Students from Performance Acting take the stage at Tarragon Theatre
Fourth-year students from the Performance Acting program made their debut at Tarragon Theatre with their performances in The Division by Andrew Kushnir and Pulling Strings by April Leung. In partnership with Tarragon Theatre, the workshop showcase featured two co-commissioned works from Tarragon Alumni, Andrew Kushnir and April Leung, as well as two workshop presentations featuring the graduating acting students.
Performance Acting students performing ‘The Division’ at Tarragon Theatre. Scenic/Props Design by Naomi Wu, Lighting Design by Connor Patterson, Costume Design by Mairead Canning. Photo by Dahlia Katz
The workshop showcase is part of Tarragon’s commitment to further an ongoing partnership with Performance at The Creative School supporting the development of new work for large ensembles. For Performance students, the partnership provides the opportunity to gain professional theatre experience, work closely with industry professionals and perform for a paying audience.
Performance Acting students performing ‘Pulling Strings’ at Tarragon Theatre. Scene Design by Irene Ly, Props Design by Rue Frishmuth, Lighting Design by Connor Patterson, Costume Design by Charlie Guy. Photo by Dahlia Katz
Bridging classroom learning with real world experience
For fourth-year Performance Production student Max Tilander, the opportunity to collaborate with Tarragon provided exposure to the possibilities that exist after graduation. “It allowed us to think of ourselves as a small production company in a festival setting, which some students may very well find themselves running or working in after graduation.”
The work on the performances began in class and later moved to Tarragon’s Extraspace, giving students the opportunity to learn both in and out of the classroom.
“It’s been an interesting process. We’ve had to learn how to blend our process with that of the professionals in the working world, which can be very scary as a young student,” said Tilander. “We’ve also had to learn to be extremely adaptable and open to sudden changes simply due to the workshop nature of this production.”
Performance Acting students performing “The Division’ at Tarragon Theatre. Scenic/Props Design by Naomi Wu, Lighting Design by Connor Patterson, Costume Design by Mairead Canning. Photo by Dahlia Katz.
In addition to applying skills such as communication and organization, collaboration was especially important while it came to working on the workshop series as students navigated sharing crews and workshopping in different spaces.
“Having the chance to do this all in school, where we are allowed to ask questions, work under mentorship and have the space to sometimes fail (yes, I said fail), has definitely made me feel more prepared for future projects of a similar capacity in my career,” they said. “I've also learned a lot about how to manage people and their expectations. We've really had to become one mind on this production, and I cannot understate the need for collaboration, especially on projects that share crews or take place in repertory, which is when a series of plays are always ready for performance.”
To learn more about The Creative School’s partnership with Tarragon Theatre and to see the full list of cast and crew, visit Tarragon Theatre’s website (external link, opens in new window) .
The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University
The Creative School is a dynamic faculty at Toronto Metropolitan University making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Comprised of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.