The Gender Project: An invitation to a presentation & discussion
Mysterious Entity theatre is working towards creating a new original theatre work tentatively called "The Gender Project" slated for production in April, 2009. Artists in the company are currently exploring the theme of gender and we are inviting you for a sneak peek of the early stages of development. Please join us Friday, July 4th at 3:00 p.m. at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, 336 George St, for a small, private presentation of this work in progress. Following the brief presentation there will be informal discussion, snacks and an opportunity to meet participating artists as well as individuals and organizations that support transgendered and transsexual youth and adults. Mysterious Entity is dedicated to working with diverse community groups throughout our developmental process, including mental health organizations, First Nation's and Métis organizations, as well as women's social justice groups with whom we have already established links. This project gives us the opportunity to reach out to new organizations with an interest in gender issues.
The Gender Project is inspired by the sociological assumptions and everyday performance that is gender. Considered by many to be biological destiny, in this work we will approach gender not as a fact but as a question, a threshold for telling stories about who we are and who we are becoming. The main way in which I am approaching this work is to stop thinking of the idea that there are only two genders - male and female. I am working with the concept that there can be a "third" gender, or that gender could be looked at on a continuum, where a biological female may have more "masculine" traits than a biological male, or vice versa. When we place ourselves on the continuum, we may find that no one is really at the far end of the spectrum. Performers, Kate Story, David Bateman, anya gwynne, Christopher Wilton, and Charlie Glasspool will perform and play across gender.
Building on the past success of creating works that deal with issues that are important to our community (such as Skirting the Edge, a collection of monologues on the theme of women and mental health), we are developing a language and method for creating original theatre that speaks to issues that are often pushed under the rug. Rather than presenting a didactic lecture or "issue-based theatre", the craft comes first, and the theme can be explored in a deeper and more personal way. The artists involved with Mysterious Entity feel there are obvious socio-political benefits to generating discussion around gender issues, and creating a context where we as a theatre company work with organizations and collectives potentially or directly dealing with gender issues. Mysterious Entity theatre has a unique approach to producing work; the final product, the production itself, is an extension of an entire networking and collaborative process. The premier performance reflects a collective ability to successfully engage, challenge, and transform individuals, communities and audiences.
Please rsvp by contacting Nadé Nixon, Residency Development Officer at the Market Hall to confirm your participation. (Phone 705-749-1146 or email us at m.entity@gmail.com). I look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Em Glasspool,
Artistic Director
Mysterious Entity
For more information please visit "mysterious entity" theatre at www.markethall.org
Posted by Admin at July 4, 2008 05:33 AM