Stickboy, an opera adapted from Shane Koyczan’s 2008 novel of the same name, is about Mr. Koyczan’s childhood experiences with bullying.Tim Matheson
For Shane Koyczan, the simple act of going to school became terrifying.
There had been taunts before, but at 10 years old, when bullies in his class discovered he was being raised by his grandparents, the brutality began. It was physical, verbal and relentless.
By the time he was 15, Mr. Koyczan himself started bullying, because he felt the only way to get others to leave him alone was to make them afraid.
Best known for his striking performance of We Are More at the opening ceremonies at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and more recently for a powerful animated video about bullying that has more than 14 million YouTube views, Mr. Koyczan, now 38, released the novel Stickboy about his childhood experiences in 2008. Now, that book has inspired a bold new production by Vancouver Opera.
"This is not going to be a drama. I want people to feel the fear," says Mr. Koyczan, who was approached by Vancouver Opera director Jim Wright after he read a copy of Stickboy. "There was dread every day going to school. And I want people to experience that just so they understand that the things you say and do to other people have a tremendous impact."
The production mixes music by renowned Winnipeg composer Neil Weisensel and libretto by Mr. Koyczan with striking visuals by Giant Ant, the creative group behind the viral video. In the process of writing the libretto, Mr. Koyczan not only had to get used to writing with measures, beats and singability in mind, he also faced the challenge of delving deeply into a painful past. "People were not singing huge arias when this was happening to me," he jokes.
But Mr. Koyczan emphasizes that the story – which also follows the transformation of the main character from victim to bully – is not only about childhood bullying; it will be just as relatable for adults who experience bullying at work, home or other situations. And while the story does offer hope, Mr. Koyczan adds that it doesn't let anyone off the hook.
"I am still here, so obviously there is hope – and there is goodness and levity. But I don't want people to come away from it saying, 'This is just something you're going to get over.' Because I don't think people do that," he says. "People say, 'Bullying is just a part of growing up.' But why does it have to be? Let's evolve. We don't need it any more."
Stickboy is at the Vancouver Playhouse until Nov. 7 (vancouveropera.ca).