Spur with Michael Healey

Spur Festival–Kristin’s 2 Cents

Spur with Michael Healey

About a week ago, MCT attended a new festival, SPUR, which investigates the relationship between art and politics. A group of us went to see the Theatre and Politics Conference with Canadian playwrights Hannah Moscovitch, Guillermo Verdecchia and Michael Healey.

Hannah Moscovitch discussed her process of developing a script derived from sensitive issues and the untold stories of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. What intrigued me about her discussion of This is War was her process of collecting these raw stories of our Canadian Soldiers and creating a fictional play. I am curious about how one can honor those stories? How works like This is War become important depictions of our political history and yet intentionally they are not accurate historical facts? On the other hand I understand the desire to steer away from creating verbatim theatre with all of the legal nightmares. What do you think about works of fiction inspired by real events? Aren’t all stories subjective?

Such interesting new seeds have been planted in my mind, thank you SPUR for a great conference I look forward to next year’s festival!

To find out more about the festival which will be in Winnipeg this weekend, check out the website: spurfestival.ca.

Voices Final Performance

Senior Production – Kristin’s 2 Cents

Voices Final Performance

What a roller coaster ride; we shared our stories; talked about who we are, where we’ve come from, what are some of our greatest achievements and some of our greatest challenges. “If you could write a letter to your older self what would it say? What kind of advice would you give yourself?” Together as an ensemble, we weaved those pieces of ourselves into the production Voices of Toronto Seniors.

Personally, I have learned that it is never too late to try new things. We can create a minefield of reasons not to, but sometimes it’s as simple as saying “Why not? What do I have to lose?”

What I appreciate the most is my new-found friendships! I am excited to hang out with Pat and whip up one of her Expert Martinis, to sit with Tom and hear more about sailing the 7 seas, to jam with Aidan, to listen to some tunes with Fred, and of course to see Maureen on the stage playing a role in a Noel Coward play!

I love you all and I am forever grateful for your hard work and dedication!

Kristin over and out… for now!

Kristin Bartlett is the Bilingual Projects & Communications Coordinator at Mixed Company Theatre. She spearheaded “Voices of Toronto Seniors”  and starred in multiple roles. Kristin was essential in creating and producing MCT’s first senior production.