Ali Dillion-Cardinal amplifies teen voices in compelling play

Warning: The play, The Kids Are All Dying, contains conversations about gun violence and a school shooting, loud gunshot sounds, discussion of child death, coarse language, drugs and alcohol.

Ali Dillon-Cardinal wrote a play that explores the often-unheard voices of teenagers dealing with the trauma of a school shooting.

The fourth-year VIU Creative Writing student created the play, The Kids Are All Dying, for a VIU script writing for stage class after seeing several news stories about school shootings in the United States. It made her wonder how she would deal with that kind of situation and what the teenagers go through in the aftermath of these traumatic events. 

The Kids Are All Dying tells the story of two girls, Jack and Briar, who attend a fictional high school, Lincoln Park High, in Seattle, Washington. It follows Jack and Briar in the aftermath of a school shooting and how they navigate the world around them, overcome and grow through trauma, and question how they see their future after the death of a fellow student.

Image courtesy of Ali Dillion-Cardinal.

“The play is about Jack and Briar and their relationship after the school shooting,” says Ali. “It spans over a full year and there are different scenes from different months throughout the year. And you see things like Halloween and how mundane things like fireworks for example can trigger different memories from the traumatic event that occurred.”

Ali wanted to tell the story from the teenagers’ perspective because she says when news stories are told in real life it is often the parents’, relatives’ and teachers’ voices that are heard.

“You don’t often see the other students’ reactions. I spent a lot of time delving into the idea, sitting and thinking, if I was in that situation how would I react,” says Ali. “It’s about opening up conversations on topics that are happening to children and the conversation should be coming from the younger generation.”

Ali workshopped her play with the other Creative Writing students in her scriptwriting class taught by VIU Creative Writing and Journalism Professor Craig Taylor. She says Craig was very supportive and the small class size allowed everyone to know everyone well, which created a welcoming space to explore ideas. Ali felt comfortable bringing her play idea forward even though it deals with a controversial issue.

“It was nice to be around such a supportive group. Since the very beginning it’s been such a group effort,” says Ali, adding the group workshopping was an essential part of the play’s development. “I was very lucky to have a vocal group who wanted to see this play succeed. We all want to see each other succeed and that is the nice thing about having a small group of people in the program.”

Ali’s play is being staged at the Nanaimo Fringe Festival, from August 8 to 18. It’s presented by TFL Produces, from Qualicum Beach, which is co-founded by Taylor Lee. Tickets are $25 for encore seating and $16 for regular available at the Port Theatre. A one-time purchase of a $5 Fringe Festival button is required to see any shows. The Kids Are All Dying shows on the Port Theatre’s main stage on:

• August 10, 5:45 pm
• August 13, 8:30 pm
• August 15, 3:45 pm
• August 17, 8:30 pm; and
• August 18, 3 pm.

Ali received the 2024 Pacific Coast Stage Company Indigenous Artists Sponsorship through the Nanaimo Fringe Festival to help stage her play.

Main blog photo courtesy of Ali Dillon-Cardinal.