Calgary's Ghost River Theatre is premiering Frontier, a physically driven new work set in the foothills of 1800s Alberta. Co-created by Jamie Konchak and Eric Rose, the show follows a woman whose life is torn apart by grief and violence, forcing her into the wilderness — and into herself.

“This work comes from a deep frustration with how women have been portrayed in historical narratives,” says Konchak, who also leads the work. “They are often reduced or sanitized. Jane is not that. She carries immense grief and trauma, but also a fierce life force, something instinctual and alive. And because the storytelling in Frontier is carved out of the body, not from words, it allows her story to become the story of us all.”

The production also carries meaning beyond the stage. Developed over three years, it was built around a working culture designed to support caregivers and mid-career women in the arts — and will generate resources and best practices for other producers to follow.

Frontier runs April 23 to May 2 at West Village Theatre.