A local theatre residency program, Trickster Theatre, continues to present issues of local and global concerns through choreography and performance in schools across the country.
Headquartered in Bearspaw, the program is based on physicality – placing the impetus on choreography over dialogue – and conducts some 35 week long school residency programs each year, as well as hosting summer camps for budding thespians.
The program was hosted by Glenbow Elementary School Nov. 1 and centered on global themes such as the environment, human rights, pollution and recycling; the performance was called ‘Learning Outside the Box’.
“Basically what Trickster Theatre does in schools is build a show in a week on themes the school chooses,” explained founder, David Chantler. “We create an original show in a week Monday through Thursday and perform it on Friday.”
The performance utilizes various props brought in by the theatre group, as well as what’s available at the schools – items such as Rubbermaid bins, bathroom plungers and sporting equipment.
With some 15 performance artists on their roster, Trickster assigns anywhere from three to 10 artists for each project, with each artist taking on three classes of participating students.
The performances are held in the school’s gymnasiums and are approached as a community learning process.
“It’s up to the school to come up with what (themes) they want to explore and we help them turn it into a piece of theatre,” said Chantler. “We create choreography – movement patterns – on the Monday, and then put it into context with the story as it develops through the week.”
Trickster Theatre has also launched Kids Go Global – a partnership among schools, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Trickster Theatre.
This web platform seeks to prompt schools to take action on global issues, either through collaboration with NGOs or on their own. The website was originally created in support of schools hosting Trickster residencies, but has grown beyond that as a tool for schools everywhere to use.
This is the fourth school that Glenbow Principal Brendan Trinca has been involved with hosting Trickster Theatre at.
“My impression of the program is that it brings an opportunity to celebrate the arts and expose kids to the arts,” said Trinca, adding that he supports how the program creates awareness about issues of local and global concern, such as sustainability.
Created in 1980, Trickster Theatre has done more than 3,000 performances across the country.
A registered Canadian charity, the group is reliant on public funding as well as private donations and corporate partnerships.
Schools interested in bringing the program in can apply for up to 50 per cent funding from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, something that Trickster Theatre is able to assist with.
Learn more about school residencies and summer camps at trickstertheatre.com.
