This week’s episode explores the way Canadian history is performed - at a historical house, heritage site or living history museum, or in a theatre. Topics include The Fortress of Louisbourg, The Trial of Louis Riel, Nellie McClung’s Mock Parliament and Video Cabaret.

The topics of this week’s episode include the development of Canadian dramaturgy, disability theatre and the development and legacy of David Freeman’s 1971 play Creeps. I am joined by Dr. Lisa Aikman, who explains what the heck dramaturgy is and what dramaturgy in Canada is like. She also has insightful things to say about the play’s use of language, poetic realism as a Canadian theatre “house style,” and why so many early Canadian works are about marginalized communities.

Here is an essay by Adam Grant Warren.

This week’s episode features a conversation between me and Factory Theatre’s Artistic Director, Nina Lee Aquino. Topics include - theatre manadates, being “the picker”, expanding audiences, the value of the canon, play and playwright development and our hope for Canadian Theatre in the future.

In this episode I discuss the development of collective creation, Theatre Passe Muraille, The Farm Show, Nightwood Theatre, and This is For You, Anna. No cats were consulted this week.

In this episode I discuss the Massey Commission, The Canada Council, Expo 67 and Centennial Projects. We also hear briefly from Buddy, my family’s Tonkinese cat. Listen to the end for a source list.