Drink The Mercury

Drink The Mercury was first produced by Toronto's Young People's Theatre 1983. Joel Greenberg, formerly the Chairperson of the Drama Department at the University of Waterloo, adapting the photo-journal Minamata by Eugene Smith, a book which brought the village of Minamata and the issue of industrial pollution to world attention for the first time.

In its initial production, the play toured for two years throughout Ontario. Originally intended for elementary grades, it became clear at once that the issues raised - environmental, ethical, economic, moral - were just as pertinent to senior levels.

In 1984, Drink The Mercury won Toronto's coveted Dora Mavor Moore Award as Outstanding Children's Play.

The play was directed by Karen Waterman, Artistic Director of Waterman Theatre Projects in Toronto. Karen is a graduate of the University of Waterloo Drama Department, and has performed internationally with Famous People Players, the Paul Gaulin Mime Company and Theatre Beyond Words.