Critical Futures

• show info
• media
• creative team
• supporters

Critical Futures: A Training Program for Emerging BIPOC Theatre Reviewers

Show Info

Critical Futures completed its first year as a paid journalistic writing training program that trained a cohort of 3 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) interested in arts criticism.

The program ran from October 2022 to June 2023 and was a combination of classroom learning and opportunities to review several performances over a condensed period with mentorship. 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, designer 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.

Join us at GVPTA’s Making A Scene Conference!

June 19, 2023 – 11:30am-1:00pm (Register for this session)

Session 1: Facilitating Community Discussion Through Art: Neworld’s Critical Futures

This interactive session will include a presentation on Neworld Theatre’s Critical Futures program – a training program for emerging BIPOC theatre reviewers – followed by a conversation with attendees about the role, impact, and contributions reviewers have for their or their company’s arts practice.

Check out the cohort’s work!

Angie Rico:

• AN EXERCISE IN REVEALING & WITHDRAWING AT AMANDA SUM’S NEW AGE ATTITUDES: LIVE IN CONCERT published by SAD Magazine
• Review: rEvolver Festival’s Duality and A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to Canada explore identity in innovative ways published by STIR
• Follow and read more about Angie here!

Vivian (Xiao Wen) Li:

• Theatre review: An Undeveloped Sound leans into the liminal in look at longing, loss, and language published by STIR
• Follow and read more about Vivian here!

Reham Cojuangco:

• Reham’s publish review is in process and coming soon.