What is Postmarginal Edmonton?
Postmarginal Edmonton will bring together a diverse group of 40 theatre artists, academics and cultural workers to explore how differences of gender identity, ethnocultural backgrounds, and physical and mental dis/abilities can be a source of creative inspiration in the theatre. Enriched by experiences in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, the three-day event responds to the specific context of the host city through storytelling, dialogue and physical workshops.
As we reignite our theatre communities, Postmarginal Edmonton is a chance to envision the future of theatre and rethink how inclusivity can be central to the creation process.
When: September 12, 13 and 14, 2021
Where: Westbury Theatre, Fringe Theatre Adventures
An Experiential learning event
To begin creating in an inclusive manner, we need mental, online, and real-life spaces where dialogue about identity and artistic freedom can take place in meaningful and respectful ways.
Postmarginal retreats were launched in 2018 as a new physical space for rethinking inclusivity in theatre. Part workshop and part think-tank, the main objective of a Postmarginal retreat is to discover, test, and propose new work ethics and creative strategies for exploring differences in the rehearsal hall.
For Three Days in Edmonton
Day 1 | Space to Give and Receive
Sunday, September 12, 2021 – 9am to 5pm
A day of mind and body encounters. We create the physical and mental space to speak freely, clearly and with compassion. Nine local theatre and performance artists share stories of intercultural experiences to generate collective understanding of the retreat’s central questions.
Day 2 | Embracing the Complexity
Monday, September 13, 2021 – 9am to 5pm
With the invitation to enter into a multilayered discussion about the creative potential of working across cultural differences and perspectives, the group travels between community-specific and collective discussions. Two practical workshops suited for all levels of experience will examine the dynamics of understanding and accessing our differences in creation.
Day 3 | Forward into Creation
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 – 10am to 4pm
Participants are invited to bring the learning from the retreat into their organizations or artistic practice, and join with other artists and cultural workers to create concrete projects.
In a collective, design thinking, approach
Ez Bridgman
I see life as an adventure filled with love, joy and learning. I envision a world where everyone knows how to connect to their innate joy and in turn shares this vibrant energy freely. I see glimpses of this vision every day: my practice is the creation of spaces of delight, growth and discovery, for individuals and organisations, in Canada and internationally (en français également). My feet are rooted in the beautiful city of Montréal, Québec, on unceded Mohawk land (to learn more). I am known for my creativity, deep understanding of human communication, and a wide-reaching skill set spanning adult learning, design and group process, storytelling and coaching. I hold a B.A. in communication (human relations) from the Université du Québec à Montréal, a MSc in Management in social innovation contexts from HEC Montréal and a Professional and Personal Coach Certification (PPCC) from Concordia University.
Lisa Ndejuru
Lisa Ndejuru received her master's degree in clinical counseling from Université de Sherbrooke, and is certified in Moreno psychodrama, community mediation and third party neutral conflict resolution facilitation. She is a skilled practitioner of Playback Theatre and is a founding member of the Montreal-based Living Histories Ensemble. She has served the Rwandan diaspora in North America for over 20 years as an organizer and activist. Her clinical practice as an employee-assistance counselor for Morneau Shepell emphasizes deep listening and solution-focused strategies. She is president of the Canadian Association of Pastoral Counsellors and is a trainer and core member of the Winnipeg-based Vidaview group. For seven years Lisa was a community co-applicant and steering committee member of the major SSHRC-funded community-university project Life stories of Montrealers displaced by genocide, war and other human rights abuses. Motivated by her own family's story of trauma and displacement, her PhD studies at Concordia University were at the intersection of community engagement, clinical practice, and arts-based research. Her extensive experimentation with storytelling, play and improvised theatre in post-trauma settings aims for individual and collective meaning-making and empowerment in the aftermath of large-scale political violence. She has presented and published internationally on these themes. As a teacher she seeks to facilitate and nurture self reflection, creativity and engaged learning.
We learn through stories...
Indigenous theatre practice North & South
Indigenous theatre practice from the North and South
How can Indigenous relationships from distant lands reflect positive ways of creating art?
with Todd Houseman and Lady Vanessa Cardona
What are you afraid of...?
What are you afraid of…?
