Renegotiating Space in Canadian Theatre: A Review of Three New Play Anthologies

• Published in: Canadian Theatre Review
• Main Authors: Bickis, Heidi, Moira, Day, Yvette, Nolan, Andy, McKim
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress) 2005
• Subjects: Visual Arts and Performing Arts; First Nations
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/ctr.123.012; https://ctr.utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/ctr.123.012

The notion of space is one with which the theatre is always engaged, whether it be the concrete space of the stage and performance venue, the more abstract space of time and history, the imaginary space of a community or character’s mind, or even the space around which social and theatrical boundaries are established and broken. Ultimately, space finds itself part of the discussion and analysis of the conditions in which Canadian theatre artists work and significantly informs the theatre produced. The theme of space is useful in this review of three new anthologies, Yvette Nolan’s revised edition of Beyond the Pale, Moira Day’s The West of All Possible Worlds and Andy McKim’s compilation of shorts from Tarragon Theatre, Snappy Shorts at Tarragon Theatre, each of which focuses on different Canadian theatrical spaces: work by First Nations writers and writers of colour (work that inhabits the space beyond established boundaries), Western Canadian theatre and Andy Mckim’s office at the Tarragon Theatre, respectively. In addition to highlighting the work of playwrights across the country, each anthology also draws attention to the reality of working conditions for Canadian theatre artists, whether through the plays’ subject material, the use of alternative venues for performance or the development of new formats in which plays are created and performed.