This is a special episode, a cathartic portrait of classical theatre school training.
In January 2018, The Star, CBC News, came out with articles about George Brown Theatre School and it's psychological impact on it's students. Many students have suffered trauma, mental health issues, eating disorders, and anguish after undergoing this pedagogical training.
A website called George Brown Theatre School Survivors was launched in attempt to provide a platform for the students to cope and exchange their stories. Over decades, these issues were brought up to the administration and multiple levels of government. No action or consolation was given... until this story went viral on the back of the #MeToo Movement.
Read the Intermission Magazine story about the educational reform in Theatre Institutions, and Confessions from Theatre School, as referred to in the podcast.
Deep thank you to all the students, teachers, admin, for their stance for mental health, integral education and putting their all in bettering each other's lives.
Thank you to all who agreed to be interviewed for this piece: the artistic director, teachers, students from 20 years, 10 years, 5 years to present. You have helped to paint a fuller picture of our experience.
A deep thank you to all who stepped up in laying the foundations for a healthier, innovative approach to artistic learning. You are helping to lay foundations that many, previously, have fought hard for and failed. You have paved a means for many to find closure. Even still, you paved a healthier means for all emerging artists to realize their dreams.
It is my hope that someone who is suffering from creative, psychological, emotional, spiritual blockages due to the arts education in post-secondary institutions would benefit from hearing this piece, and know that change is possible and is happening.