ARTS CULTURE EVENTS Features In every issue FALL 2018 / WINTER 2019 12 How to Write a 3 President’s Letter Perfectly Sad Song Singer-songwriter 4 Event Highlights Kim Richey writes Some highlights from lyrics that tug at the this season’s Banff On the cover heartstrings Centre events , 2005) 14 The Full Light of Day 6 Connect With Us Electric Company Follow our InStudio Theatre’s most ambitious stories online project to date 8 From the Vault DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE RABBIT THE DOWN 20 Cultural Leaders Get to know the artists Shaping Communities behind some of the Canada’s artistic leaders works from our make an impact permanent collection 24 Taking Risks On and Off the Wall Climb into Tommy ELECTRIC COMPANY Caldwell’s book, The Push THEATRE has been ), PAUL D. FLECK LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES ( ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY FLECK D. PAUL ), creating unique and 28 Creative Counterpoints daring theatre in Crystal Pite and Jonathon REVISOR Canada for over 20 Young return with Kidd years. The company’s Pivot’s, Revisor 10 Studio Visit innovative use of tech- Learn about one of our nology, ability to bend Leighton Artists Studios genre, and experimentation with form have long caught the eye of contemporary theatre-goers across the country. 40 Open Studios Peek into the studios of Their latest and most ambitious project to date, The Full Banff Centre artists Light of Day, is no exception. As our cover depicts, the performance is a sensory feast of mixed-media, including 46 What’s On film and virtual reality paired with a live stage perfor- Plan your fall/winter mance. They join us at Banff Centre for a production cultural adventures residency this fall where they’ll dive deep into the story and push their artistic boundaries even further. Their 56 Alumni News residency culminates in a preview at Banff Centre before Celebrating Banff the show premieres at Vancouver Playhouse in 2019. 32 The Space Between Us Centre achievements Help set artists Indigenous artists use and milestones technology to decolonize the cultural landscape 58 Staff Recognition 34 A Sense of Place 60 Banff Centre Supporters in motion Author Ayelet Tsabari Read all about the show processes memory 64 Last Word and Electric Company’s through writing Exploring the creative Support the Artists’ Fund history on the Canadian workspace of stage on pages 14-19. 36 Arts Funding Rewritten Anishinaabe comedian How major supporters Ryan McMahon residency. Photo by Donald Lee. by Photo residency. Learn more and buy tickets All donations to the Artists’ Fund go directly to Banff Centre arts help build more inclusive at programs and support deserving artists on their creative journey. banffcentre.ca arts communities To make a donation, please visit banffcentre.ca/artists-fund or call Candice Noakes at 1.888.495.4467 Dance Indigenous ( SLOBODIAN MICHAEL ROSE), GABRIELLE AND BELLIS SCOTT ABOVE, AND IMAGES (COVER JOHNSON BRIAN CREDITS: PHOTO Fall 2018 / Winter 2019 InStudio 1 PRESIDENT’S LETTER More Time. Banff Centre is thrilled to welcome More Space. back Kidd Pivot’s Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young as they put the finishing touches on their latest More Art. collaboration, Revisor. Crystal and Jonathon previously shaped their award-winning, internationally- Be part of a legacy 85 years in the making. Rita Taylor. by Photo participant, 2018. acclaimed piece, Betroffenheit, right here on Banff Centre stages. Banff Centre offers programs in the Indigenous, This fall and winter events season literary, media, performing, and visual arts. also features the annual Banff Centre Apply today. Mountain Film and Book Festival in DEAR November. The festival includes over ARTS 75 films from legends of the adventure banffcentre.ca community like Tommy Caldwell whose Emerging Banff Artist in Residence Emerging Banff Artist in LOVER, book, The Push, was finished in a Banff As the seasons change, we welcome Centre Leighton Artists Studio. You can read about how Caldwell equates Brubey Hu, Brubey exceptional new events and residencies to our campus in the snow- physical and creative risk in this issue, covered mountains of Banff. then come see him speak on stage. This fall and winter, Banff Centre’s Finally, this season is also packed with campus is bursting with new creations great up close and personal