Feb 13-19: Vicki Stroich

Feb 13-19: Vicki Stroich

Focus: “I will be tweeting about the second week of the 26th Annual Enbridge playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays (http://www.atplive.com/playRites/playRites.html), the Festival that is the focus of my work as a programmer and dramaturg. We will just have opened three of four world premieres and will be preparing a final opening of the Festival (Good Fences by Downstage Creation Ensemble) and hosting an event for emerging artists from across Canada called Raucous Caucus: Emerging Artists Assembly.  I am production dramaturg on two world premieres in the Festival, Good Fences and Drama: Pilot Episode by Karen Hines.”

Bio: Vicki Stroich is Artistic Associate – Festival and Dramaturg at Alberta Theatre Projects in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she has been a member of the Artistic Team for over ten years. Vicki’s focus at ATP is dramaturgy and programming for the Enbridge playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays.  She is also Acting Program Director of The Banff Centre’s Banff Playwrights Colony. She freelances as a dramaturg, facilitator, and director.   Her work has included dramaturgy of dramatic text, devised theatre and performance creation.  She teaches the occasional workshop and hosts the odd panel.  Vicki is President-Elect and VP Canada of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and was Conference Chair of the international 2010 LMDA Conference in Banff.  She is the proud recipient of a Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Achievement for her contributions to new work.

Questions from LMDA:

What is your definition of dramaturgy?

“Dramaturgy supports the creative process with a specific focus on the creation and interpretation of the text.  I believe that within that definition there is great range in terms of the definitions of “support”, “process” and “text.”  Personally I believe the act of dramaturgy includes careful listening, curious inquiry, openness, honesty, imagination and rigour; it simultaneously considers the details and the big picture.  It is about asking the right questions at the right time. It is about encouraging conversation and facilitating the vital exchange of ideas and energy that makes theatre unique.”

What is your dream project?

“Currently, my dream project would be hosting a retreat for creators or acting as Curator of a performance festival somewhere near an ocean so I could surf while I work. Fortunately I get to work with artists near the Canadian Rocky Mountains so I hike while I work.”