How Bono Saved my Life (Three Times)
Sonya Ballantyne Entertainment - Winnipeg, MB
 http://sonyaballantyne.com		V.29 - Club 200 
"Hearing that song for the first time stopped me dead in my tracks and I wondered how this person I had never met knew the contents of my heart."
Long-time Fringe reviewer and first-time Fringe performer Sonya Ballantyne tells the story of the three times she came close to ending her life and how her teenage obsession with the band U2 (specifically lead singer and activist Bono) kept her going.

From the Rez to the Vegas Sphere, come with Sonya on her journey.

Cast:
Sonya Ballantyne

Director:
Emily King

 		Show Info:
45 Mins minutes
Genre:
Storytelling

Audience:
Parental Guidance

Coarse Language, Violent Content, Sexual Content, Mentions of suicide, mental health issues and sexual assault

Wed July 15 4:30 PM
Thu July 16 4:30 PM
Fri July 17 4:30 PM
Sun July 19 4:30 PM
Wed July 22 4:30 PM
Thu July 23 4:30 PM
Fri July 24 4:30 PM

How Bono Saved my Life (Three Times)

Sonya Ballantyne Entertainment—Club 200

In this masterful spoken-word piece, Cree author and filmmaker Sonya Ballantyne showcases her love for U2 and the contents of her heart with the candour of a writer and the intensity of a fangirl. While chasing something that feels like hope, Ballantyne finds surprising inspiration in disappointing crushes, male vulnerability, and the devastating heartbreak of surviving abuse, as she recounts how a favourite band can pull you out of darkness and lead you to who you’re supposed to be.

Nyala Ali

How Bono Saved my Life (Three Times)

Sonya Ballantyne Entertainment—Club 200

The show title alone piqued my interest from the start. Admittedly, I came into Club 200 knowing more about the venue than Bono (other than shouting his name out during trivia night scrambles)… Sonya Ballantyne soars with storytelling in a first performance venture.

Standing on the edge of a TED-ish talk, her tale about her vision quest to meet, see, touch, and explore the world of the man who “I had never met (but) knew the contents of my heart” explores the importance of vulnerable masculinity, consent, and discovering that our heroes can have traits we inherently despise.

Filled to the brim with heart and truth, Sonya radiates quirky confidence as not-so-beautiful days are discussed and uncovered.

Stephanie Adamov

Sonya Ballantyne Entertainment

How Bono Saved my Life (Three Times)—Club 200

Creative Native Sonya Ballantyne is a long time Fringe reviewer and first time Fringe performer. Her spoken word show looks at three instances when she was going to take her own life and what stopped her each time (spoiler: it usually had to do with U2). Sonya was inspired by Duane Forrest’ Bob Marley How Reggae Changed the World to write this piece as well as seeing a lack of Indigenous Fringe content during her time as a reviewer.