Today’s #ArtAtHome gets up close and personal with another one of our Beyond the Bard playwrights – Wallis Caldoza!
What are you currently reading?
I am currently re-reading parts of The Undercommons: Fugitive Planning & Black
Study by Fred Moten and Stefano Harney.
What inspires you to write?
I always write out of desperation and from what I need to space to figure out, so usually
I try and make writing a kind of meditative space. Can’t say for sure whether it’s
completely effective, but it’s doing something with my brain.
Smarties or M&M’s?
M&M’s all the way. Come on!
What’s your favourite sentence of all time?
“Il y aura peut-être un matin de grâce pour l’humanité.” – Eugene Ionesco
If you could have your work performed anywhere, where would it be?
Haha, oh man! I’m still not sure I want my work to be performed anywhere yet! I’ll let you
know when I’ve crossed that bridge.
What’s the last delicious thing you ate?
Okay, this is shocking to me: chocolate Lucky Charms? I mean, what? I’m a pretty big
foodie and I can’t believe that’s what’s come to mind, but there we are.
Do you have any pets?
My baby/cat, Katara and my nephew/sister’s cat, Pistachios (yes, it’s pluralized).
Who is your favourite tv/film character?
Fleabag. Or Hot Priest.
If you weren’t a playwright, what would you be?
Controversial: I don’t really consider myself a playwright, necessarily. Eek. I think I’m
more often found being a dramaturg. I think.
What’s a positive aspect of self-isolation for you?
I get to see/be with my family.
What’s a difficult aspect of self-isolation for you?
I’ve had to reevaluate the things that hold value to me. And, in turn, I think those things
have also had to reevaluate how I hold value to them; it’s a weird relationship.
What’s your favourite cafe to work in?
Again, controversial: I don’t really like working in cafes. Cafes are really good for other
things, though. (Why does that sound so suspicious? I just mean, like, cafes are good
places!)
Dogs or cats?
Yes.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
My mum’s really big on serendipity, so I’m always trying to embrace this weirdly
optimistic ideal of things happening for a reason… or the way they’re supposed to.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
When I was a wee babe, I wanted to be a garbage truck – not, like, a waste collector. I
wanted to be the garbage truck. I feel like, in some ways, I have achieved that dream.
How do you take your coffee/tea?
Coffee, just as is. Usually the same goes for my tea.
What was your first job?
Does babysitting count or…?
What fad or trend do you hope comes back?
MSN! MSN! MSN! MSN! Or, like, the conventions of MSN. I really wanna know what
song has you in your feelings but in a way that means that we don’t have to directly
address it?
What are some small things or acts that make your day better?
Sitting in the sun does this gal good.
Who is your favourite Shakespearean character?
Am I allowed to say Shakespeare? William and I don’t have an easy relationship
because we barely have a relationship but I can respect the flex. Y’know? I don’t know.
Art at Home – 20 Questions with Wallis Caldoza
/0 Comments/in News /by Sarah CaraherToday’s #ArtAtHome gets up close and personal with another one of our Beyond the Bard playwrights – Wallis Caldoza!
What are you currently reading?
I am currently re-reading parts of The Undercommons: Fugitive Planning & Black
Study by Fred Moten and Stefano Harney.
What inspires you to write?
I always write out of desperation and from what I need to space to figure out, so usually
I try and make writing a kind of meditative space. Can’t say for sure whether it’s
completely effective, but it’s doing something with my brain.
Smarties or M&M’s?
M&M’s all the way. Come on!
What’s your favourite sentence of all time?
“Il y aura peut-être un matin de grâce pour l’humanité.” – Eugene Ionesco
If you could have your work performed anywhere, where would it be?
Haha, oh man! I’m still not sure I want my work to be performed anywhere yet! I’ll let you
know when I’ve crossed that bridge.
What’s the last delicious thing you ate?
Okay, this is shocking to me: chocolate Lucky Charms? I mean, what? I’m a pretty big
foodie and I can’t believe that’s what’s come to mind, but there we are.
Do you have any pets?
My baby/cat, Katara and my nephew/sister’s cat, Pistachios (yes, it’s pluralized).
