DISRUPTORS: An evening with Myriam Cyr and Kamini Banga

Cyr is an internationally renowned Actress, writer, producer and director. She produces across different mediums from the New York Comedy film festival, to executive producing the 2020 award-winning album Brûle sur me lèvres, to award-winning films and theater. Early in her career Cyr worked as a London correspondent for the CBC. She is the New Brunswick Canada Poet Laureate (2008), and the author of the critically acclaimed book Letters of a Portuguese Nun. Cyr has extensive theater experience in New York and London, including working opposite Al Pacino in Salome, opposite Gabriel Byrne's in Gothic, and Janet Suzman in Vassa. She was part of the original cast of the Exonerated and Angels Punks and Raging Queens with Tim Robbins. She has been hailed across several mediums, directing Simon Says (Lynn Redgrave Theater) with Brian Murray hailed by the NY Times as “thrilling”. As artistic director of Punctuate4 Productions, Cyr produced, wrote and directed Saltonstall’s Trial, One Man’s Stand Against the Salem Witch Trials (Michael Cormier/ Myriam Cyr), Wilber’s War (Hale Bradt) No Victors, No Vanquished, (Paul Saba Esq). In 2020, Myriam directed The Battle Not Begun, by NPR On Point Analyst Jack Beatty (Boston Globe Critics’ Pick) a co-production of Gloucester Stage Company. Cyr is also a critically acclaimed, award-winning actress. Her performance as Salome against Steven Berkoff in the National Theater production was named top 10 performance of the decade by Sydney Herald 2020. Her awards include Best Actress at the Huston Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, Festival International du Film, Baie Comeau, Festival International du Cinema, Namur, Belgium, Festival of Cinema Greece. Her book Letters of a Portuguese Nun is translated into 8 languages and was chosen as book of the week by the London Guardian, Critic’s pick by the LA Times and Book of the week and The Week. She is a goodwill ambassador for her native province of New-Brunswick and received a commendation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for her contribution to the arts in 2021. She is the recipient of two Broadwayworld awards for best director including Reparations by James Sheldon that was produced at the Gloucester stage, and an Elliot Norton Award. Pointe Noire directed by Pat Mire and written by Rebecca Hudsmith will be released in 2025 and she has just finished shooting (2025) the lead female role in "As I Am" written and directed by Iranian Filmmaker Pourya Azarbayjani. She has just finished (yesterday)  an adaptation for the stage of Sherlock's Last Case.

Kamini Banga is no stranger to theatre as it was one of her first loves as a young woman in India. She is currently putting the finishing touches to her book Unspoken Prayers, a memoir of her journey. Kamini married for love, pursued a passion for science at a time and in a world where neither were permitted. 

Mariana Alcoforado (the nun) did the same.  Both became powerful women.  Here is the difference, Mariana lived in the 17th century, Kamini is very much alive and with us. 

How much has changed?  Through reading excerpts of both books, both stories, this question will be asked.