A one-act solo play will be staged on Sept. 21, during the 2024 Ryga Arts Festival.

Jake鈥檚 Gift, written and performed by Julia Mackey and directed by Dirk Van Stralen, is the story of a Canadian veteran of the Second World War who reluctantly returns to Normandy, France for the 60th anniversary of D-Day to find his brother鈥檚 gift.

Since 2007, Juno Productions has toured Jake鈥檚 Gift to more than 250 communities in Canada and around the world. She has performed it in French and English.

鈥淭he response to the play in the past 15 years has been wonderful,鈥� she said. 鈥淎lmost every family has some connection to the Second World War.鈥�

Earlier this year, Mackey was awarded a Meritorious Service Cross from the Governor General鈥檚 Office for educating young Canadians about D-Day and her continued work in honouring and preserving veterans鈥� stories through Jake鈥檚 Gift. 

The concept for the play began in June 2004, when Mackey travelled to Normandy for the 60th anniversary of D-Day. At that time, she interviewed Canadian, British and American veterans who had returned for the ceremonies. The first draft of the play received a workshop at the Sunset Theatre鈥檚 Exploration Series in Wells, B.C.

Mackey said some of the themes in the play, about concepts of loss and regret, are universal and are not limited to the Second World War.

In 2024, for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Mackey performed the play in Normandy, France.

When she stages the play, it will be followed by a question-and-answer session. In addition, Mackey has donated money to local legion branches after performing the play. 

Jake鈥檚 Gift has received numerous awards, nominations and accolades at arts festivals and fringe festivals since it debuted. In 2009, the play received the Royal Canadian Legion Media Award. 

The play runs for around 65 minutes with no intermission, and is designed for a suggested audience of 10 and older.