Taking on Water

In the fall of 2021 playwright Robert Chafe set out on an interview tour of eastern Newfoundland, asking residents of coastal communities why they live where they live, and how they might see their future. The responses offer a new way to think about the love, risk, and resilience of living on the edge of a changing ocean. Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Barbara Doran and Jerry McIntosh, Taking on Water takes the audience through the process of developing the musical-dramatic performance of the same name from local conversations about ocean and coastal change to final performances on the stage.

Directed by Barbara Doran, Taking on Water leans on a strong ensemble — Robert Chafe, Nancy Dahn, Barbara Doran — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2024.