ratings) Amazon: Insufficient review data available Most academic and theater review sites focus on production analysis rather than reader feedback.

Burning Vision (2003) A multi-narrative play connecting the uranium mining in the Northwest Territories to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima through interconnected stories of miners, Indigenous people, and bomb survivors.

The Unnatural and Accidental Women (2005) A dramatic work examining the real-life murders of Indigenous women in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside during the 1960s through to the 1980s.

Copper Thunderbird (2007) A theatrical exploration of the life of Norval Morrisseau, the renowned Ojibway painter, told through different phases of his life.

The Edward Curtis Project (2010) A play that investigates the legacy of photographer Edward Curtis and his documentation of North American Indigenous peoples, interweaving historical and contemporary narratives.

Tombs of the Vanishing Indian (2012) A dramatic work following three Native American sisters affected by forced relocation policies in 1950s Los Angeles.

The Girl Who Swam Forever (1997) A one-act play merging Coast Salish mythology with contemporary issues through the story of a young Indigenous woman's transformation.

Now Look What You Made Me Do (1997) A theatrical piece examining domestic violence through interconnected stories of women in crisis.

Urban Tattoo (1999) A play exploring Indigenous identity in urban settings through ritual, movement, and storytelling.

Tomson Highway writes plays and novels centered on Indigenous experiences in Canada, incorporating themes of tradition and contemporary life. His work "The Rez Sisters" addresses similar themes of Indigenous women's perspectives that appear in Clements' works.

Drew Hayden Taylor creates both drama and prose focusing on First Nations identity and cross-cultural relationships in modern Canada. His blend of humor and social commentary parallels Clements' approach to addressing Indigenous issues through theater.

Daniel David Moses produces plays and poetry exploring Indigenous history and its intersection with colonial impacts. His theatrical works like "Almighty Voice and His Wife" share Clements' interest in historical Indigenous figures and their stories.

Yvette Nolan writes and directs plays that examine Indigenous women's experiences and community dynamics. Her work in both creating and directing Indigenous theater connects to Clements' focus on bringing Indigenous stories to the stage.

Lee Maracle writes novels and essays that confront colonialism and Indigenous women's experiences in Canada. Her mix of traditional storytelling with contemporary issues mirrors Clements' theatrical approach to Indigenous narratives.