Synopsis
Star (Dilan Chiblow), an Indigi-Queer Two-Spirit lonesome call boy has become newly entranced by the world of drag when they are introduced to The House of Borealis, a popular drag house led by their charming matriarch, Mother (Stewart Adam McKensy). Star’s newfound passion propels them to face a cultural past once neglected, but when painful memories re-emerge, their love for drag and their new family is put to the test. Alongside Levi (Jeffrey Follis) and the rest of their sisters in drag, Star journeys through the realization of who they are, leading to the creation of a persona that blends their grounded cultural spirit with a unique take on drag: Starwalker
Director Biography – Corey Payette
Corey Payette is a writer, composer, and director in independent film. He is a member of the Mattagami First Nations, with French Canadian and Irish ancestry, and lives on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl’ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
Known for his deeply moving, large-scale original musical creations, Payette’s work challenges the public’s notion of what musicals can be, inserting Indigenous perspectives and narratives into mainstream spaces, igniting conversations that inspire social change. Payette’s work explores themes of colonization, Indigenous language revitalization, cultural healing, reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and the complexity of historic and contemporary Indigenous experiences across music, theatre, and film. Payette’s deeply collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and community engaged creation process has been integral in shining a light on stories that have gone unheard for generations. In 2021, Payette received the inaugural BC Award for Reconciliation, created to honour those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province of British Columbia.
IStarwalker began as a deeply personal exploration of my Two-Spirit identity and a love letter to my queer community in East Vancouver. I started writing this musical at a time when drag queen story hours weren’t under attack, when the findings from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People had not yet come to light, and when the fight for equality seemed to be making greater strides. But the world has shifted, and so has the urgency of Starwalker.
This musical is an act of joyful rebellion—a celebration of resilience and the enduring power of love. It honors our shared histories and the complex, messy beauty of our relationships, while imagining a future full of unapologetic self-expression.
At its heart, Starwalker weaves together Indigenous culture and drag performance to shine a light on the vibrant, transformative power of Two-Spirit identity. It’s a tribute to our families—both those we are born into and those we choose—to the beauty that exists within us all, and to the sacred, unshakable power that has always lived on this land.
My hope is that Starwalker will inspire audiences to see the world through a lens of love and possibility, and to celebrate the joy of being exactly who you were always meant to be.