Critical Futures: A Training Program for Emerging BIPOC Theatre Reviewers

Critical Futures will offer paid journalistic writing training and exposure to a cohort of 4 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) who are interested in arts criticism.

The program will run from October 2022 – June 2023 and be a combination of classroom learning and opportunities to review a number of performances over a condensed period of time with mentorship throughout. The aspiring critics will hone their professional voice and skills in areas such as:
● Overview of the current media climate in Canada
● History of Criticism in Canada
● Introduction to the Canadian Theatre ecology and the systems of theatre
production
● Overview of the roles in theatre (dramaturge, director, designers etc.)
● Writing reviews, previews, editorials, and features
● Criticism practices across performing art forms (theatre, dance, circus, etc.)
● Print vs. Digital tools
● Different cultural frameworks for interpreting art
● Ethical artistic practices
● Building a future career in journalism

Critical Futures is a pilot program produced and managed by Neworld Theatre in partnership with Arts Club, Electric Company Theatre, GVPTA, Rumble Theatre, and STIR.

Details:

TIMELINE
October 12th, 2022 – 1-2pm – Meet and greet and information session with Neworld Theatre
October 19, 2022, 1-4pm – First session with Janet Smith
– See a show together as a cohort in October
November 9, 2022, 1-4pm – First session with Stephen Drover
– See a show as a cohort and write first draft of a review
November 23rd, 2022, 1-4pm – Second session with Stephen Drover

November 30th, 2022, 1-4pm – Session with Carmen Aguirre

December 7, 2022, 1-4pm – First session with Jiv Parasram
– See a show together as a cohort

Winter Break

Janurary 11, 2023, 1-4pm – Second session with Jiv Parasram
– See a show together as a cohort and write a draft of a review
Janurary 25, 2023, 1-4pm – Session with Lindsay Lachance
Feburary 8, 2023, 1-4pm – Second session with Janet Smith
– See a show together as a cohort and write a draft of a review
Feburary 22nd, 2023, 1-4pm – First session with Ashley Lee on Zoom
March 8, 2023, 1-4pm – Second session with Ashley Lee on Zoom

April 2023
– Write a final review to be published
– Meet with Jiv and Janet to go over reviews before public publishing
May 2023
– Final Review Published
– End of course Party!
June 2023 – Be part of the Making a Scene conference hosted by GVPTA to discuss the program.