Who is your favourite tv/film character?
Fleabag. Or Hot Priest.
If you weren’t a playwright, what would you be?
Controversial: I don’t really consider myself a playwright, necessarily. Eek. I think I’m
more often found being a dramaturg. I think.
What’s a positive aspect of self-isolation for you?
I get to see/be with my family.
What’s a difficult aspect of self-isolation for you?
I’ve had to reevaluate the things that hold value to me. And, in turn, I think those things
have also had to reevaluate how I hold value to them; it’s a weird relationship.
What’s your favourite cafe to work in?
Again, controversial: I don’t really like working in cafes. Cafes are really good for other
things, though. (Why does that sound so suspicious? I just mean, like, cafes are good
places!)
Dogs or cats?
Yes.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
My mum’s really big on serendipity, so I’m always trying to embrace this weirdly
optimistic ideal of things happening for a reason… or the way they’re supposed to.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
When I was a wee babe, I wanted to be a garbage truck – not, like, a waste collector. I
wanted to be the garbage truck. I feel like, in some ways, I have achieved that dream.
How do you take your coffee/tea?
Coffee, just as is. Usually the same goes for my tea.
What was your first job?
Does babysitting count or…?
What fad or trend do you hope comes back?
MSN! MSN! MSN! MSN! Or, like, the conventions of MSN. I really wanna know what
song has you in your feelings but in a way that means that we don’t have to directly
address it?
What are some small things or acts that make your day better?
Sitting in the sun does this gal good.
Who is your favourite Shakespearean character?
Am I allowed to say Shakespeare? William and I don’t have an easy relationship
because we barely have a relationship but I can respect the flex. Y’know? I don’t know.
Art at Home – 20 Questions with Rebecca Ostroff
/1 Comment/in News /by Sarah CaraherAs we head into the summer, our #ArtAtHome series will help you get to know our 2020 Beyond the Bard playwrights as each of them answers 20 questions and shows us what their current workspace looks like. First up is Rebecca Ostroff!
What are you currently reading?
Like Brothers by Mark and Jay Duplass.
What inspires you to write?
Books, podcasts, long walks. Conversations with other people. Lying on the floor and staring at the ceiling. Reminding myself that stories and words have truly changed my life, especially during the weirdest of times.
Smarties or M & M’s?
M & M’s!
What’s your favourite sentence of all time?
“Anyone who claims to be an authority on anything is not to be trusted”. I can’t remember who said that, but I love it so much.
If you could have your work performed anywhere, where would it be?
On a beach?!
What’s the last delicious thing you ate?
Coconut ice cream.
Do you have any pets?
No.
Who is your favourite tv/film character?
Moira Rose on Schitt’s Creek. I mean, she’s a legend.
If you weren’t a playwright, what would you be?
During my undergrad I thought I was going to be a therapist. But I don’t think I’d be very good at it.
What’s a positive aspect of self-isolation for you?
Re-discovering my love of dance, even if I’m only doing it in my kitchen.
What’s a difficult aspect of self-isolation for you?
Not being able to try things out with other artists in real time (i.e. without the Zoom lag). I miss improvising.
What’s your favourite cafe to work in?
If I told you, I’d have to kill you…
Dogs or cats?
Would you think I’m a sociopath if I said neither? If so: dogs!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Tell yourself the whole truth, but do it with a sense of humour.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I have never read Harry Potter. But sometimes I pretend I have if I’m around die hard fans. So basically, I lie a lot.
How do you take your coffee/tea?
French pressed, with oat milk and cinnamon.
What was your first job?
Camp counsellor.
What fad or trend do you hope comes back?
Bangs!
What are some small things or acts that make your day better?
Fresh air, sunshine, dark chocolate. Phone calls with friends and family. Re-reading my favourite plays and re-watching my favourite TV shows.
Who is your favourite Shakespearean character?
Titus Andronicus. I don’t know… I just love him.
Black Lives Matter
/0 Comments/in News /by David Jeremy SmithToday, June 8, 2020, would have been the first day of rehearsals for Driftwood’s 2020 production of King Henry Five.
