This podcast is for DRE200 Canadian Theatre History students at University of Toronto, Mississauga.
Episode Two: Thinking Historically
In this episode topics include Kevin Kerr’s Unity 1918, why we study history, and who developed the Canadian Theatre History canon and why we should care.
There are some tech glitches that with smooth out as my editing skills sharpen over the term.
Mini-sode 1: Who is Robertson Davies?
A quick explainer on an influential person.
Episode Five: Mandates and Manifestos
Topics in this episode include Factory Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, and their commitment to developing Canadian playwrights. Funding, community building and mandate shifts. Please stay tuned for Part 2, a conversation with Why Not Theatre’s Ravi Jain which will be uploaded in two days. [Update: The Audio for my interview with Jain was poor so I did not post it.]
Ray listens to me podcast.
Mini-sode 2: Who is John Herbert?
I briefly outline the life of playwright John Herbert to offer context to the play Fortune in Men’s Eyes which is the subject of the next full episode of Dr. Canadiana.
Episode Seven: Theatre on the Cusp: The Fortune in Men's Eye and Canadian Playwrighting
In this episode, my colleague, Dr. Cameron Crookston and I discuss John Herbert’s play The Fortune in Men’s Eyes. Topics include - how time changes language and the importance of historical context when discussing tricky words, gender and sexual identity, and John Herbert and this play’s role in the Canadian drama and theatre canon. This episode includes a discussion of violence and sexual assault; listener discretion is advised.
Episode Eight: Who Gets To Tell the Stories? George Ryga's Ecstasy of Rita Joe and Marie Clements' The Unnatural and Accidental Women
Topics on this episode of Dr. Canadiana include George Ryga, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, Marie Clements, The Unnatural and Accidental Women, Indigenous theatre and drama in Canada and in the Canon, Serial killer Gilbert Jordan and Canada’s Missing and Murdered. Listener discretion is advised.
Episode Eleven: Adapting the Canon
Last week’s episode was delayed due to a technical issue and was “performed live” for my students on Monday, 23 November. I re-recorded it here. Topics include - The Birds by Yvette Nolan, Miss Julie: Sheh-mah by Tara Beagan, Harlem Duet by djanet sears and Good Night Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) by Ann Marie MacDonald.
Episode Twelve: What do we know about Canadian Theatre
The last episode of Dr Canadiana in 2020 will review and reflect on the last twelve weeks of topics.
Episode Ten: Canadian History in Performance
This week’s episode explores the way Canadian history is performed - at a historical house, heritage site or living history museum, or in a theatre. Topics include The Fortress of Louisbourg, The Trial of Louis Riel, Nellie McClung’s Mock Parliament and Video Cabaret.
Episode Nine: Dramaturgy, Disability and David Freeman's Creeps
The topics of this week’s episode include the development of Canadian dramaturgy, disability theatre and the development and legacy of David Freeman’s 1971 play Creeps. I am joined by Dr. Lisa Aikman, who explains what the heck dramaturgy is and what dramaturgy in Canada is like. She also has insightful things to say about the play’s use of language, poetic realism as a Canadian theatre “house style,” and why so many early Canadian works are about marginalized communities.
Here is an essay by Adam Grant Warren.
Episode Six: Mandates and Playwrights with Nina Lee Aquino
This week’s episode features a conversation between me and Factory Theatre’s Artistic Director, Nina Lee Aquino. Topics include - theatre manadates, being “the picker”, expanding audiences, the value of the canon, play and playwright development and our hope for Canadian Theatre in the future.
Episode Four: Collective Creation.
In this episode I discuss the development of collective creation, Theatre Passe Muraille, The Farm Show, Nightwood Theatre, and This is For You, Anna. No cats were consulted this week.
Episode Three: Why is 1967 such a Thing?
In this episode I discuss the Massey Commission, The Canada Council, Expo 67 and Centennial Projects. We also hear briefly from Buddy, my family’s Tonkinese cat. Listen to the end for a source list.