Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Civil Debates is a series of public debates powered by the community. In 2012, praxistheatre.com was home to a number of passionate, intelligent, informed and respectful debates. This year, Civil Debates go live at The Theatre Centre Pop-Up using the Canadian parliamentary debate model: 2 speakers on each side, strict time allotments, moderated exchange and a vote Yay or Nay.
de·bate, noun. /dɪˈbeɪt/
-- a formal discussion on a particular matter in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward and which usually ends with a vote.
ci·vil, adj. /ˈsɪv(ə)l, -ɪl/
-- relating to ordinary citizens and their concerns.
-- courteous and polite.
Oxford Dictionary
We hope to explore debate and public speaking as structured art forms, while engaging in a meaningful exchange on the topics relevant to us as citizens. The resolutions for the three first Civil Debates have emerged from ideas suggested by the community via a live installation at the Next Stage Theatre Festival in January, which received over a hundred suggestions:
March 7, 2013
#1: Creative Cities – Be it resolved that the Creative Cities theories serve to reinforce dominant class structures.
April 4, 2013
#2: Arts Boards – Be it resolved that Boards of Directors have the right and responsibility to overrule the Artistic Direction of a theatre company.
May 2, 2013
#3: Idle No More - Be it resolved that the issues that created the Idle No More movement require extreme methods to achieve change.
The debates will take place on the first Thursday of each month, starting March 7th. The speakers for each debate will be announced in advance on praxistheatre.com and theatrecentre.org. Live tweetcasts will be available for each debate, along with blog posts and social media sharing to facilitate further discussion.
About the organizers:
Praxis Theatre has created eleven original theatrical productions in Toronto over the past decade. A community leader in online engagement, praxistheatre.com was named a Toronto Theatre MVP by The Grid as an “outlet for informed, well-reasoned debate” in 2012.
The Theatre Centre nurtures artists, invests in ideas, and champions new work and new ways of working. The Theatre Centre provides artists with an infrastructure and resources to create their art – from an idea to a production. In 2013, The Theatre Centre will move to a new live arts hub and incubator at 1115 Queen West.
Praxis Theatre and The Theatre Centre present
CIVIL DEBATES
First Thursday of the month: March 7, April 4, May 2, 2013.
Doors at 7pm; debates at 7.30pm The Theatre Centre Pop-Up, 1095 Queen St. West
Admission: PWYC
Photo: Han Soete.
2013-02-05
Toronto: Praxis Theatre and The Theatre Centre team up to present “Civil Debates”