SHAPING OUR WORLD: ON WITH THE SHAW

SHAPING A NEW WORLD FOR OUR ARTISTS – AND OUR COMMUNITY

“As artists in theatre, we live precariously. No matter how successful we are, or how hard we work, as self-employed contract workers we have no financial or job security.” – Marla McLean, Shaw Festival Ensemble The life of an artist is often one of uncertainty and instability – something made so much clearer through this pandemic. Moving contract to contract, and often across the country or beyond in the off-season from The Shaw, makes settling into a community and planning long-term for their lives nearly impossible, so we are piloting a program that we hope will change the landscape for our artists.

Nine actors and one musician have been chosen for the 2021 Season as embedded artists: Kristopher Bowman, Kristi Frank, Julie Lumsden*, Marla McLean, Kiera Sangster, Travis Seetoo, Sanjay Talwar, Jonathan Tan, Kelly Wong and Associate Music Director Ryan DeSouza. As usual they will participate in one or two productions, but outside of their rehearsal and play schedule they have been, and will continue to be, deeply involved in outreach and education activities with our donors, patrons and youth.

This fulltime employment status means they are more readily available to work with other departments. Not only as celebrated guests in our events, but also in planning and facilitating initiatives. For example Marla recently organized, researched, directed and hosted a limited capacity program called “What Comes Next?” where a group of actors would read the first act of a play followed by patron discussion about the possibilities of the second half; and Kiera has been, and continues to be, a vital leader in our wellness and connectivity initiatives for our members, students and for our own company. Not to mention some projects that will reveal themselves throughout the 2021 Season!

As always, the schedules for these embedded artists will be chock full of rehearsals and performances, but the rest of their time will be spent with other departments. This is an opportunity to try new things and gain new skills providing mutual benefit to the artists and the Shaw Festival.

A perfect example of this is the project that Kelly Wong and Sanjay Talwar worked on: a virtual backstage tour. Since we have not been able to hold them in person, and also to extend the experience to those who can’t get here as often as they like, or at all, Kelly and Sanjay are creating a fun and informative tour that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere through our website.

It is truly a win-win situation. The Shaw gains creative and engaging leaders for our education and outreach programs but for the artists, it will be literally life-changing. If successful, this initiative will see artists receiving long term, year round, multi year contracts that will allow them a great deal more stability for life-planning, including benefits like health care, maternity/paternity or sick leave, and access to The Shaw’s RRSP contribution program. They will also gain invaluable experience in other areas of the theatre that they can use in the future. Finally, this will also allow the Ensemble members to plant firmer roots in their community and get involved in ways previously impossible, enriching the fabric of the town. We hope our new initiative will inspire other theatres to look differently at employing and investing in their artists.

“This program not only affords us this stability, but an ability for growth. Both in our work as artists and in areas that each individual is keen to explore within the company: creating a mutually beneficial working relationship. As we grow in these new directions, we can become more viable to support and work for the company in a wide variety of ways. I am honoured and humbled to be a part of this pilot program. At its best, this new way of hiring artists could change the face of theatre in this country.” – Marla McLean

From top: Kristopher Bowman, Ryan Desouza, Kristi Frank, Julie Lumsden*, Marla McLean, Kiera Sangster, Travis Seetoo, Sanjay Talwar, Jonathan Tan, Kelly Wong.

*RBC Emerging Artist, sponsored by the RBC Foundation and RBC Emerging Artists Project

ON WITH THE SHAW!

Setting the stage for deeper connection.

Join us as we step forward and build programs that set the stage for deeper connections including: • new outdoor stages and programming • increased digital engagement with students • significant investments in health and safety protocols for a safe return to live theatre • enhanced support of our artists, providing them with more stable, and longer-term employment through our Embedded Artist project (see page 10)

DONATE TODAY TO THIS SPECIAL APPEAL. A BRIGHT CONNECTED FUTURE BEGINS WITH YOU. VISIT SHAWFEST.COM/ON-WITH-THE-SHAW TO TRACK OUR PROGRESS!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

To help, consider making a gift: • Online at shawfest.com/on-with-the-shaw • Call at 1-800-657-1106 ext 2556