June 4, 2019

“Laborarium 2019 – Vancouver, BC”

After its very successful Montreal inauguration in May of 2018, a second “Laborarium” was held on June 1 and 2, 2019 at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

A Laborarium is an experiential learning event designed to rethink inclusivity in the rehearsal hall. Designed to be tailored to the needs of the host city it visits, the Vancouver Laborarium asked the central question: “How can we build a space where all our gifts and uniquenesses can inspire creative processes?” Facilitators Pawa Haiyupis and Lisa Ngeru led a group of 37 intergenerational participants from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.  Artistic leaders, community-engaged practitioners, artists, researchers, students and community members came together for two days of generative dialogue and physical experimentation, an “ethical space” in action.    

Among the stories and experiences that were shared, Savannah Walling and Terry Hunter told the story of Vancouver Moving Theatre’s “Weaving Reconciliation, Our Way”; actor Landon Krentz shared his experience as a Deaf artist in the city and how his work tries to reach across linguistic borders; Jesse Del Fierro shared stories of their experience as a young artist in (de)centralized rehearsal halls; and Soheil Parsa and Peter Farbridge discussed Modern Times’ experience of how differences have served to inspire the creative processes of the company. These stories served as the basis of mutual introductions, and to presence the manner necessary levels of complexity involved in intercultural and transcultural communication.

We are grateful for all our partners in this project, including Simon Fraser University and the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance.

Read the Participant Handbook

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