Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The evening of June 15th 2016, fu-GEN Theatre Company lifted the curtain on its secret project that had been in development for the last year: The 49. A special initiative of their WALK THE WALK: NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ASIAN CANADIAN WOMEN, The 49 is a list of 49 plays by Canadian women of colour that has been curated by a national committee of dramaturges, directors, creators and artistic directors; all women of colour. On this list are plays that are ready to be programmed tomorrow, ready to become a part of any season at any Canadian theatre.
The 49 reading committee [Yvette Nolan (SK), Donna-Michelle St. Bernard (ON), Jenna Rodgers (AB), Mel Hague (ON)] has compiled a list of playwrights ranging in generation, form, culture, politic and aesthetic. From these playwrights come forty-nine plays comprising drama, comedy, history, adaptation, theatre for young audience, biomyth and interdisciplinary practises.
“Creating this list was empowering and illuminating, a panorama of contemporary creation and an excavation of our elders’ legacy. In some cases we have chosen a well-known playwright’s lesser-known or infrequently-staged work; in some cases we named plays that arrived too early to be fully appreciated in their time. The lengthy process speaks to the richness of our varied voices, and the gaps in the list identify under-represented communities or practises. The play numbered “1” is not the first, nor is the play numbered “49” the last. The 49 is offered with respect and admiration to all those named and all those implied as we continue to build the collective story of this place.” – statement from The 49 committee, written by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard & Yvette Nolan
The 49 will be forwarded to every Artistic Director in Canada, and fu-GEN is working with Playwrights Canada Press and the individual authors on the list to make the plays available to them, removing every barrier possible in an effort to get these plays on our nation’s stages, in the pursuit of equity, inclusion and representation.
The 49 is available online at
www.the49list.com
WALK THE WALK is an initiative by fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company. It’s a week-long development festival that features new work created by Asian Canadian women, all directed by women of colour. Every key creative position in WALK THE WALK is held by a woman or woman of colour, from the directors to the graphic designer. The Festival runs June 13 – 19 at Factory Studio Theatre. More information at www.factorytheatre.ca/what-s-on/fu-gen-walk-the-walk/
2016-06-16
Toronto: fu-GEN Theatre Company reveals "The 49": a ground-breaking list of plays by Canadian women of colour