Local arts residency leads to video series “Speak It”

By Jennifer Shea

Using words like “amazing,” “incredible” and “awesome” with a bright gleam in her eyes, Georgia Papanicolaou describes the experience of her artist residency with the Prince Edward County Arts Council.

As an artistic director/director with Shatterbox Theatre, a small, not-for-profit County-based theatre company, Papanicolaou is accustomed to performing in a nomadic fashion wherever space can be found. Having a dedicated space in The Armoury building in Picton, Ont., for a whole month felt like a dream come true. “To have a space for a month that I have access to from 7:00 in the morning until 10:00 o’clock at night without anybody else using it, it felt really good.”

Papanicolaou’s project for her artist residency was the production of a three-video series, put together using one-on-one workshopping with actors and writers and recorded in The Armoury space. The creative juices flowed unchecked and the end result is 12 recorded videos with the potential for up to 30 in total. “I’m pinching myself still about how much was actually accomplished,” she says.

“It’s already spreading and people are really interested in participating in the future."

The video series – “Speak It” – features three different themes: Mental health, social justice and education. Actors, writers and community residents were asked to contribute subject matter along these themes, and Papanicolaou was amazed that 15 people from the ages of 6 to 70 stepped up to take part. “About 80% of our participants have written original material. We have pieces that are quite dramatic and some that are funny. They kind of go through an emotional ride and people can connect with them.”

The open-door policy of Shatterbox Theatre extended to this project, with all interested community members welcomed, whether they had acting experience or not. Papanicolaou was particularly pleased with the turnout of young people. “I think it’s difficult for some of the younger kids and teenagers to get involved with the arts now, so having the opportunity to work one-on-one was very appealing to them. And the fact that we do work that sparks conversations; they want to get their stories and voices out. This was a comfortable way for them to do that.”

Papanicolaou’s training in film and directing at Queen’s University and Theatre Ontario led her to create Shatterbox Theatre in 2017. She has put all of her hard-earned skills to work in the “Speak It” project, including directing, videography and post-production for each video. She’s proud of the end result, and she looks forward to sharing the videos on YouTube, the Shatterbox Theatre website and Instagram.

Papanicolaou has a long-term vision as well, including potential live performances that involve multimedia video clips and some of the newfound local “Speak It” talent. “I’m hoping this will spark something. It’s already spreading and people are really interested in participating in the future.”

She has nothing but praise for the Prince Edward County Arts Council’s artist residency program and she hopes her experience opens the door for more performing artists to apply: “The artist’s residency can make a world of difference for somebody that wants to have a space where they can dedicate and focus themselves, and people who have the same passions will gravitate towards that.”

shatterboxtheatre.com