In response to recent events and as part of our own journey to listen, learn and support voices of black, indigenous and artists of colour, we’re commemorating this day by encouraging everyone to watch this extraordinary video – Black Like Me, past, present and future: Behind the Stratford Festival Curtain – drawing together black artists, staff and crew members of the Stratford Festival for an important conversation about their experiences.
With thanks to moderator Beck Lloyd, participants Allan Louis, Amakah Umeh, Andre Sills, David Collins, E.B. Smith, Erica Croft, Kimberley Rambersand, Robert Hall, 2018 Driftwood company member Ngabo Nabea (who provided the wicked cover illustration) and to the Stratford Festival for all coming together to share so bravely during these challenging and important times.
Watch the full video here.
#blacklivesmatter
Celebrating Shakespeare’s 456th with ArtAtHome
/0 Comments/in News /by David Jeremy SmithA Birthday #ArtAtHome Video
In celebration of Shakespeare’s 456th Birthday, Driftwood launches a series where we nod to the Bard in our daily lives, quarantine-style.
These are strange and unprecedented times. But in the wake of social distancing and isolation in the era of COVID-19, artists everywhere are still trying to find ways to express themselves while also adapting to the ‘new normal’. For theatre artists in particular this can be challenging, when our art form requires us to be in connection with people and community.
Driftwood’s solution is to pull back the curtain a little, and offer you a glimpse into our engagement with the Bard under quarantine.
Artistic Director Jeremy Smith kicks off our #artathome series with a special message in honour of Shakespeare’s 456th Birthday. You can watch the video here.
#ArtAtHome with Driftwood’s Team
Katrina Darychuk (top), Sarah Caraher (bottom)
Though we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel (we prefer ‘postpone’) its 2020 Bard’s Bus Tour season, we’re still hard at work behind the scenes working with our Beyond The Bard Playwrights Unit and making preparations to get back on the road in 2021.
Helping to get us through these strange times are two pretty fabulous individuals – Producer Katrina Darychuk and Associate Producer Sarah Caraher.
As a student in Centennial College’s Arts Administration program, Sarah has been working under a placement with Driftwood since late February. She was the glue that kept things running behind the scenes at this year’s Trafalgar 24 event, and has been assisting with outreach, communication, marketing and administrative support. Her placement wraps up this week and we are going to miss her enthusiasm, talent and smarts. Sarah tells us:
“#Artathome has been a journey of finding new ways to connect to the art forms and the artistic community that I love. The past few weeks have become an opportunity for me to reconnect to creating art, something that usually stays on my mental backburner, because so much else has been taken off of my plate. Having more time and space has encouraged me to move outside my comfort zone and jump into projects like songwriting for Convergence’s Theatre’s Converge Against Corona without my usual second guessing or perfectionism. I’ve been consuming more art than ever, and exploring new things, like improving my graphic design skills. And this whole experience will undoubtedly make going back to the theatre when this is over an incredibly special and impactful experience.”
First introduced to Driftwood audiences last year as a director during our 2019 Trafalgar 24 event (Love Multiplies, by Rebecca Ostroff), Katrina is a multi-faceted artist/administrator counting Soulpepper Theatre and Toronto’s Summerworks Festival among her credits. She joined the Driftwood team right at the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic and has quickly become invaluable in Driftwood helping to navigate a path through these strange times.
“I’m excited to come on board with Driftwood during these strange times and begin to imagine how we might gather again in the future.”
“With most of the day spent on Zoom, I’ve returned to more low-fi art at home: the record player, the stack of books calling to be read, and endless baking projects. As the meaning of time shifts, I find myself returning to works that bend time, stand the test of time, and speak to future possibilities.”
“Experiencing art solely from my desk or living room is allowing me go a bit slower, which I appreciate. A friend of mine has committed to learning a poem a week. I am hoping to follow suit with some classical text, finding ways to weave it into my day, be it on a post-it on my desk or reciting it on my little patio during the brief rays of spring sunshine.”
Stay tuned for more stories, videos and posts as part of Driftwood’s ongoing #artathome series.