The Ice Keeps, Melissa Taylor

The Endurance set sail for Antarctica in 1914 with twenty-eight souls aboard – only to be trapped in the ice before ever setting foot on the continent. Stranded on drifting ice and later marooned on a remote island, they persevered through courage, ingenuity, and an extraordinary commitment to one another. In this compelling retelling, Melissa Taylor reimagines the legendary expedition with a gender-bent cast, offering a fresh perspective on one of history’s greatest survival stories. Directed by Heather Jarvie (Pick of the Fringe winner 2018 & 2019), the production explores leadership, resilience, and the often-overlooked acts of care that sustained the crew, revealing the maternal and communal bonds at the heart of their remarkable journey. Go for Glory, or Go For Good. Credits Written by – Melissa Taylor Directed by – Heather Jarvie Lighting Design by – Annie Konstantinov Sound Design by – Emily Burke Poster design by Julie McLaughlin See our full cast and creative team here: https://hapaxtheatre.com/fringe/ About the Artist Melissa Taylor [Playwright] was born and raised on lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Traditional Territory (Victoria, B.C), and has spent the last decade bouncing back and forth between the Island and Ontario. In Victoria, her work has been produced by Theatre SKAM, Impulse Theatre and hapax theatre. In Toronto, she has worked as an actor and a playwright with various professional and independent theatres, such as Hart House Theatre, Newmarket National Play Festival, Driftwood Theatre, and the False Claims Collective. She completed her MFA in Playwriting at the University of Victoria, with her thesis project being a one-woman show based off of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Melissa is an Associate Artist at hapax theatre (Victoria), and co-artistic director of Gangway! Theatre Company (Toronto). Heather Jarvie [Director] is a multidisciplinary artist grateful to practice on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples. Performance highlights include Hello, Dolly!, La Traviata, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Children of Eden, The Magic Flute, and The Drowning Girls. Directing highlights include Harvey, Company, Nevermore (2019 Pick of the Fringe Winner), the world premiere of Castle On The Farm, Lay Down All Dogs, and The Incredible Glowing Woman. Guest Producer for the 29th Victoria Fringe Festival. 2015-2016 Artist-In-Residence with Pacific Opera Victoria. 2016 Artist-In-Residence with the Icelandic Opera, Assistant Directed the award-winning Eugene Onegin. Assistant Director for Behind The Moon at the Belfry Theatre. A passionate advocate for equity in theatre, Heather co-founded hapax theatre, prioritizing inclusivity by dismantling structural racism, ableism, and other barriers to create welcoming, diverse artistic spaces. Full cast and creative team bios available here: https://hapaxtheatre.com/fringe/ Accessibility Content warnings: Coarse language. Sensory warnings: None. Know before you go, learn about this venue with our Venue Guide. For more accessibility information see the Accessibility at the Fringe page on our website.