By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

The Ghomeshi Effect comes to Red Deer’s Memorial Centre on Nov. 9

Oct 26, 2018 | 3:16 PM

A dance-theatre production, which looks at how the legal system handles sexual assault cases in Canada, is coming to Red Deer.

The Ghomeshi Effect will be at the Memorial Centre on Nov. 9 following a limited run at the University of Ottawa. It is now touring other post-secondary institutions and communities in Ontario and Alberta.

The Ghomeshi Effect was created in the wake of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, as well as the trial of Jian Ghomeshi, a former CBC broadcaster accused and later acquitted of all charges, including four of sexual assault.

“We need to talk about this,” says Jessica Ruano, writer and director. “We need to find new ways of talking about it. We need to have conversations that move beyond provocative news articles and Facebook battles that are eliciting strong reactions, yet further dividing us.”

Patricia Arango, Executive Director of the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre, says it’s exciting to bring this ‘impactful’ production to central Alberta.

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“Through The Ghomeshi Effect, we can have a conversation on the topic of sexual violence and invite people to work together to prevent sexual violence,” she says. “We as a society need to recover our freedom and no longer live in fear. It begins first as a conversation, working towards preventing sexual violence in our community.”

The Ghomeshi Effect was originally presented as part of The Gladstone’s 2016-17 Season and played at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Since then, members of the team have presented at the LEAF Gala in Toronto, International Women’s Day Ottawa, and Take Back the Night – Lanark County.

The performance will be followed by a talkback with expert panellists from around Red Deer.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show on Nov. 9 are $5.