Addressing water-health equity through biological engineering and theatre

For the past decade, RESEAU has been engaging with Indigenous and rural communities across Canada in pursuit of water-health equity. RESEAU consists of a team of engineers, community partners, industry groups, and government officials working together to develop innovative solutions for water-health in small communities. Over the last six years, RESEAU has partnered with the UBC Research-based Theatre Lab to develop Treading Water, a research-based theatre play that brings to life some of the rich stories discovered during these community collaborations. The play flows between the intersecting narratives of individuals in a community dealing with unsafe drinking water and explores the resulting challenges to their health and well-being. Water operators and their experiences are central in Treading Water, and the research-based play illustrates their pivotal role in the community. This article, like the theatre initiative described, aims to open conversations addressing water quality and health issues facing rural communities in the 21st century. The article shares the collaborative process of developing the play with the various partners, the short script, as well as feedback from a performer and an evaluator. Cover image: Boil water advisory lifted. Photo credit: RESEAU