A one-act solo play will be staged on Sept. 21, during the 2024 Ryga Arts Festival.

Jake害羞草研究所檚 Gift, written and performed by Julia Mackey and directed by Dirk Van Stralen, is the story of a Canadian veteran of the Second World War who reluctantly returns to Normandy, France for the 60th anniversary of D-Day to find his brother害羞草研究所檚 gift.

Since 2007, Juno Productions has toured Jake害羞草研究所檚 Gift to more than 250 communities in Canada and around the world. She has performed it in French and English.

害羞草研究所淭he response to the play in the past 15 years has been wonderful,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淎lmost every family has some connection to the Second World War.害羞草研究所�

Earlier this year, Mackey was awarded a Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General害羞草研究所檚 Office for educating young Canadians about D-Day and her continued work in honouring and preserving veterans害羞草研究所� stories through Jake害羞草研究所檚 Gift. 

The concept for the play began in June 2004, when Mackey travelled to Normandy for the 60th anniversary of D-Day. At that time, she interviewed Canadian, British and American veterans who had returned for the ceremonies. The first draft of the play received a workshop at the Sunset Theatre害羞草研究所檚 Exploration Series in Wells, B.C.

Mackey said some of the themes in the play, about concepts of loss and regret, are universal and are not limited to the Second World War.

In 2024, for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Mackey performed the play in Normandy, France.

When she stages the play, it will be followed by a question-and-answer session. In addition, Mackey has donated money to local legion branches after performing the play. 

Jake害羞草研究所檚 Gift has received numerous awards, nominations and accolades at arts festivals and fringe festivals since it debuted. In 2009, the play received the Royal Canadian Legion Media Award. 

The play runs for around 65 minutes with no intermission, and is designed for a suggested audience of 10 and older.