Métis-Jewish performer Philip Geller’s solo show on November 9 asks audiences to look up and remember what we’ve forgotten

Presented by Public Energy and Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space, 'who will save the night sky?' invites reflection on technology's impact on our relationship with the stars

By kawarthaNOW -
Published
In "who will save the night sky?" on November 9, 2025 at Trent University's Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space, Métis-Jewish performer Philip Geller's Trickster-like character invites the audience to a "starry boardroom" where celestial beings debate the fate of Earth and its two-legged inhabitants. With many thousands of satellites in orbit, Geller uses humour and subversion to inspire reflection on the modern forces that obscure humanity's ancient relationship with the stars. (Photo: Kate Dalton)
In "who will save the night sky?" on November 9, 2025 at Trent University's Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space, Métis-Jewish performer Philip Geller's Trickster-like character invites the audience to a "starry boardroom" where celestial beings debate the fate of Earth and its two-legged inhabitants. With many thousands of satellites in orbit, Geller uses humour and subversion to inspire reflection on the modern forces that obscure humanity's ancient relationship with the stars. (Photo: Kate Dalton)

For the second show of its 2025-26 season, Public Energy Performing Arts is joining forces with Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space to present who will save the night sky?, a playful and thought-provoking solo performance by Métis-Jewish theatre creator Philip Geller.

Geller will be in Peterborough-Nogojiwanong to perform the show at Trent University’s 49th annual Elders and Traditional People’s Gathering, which takes place from November 7 to 9, and is also offering one special ticketed performance for the general public.

The public show takes place at 2 p.m. on Sunday (November 9) at Nozhem, located in the university’s Enwayaang Building on the Symons Campus.

Advertisement - content continues below

 

 

Mixing bouffon, clown, and storytelling traditions, who will save the night sky? will transport the audience to a “starry boardroom” where celestial beings debate the fate of Earth and its two-legged inhabitants.

With playful storytelling, Geller’s Trickster-like character — part fool, part guide, and part cosmic jester — will lead the audience to a world where satellites now crowd the heavens, asking what is lost when we forget our connection to the sky.

According to NASA, as of June 2025, there are now around 9,300 active satellites in orbit around the Earth, with an estimated 3,000 inactive satellites also in orbit.

“Did you know there are nearly 4,000 satellites already in orbit, with hopes of 42,000 in the near future?” Geller asks. “Did you know that when satellites stop working, they are left to float in the outer atmosphere of earth … alone … hapless, hopeless, helpless.”

With playful storytelling, Métis-Jewish performer Philip Geller's Trickster-like character in "who will save the night sky?" will lead the audience to a world where satellites now crowd the heavens, asking what is lost when we forget our connection to the sky. Geller is performing the show at Trent University's Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space during the 49th annual Elders and Traditional People's Gathering, with a public performance on November 9, 2025. (Photo: Kate Dalton)
With playful storytelling, Métis-Jewish performer Philip Geller’s Trickster-like character in “who will save the night sky?” will lead the audience to a world where satellites now crowd the heavens, asking what is lost when we forget our connection to the sky. Geller is performing the show at Trent University’s Nozhem First Peoples Performance Space during the 49th annual Elders and Traditional People’s Gathering, with a public performance on November 9, 2025. (Photo: Kate Dalton)

Described by Public Energy’s programming director Kate Alton as “a witty Trickster-Storyteller who has the audience in stitches,” Geller uses humour and subversion to inspire reflection on the modern forces that obscure humanity’s ancient relationship with the stars.

Based in Winnipeg, Geller (they/them) is Michif (Red River Métis) and Jewish (Ashkenazi) and has worked with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Native Earth Performing Arts, the Stratford Festival, and others. Their creative practice combines land-based creation and trickster methodologies to decolonize theatre and centre ancestral knowledge.

who will save the night sky? has been curated by Nozhem’s Indigenous Performance Initiatives circle collective. Tickets for the public show are available on a sliding pay-what-you-can scale at www.eventbrite.ca/e/1766697121649.

For more information about Public Energy’s 2025-26 season, visit publicenergy.ca.

 

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a long-time media sponsor of Public Energy Performing Arts.

RECENT STORIESMORE FROM AUTHOR