Community Theatre Artist: Rachael Van Fossen

Photo courtesy of www.goddard.edu

The Theatre Department at Concordia University would not be the same without it including Theatre & Development programme teacher Rachael Van Fossen. In fact it would be downright sinful not to have her on board. An accomplished theatre director, professional playwright, and artistic director, Rachael Van Fossen is dedicated in producing participatory arts, interdisciplinary arts , collaborative and community play based theatre.

Ka'ma'mo'pi cik/The Gathering

The Calling Lakes Community Play project was co-written and co-directed by Rachael Van Fossen and Darrel Wildcat in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan in 1992. This community play (which was published in an anthology) project involved professional theatre artists working side by side with many non theatre people from within the community. Rachael says, "The play was far from exclusive, that's for sure. The process was very collaborative."

Working on some difficult issues concerning both the Native and non- Native community members, The Gathering which was staged promenade style , was based on actual stories from the town's people. Rachael says, " ... the play was a departure point for discussion and dialogue, showing people the actual stories of the "Other" group, and in that way getting rid of some commonly held assumptions."

The Gathering won the National Race Unity Award in March 1993.

Other Creative Endeavors

- Founder and artistic director of Common Weal Community Arts in Regina. 1992 - 1999.
- Artistic director of Black Theatre Workshop. 2001 - 2005.
- Co - authored with Ruth Howard, "Easy to Say: Reflections on the roles of art and the artist in Canadian adaptations of the Colway Community Play form."
- Member of Stand Firm Quebec.
- Produced and directed several radio dramas for the CBC.
- Goddard College Professor in interdisciplinary arts.
- Dramaturge and panelist (Armenian heritage) for Untold Histories. Presented by Teesri Dunyia, "Courageous life stories of making home anew in Montreal."

Rachael Van Fossen lives in Montreal with her partner of over 20 years, Gordan Fisch, and their children Caitlin and Elijah.

to Sea in a Sieve: Jumblies Theatre comes to Montreal

Photo courtesy of www.jumbliestheatre.org

What a special treat it was to have taken a workshop taught by Ruth Howard of Jumblies Theatre . Concordia theatre students were introduced to creating art collaboratively based on our own life experiences. These were created with pastels and passed onward to our classmates, hence becoming an artful team effort . With our stories colourfully illustrated it was time to build the script.

Given some time to organize ourselves and given a set of prepared questions we began the process of interviewing our classmates. Equipped with our new scripts we then formed groups or worked alone on our stories to present.

As the Concordia weekend was coming to a close we all presented our pieces authentically and creatively. Taking the designated time, patiently in exploring and listening to each other tell our stories was an especially favorite part of mine in the weekend's Jumblies Theatre workshop.

Jumblies Theatre


Photo courtesy ofwww.collectionx.museum
"Makes art in everyday and unexpected places for, about and with the people and stories found there." - Ruth Howard

Contact at www.jumbliestheatre.org
Telephone: 416-203-8428.