How can we overcome our fears of working across differences?
with Jesse Del Fierro
Bridging value systems in creation
The Lioness: Bridging Value Systems in Creation
How do we move beyond cultural borders and embrace the values of different worlds?
with Shrina Patel
Marginalized bodies and the rehearsal hall
Marginalized bodies and the rehearsal hall
How can marginalized and non-marginalized bodies share space in the context of racial violence?
with Mũkonzi Mũsyoki
Breaking the silence between us
Breaking the silence between us
How can Deaf and hearing actors make space for each other?
with Chris Dodd
Empathy & change in rehearsal process
Empathy & Change in Rehearsal Process
How can working with disability create new pathways of understanding the rehearsal process?
with Brooke Leifso and David Horak
We learn through action
« Le Besoin d’être mal-armé » : Creating Multilingual Dramaturgy
In this workshop, mono-, bi- and multi-lingual artists will be invited to co-create dramaturgical material through experimenting with and in various languages: verbal and non-verbal, spoken or written, known and unknown, living or dead. The goal of the workshop is to introduce the concept of multilingual dramaturgy, i.e., dramaturgy that resists translation as its main tool, challenges the hegemony of dominant languages and attempts to create multi-layered meanings intended for multilingual and multicultural audiences. Participants are encouraged to bring their own stories, monologues, poems, improv exercises or any other genres (in any of the languages they speak or are currently learning) as the basis for further devising.
Art Babayants/Արտ բաբայանց, stage director
Art Babayants is a multilingual artist-scholar who lives and works in what is now called Canada. His training combines the Stanislavsky school of acting (as taught in Russia), Meyerhold's Biomechanics and Indian kalaripaiattu.
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Art's directing credits include musicals Share and Share Alike (2007), Seussical (2009), Gypsy (2011), Godspell (2014), Spring Awakening (2019), contemporary Canadian drama Couldn’t We Be (2008), The…Musician: An Etude (2012 and 2014), Wine&Halva (2020) and multilingual performance In Sundry Languages (2015-2019), collectively devised by Toronto Laboratory Theatre (published as a script by Playwrights Canada in 2019). He runs Quebec’s first Musical Theatre program (at Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke) and publishes on the issues of stage multilingualism, diasporic/immigrant theatre, queer dramaturgy, applied theatre and contemporary musical theatre. Art has also co-edited scholarly volume Theatre and Learning (2015) and the special issue of Theatre Research in Canada/Les recherches théâtrales au Canada (Fall 2017) dedicated to multilingual theatre in Canada. With the support of La Troupe du jour (Saskatoon), he is completing work on his first multilingual play Bros/Les gars (2021).
At the Limits of Self and Other: A Somatic Exploration
In Somatic Workshops with Meryem Alaoui, we will use a body-based approach, focusing on our sensations in the moment and on our presence in our body. We will explore principles and questions in an embodied experiential way through movement, touch, voice, and play, around the possibilities of creating connections within our self and between each other, especially in a socially distant environment. Together, we will learn from our own experiences and use our curiosity and our desire for discovering, uncovering or rediscovering as our guide.
Register today
To register, please click the Register button. Thanks to the support of the Edmonton Community Foundation, participants will be paid an honoraria of $100 for each day of participation. As we have a limited number of spaces available, and in the interest of having a strong representation from the different communities embraced by this project, we regretfully cannot guarantee a spot will be available for every individual. For any questions concerning registration, please contact Eric Rice ([email protected]).
Postmarginal Edmonton will monitor public health guidelines as reopening takes place. We are prepared if necessary to conduct the event in a manner that is physically-distanced, where all physical interaction closer than 2 metres (6 feet) will require the wearing of face masks. Our venue, the Fringe Theatre Adventures is fully accessible for all patrons and participants.
Accessibility features can be found here. We ask everyone to be courteous of their fellow participants and to avoid the wearing of perfume, cologne and other scented products. For wheelchair users: if you require a reserved wheelchair space, please note this in your letter of motivation. Please also note if you will be with an attendant that you wish to sit with. ASL interpretation will be provided throughout the three days of the retreat. Please help us prepare by noting at time of registration if you will be using this service. Participants with specific needs are welcome to contact Eric Rice ([email protected]) in advance of their attendance to discuss arrangements to ensure their comfort and access. Advance site orientation visits for attendees can also be arranged.
Special Thanks:
The Board of Directors and members of the Equity Committee of Walterdale Theatre Associates, especially May Kharaghani, Monica Roberts, David Owen, Mary-Ellen Perley, Kristina De Guzman, Pedro Rodriguez, and M.J. Kreisel for their input and dedication.
Jessie van Rijn from the Citadel Theatre and Keri Mitchell from Theatre Alberta for their rock-steady partnership.
Members of the Edmonton theatre community who joined us in planning sessions: Jordan Campion, Sue Goberdhan, Darrin Hagen, Brooke Leifso, Mukonzi Musyoki, Patricia Darbasie, Chris Dodd, John Hudson, Dr. Heidi Janz, Vanessa Sabourin, and Amena Shehab.
Members of the Postmarginal and Modern Times team who supported and guided the planning process: Peter Farbridge, Soheil Parsa, Gia Nahmens, Anne-Laure Mathieu, Crystal Chan and Ez Bridgman, Lisa Ndejuru.
This project was made possible through the Edmonton Arts Council and their Connections and Exchanges program, as well as the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Strategic Initiatives, and the Toronto Arts Council’s Open Door program. We thank the Edmonton Community Foundation for their gracious support of artist honorariums to attend the workshop.
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