Magnetic North’s idea of a great auction sale is a lot quieter but the prizes will delight you; they include a trip to spectacular St. John’s to appear in an episode of CBC TV’s Republic of Doyle (and meet star Allan Hawco!), your very own Newfoundland House Party with the NAC’s Peter Herrndorf, and subscriptions and ticket packages from the NAC’s English Language Theatre, GCTC, New Theatre, and Evolution Theatre.
Our silent auction runs until August 19th but don’t wait too long to examine the goods; check the bill here!
Wrapping up a week of Compass Points and saying good-bye to Magnetic North leads to a gambit of mixed emotions. It has been a phenomenal week – rife with learning opportunities, emotional journeys, moments of self-discovery and reaffirmations of our craft and our need to create. But as we are sent back out into the real world, I can feel the familiar doubts and moments of trepidation creeping into my knees. The mantras of the week revolved around statements of being “Bold”, “Fearless” and “Fierce”. I know all these affirmations were present in the productions mounted throughout the festival and in each artist who made their craft available. So I suppose there is only one choice. Push the fear out of the way. Tell the trepidations they have no place in my art. And begin the process of creation.
We say good-bye to our Compass Point colleagues, but I know our journey together has only begun. We will see each other for the rest of our lives as we take new strides into this art form and push ourselves and each other to new heights. I hold the experiences of the week as a sword against my angst. I have letters from established artists posted on my fridge with my own notes scribbled amongst their advice. And I repeat to myself a few of the last words I heard on Friday afternoon as our week came to close – “Don’t be ‘good’. Just be original.”
It was a day devoted to the Process of Learning and Creation. The day began with a full panel discussion by three diverse theatre companies followed by workshops targeting writing grants and the intricacies of playwriting. Despite the number of events, the different artists involved and the different formats, there was a strange line that [...]
Since 2005, the Industry Series has served as Magnetic North’s professional development symposium dedicated to building networks and sharing the wealth of knowledge among festival delegates. Offering workshops, panels, pitch sessions for new work, speed-dating sessions and roundtables, the Industry Series provides a key forum for dialogue, networking and exchange. The Series has become a [...]
So says Ottawa’s dean of theatre reviewers, Alvina Ruprecht. You can read her full review here. Her reviews for other productions in this season’s festival include YICHUD! and This What Happens Next
Now that the festival is winding down, as the Volunteer Coordinator for Magnetic North I’ve been sitting here at my desk in the Hub reflecting a little and have come to a bold conclusion: Being a Volunteer Coordinator isn’t that much different from being one of the Directors of this year’s plays. In very much the [...]
It was a day of theatre. And a day of theatre training. Honest activities based on true intentions and allowing impulses to take you where they may. I played games I haven’t explored since my days in theatre school – and it was a blast. Remembering how to “rattle my bones” mid-week through the Compass [...]
For immediate release OTTAWA, June 8, 2011 – Magnetic North Theatre Festival presents The Chops, KISMET one to one hundred, opening tomorrow! Created by Emelia Symington Fedy, Daryl King, Anita Rochon and Hazel Venzon Directed by Anita Rochon Thursday, June 9 – 2PM & 6:30PM Friday, June 10 – 9PM Saturday, June 11– 2PM & [...]
I think this Kawasaki Exit quote perfectly embodies the journey we have taken to date in our Compass Point explorations. There has been an inundation of information and what can only be described as an outpouring of generosity in spirit and knowledge. This morning, an intimate panel discussion took a broad-stroke look at concepts of [...]
I have met my peers – and I am smiling. It was a courageous morning and it began with a simplicity I am still turning-over in my head. I was told to create theatre that I need. Despite being such a logical and motivating concept, I find it foreign on my tongue to discuss and strange [...]
