International Theatre Conference: Directing and Authorship in Western Drama

Panel Six
Saturday October 25th,11-12:45pm

Dr. Edward Little, Concordia
Directorial Approaches to Cultural Diversity in a Community Based Project

This paper will discuss directorial approaches developed specifically for "Untold Stories"-an ongoing community based project produced by Montreal's Teesri Duniya Theatre in collaboration with the Department of Theatre at Concordia University, CBC Radio, and various community organizations and groups. The project involves community members--particularly those from under represented and marginalized groups--working with professional and emerging artists to collect, dramatize and present short, theatrical episodes based on untold or little-known stories. These episodes are then toured to various community settings and culminate with public discussions aimed at fostering communication across difference and identifying stories, participants, and themes for future episodes.

The roles of artistic and stage directors will be considered within the context of the project's goals which include: exploring methods for the development of culturally sensitive representation and dramaturgy,
examining relationships between artistic accomplishment and social efficacy in community based work; and the development of multiple aesthetic criteria which respond to cultural diversity within a multicultural Canadian context.