shows by some of the country’s most exciting from Ron Sexsmith, Canadian folk and boundary-pushing artists. From and country singer William Prince, dance, to theatre, music, and visual a holiday concert with Sharon and art, creators from across Canada Bram, and a new work from renowned and the globe flock to the Rockies for Canadian choreographer Peggy some space to create their best work. Baker called who we are in the dark. We hear over and over from artists Please enjoy this issue of InStudio, how rare an opportunity it is to attend which looks behind the scenes of programs at Banff Centre, and this all our exciting artistic projects. We season our visiting artists are once look forward to welcoming you this again using their time to create bold fall and winter to Banff Centre. new works that will go on to tour the globe — and you get to see it here first! Sincerely, Our cover story this issue of InStudio explores Electric Company Theatre’s most ambitious production to date, The Full Light of Day. The Vancouver company is on campus this fall for a three-week production residency and avant-premiere of Janice Price their work before it premieres at PRESIDENT & CEO the Vancouver Playhouse in 2019. BANFF CENTRE FOR ARTS We speak with author Ayelet Tsabari AND CREATIVITY and comedian and performer Ryan McMahon about their creative practices, and what storytelling means to them. Singer-songwriter Kim Richey also gives advice on how to write a perfectly sad song. PHOTO CREDIT: COLIN WAY COLIN CREDIT: PHOTO Fall 2018 / Winter 2019 InStudio 3 WHAT’S ON AT BANFF CENTRE TOP: Ensemble Electric Company Theatre The Debaters Live Contemporain The Full Light of Day December 2 de Montréal’s October 19 After a sold out show last year, Génération2018 A new film/theatre hybrid The Debaters Live is back with this Canadian tour written by Daniel Brooks and special Christmas-themed event. conducted Join us this winter Host Steve Patterson and two of his by Véronique directed by Kim Collier. favourite comics perform stand-up, Lacroix (photo for music, dance, with two hilarious debates focused by Jan Gates). theatre, lectures, ECM+ Génération2018 on the holiday season. BOTTOM: JUNO and peeks inside October 25 Award winning our artists’ studios. Crossing Canada from West to East, singer-songwriter Revisor ECM+’s Génération2018 Canadian William Prince Learn more about tour, conducted by Véronique A Kidd Pivot production created (photo by Fanny L our fall and winter Lacroix, presents the latest edition by Crystal Pite + Jonathon Young Photography). shows and events of this legendary project in which February 13 + 14 on pages 46–55 the Canadian public can vote for From the creators of the internationally its favourite composition. and on our website acclaimed Betroffenheit comes a new dance/theatre work about corruption, at banffcentre.ca farce, and the forces of radical change. Literary Arts Public Readings ABOVE: December 6 + 13, January 23 + 30, Electric Company March 15 + 22 William Prince Theatre presents The Listen to readings from writers March 2 Full Light of Day (photo in Banff Centre’s Writers Retreat Raised on the Peguis First Nation by Brian Johnson). programs hosted by guest mentors of Manitoba, Prince is a JUNO OPPOSITE: Alex Leslie, Anne Fleming, Pasha Award winning singer-songwriter Revisor, a Kidd Pivot Malla, and Zsuzsi Gartner. whose music is full of emotionally production (photo by charged experiences. Michael Slobodian). banffcentre.ca Fall 2018 / Winter 2019 InStudio 5 @BANFFCENTRE CONNECT WITH US Art Online Follow Banff Centre Subscribe to keep in touch and stay up to date on programs, events, and more. /BANFFCENTRE Artist Voices @BANFFCENTRE ARTIST VOICES articles are /THEBANFFCENTRE conversations with some of the most exciting figures in international and Canadian contemporary art today, @BANFFCENTRE like choreographer and dancer Peggy Baker, who joins us in March for a production residency and performance of her new work, who we are in the dark (photo above by Jeremy Mimnagh). Press Play BANFF CENTRE PRESENTS In this video series, you’ll get the exclusive Follow us on Instagram ), BEN TIBBETS (VALENTINE FABRE), CHRIS AMAT, PAUL D. FLECK LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY FLECK D. PAUL AMAT, CHRIS FABRE), (VALENTINE TIBBETS BEN ), on the creation of new works at Banff + @banffcentre to get regular ÉE Centre. Keep an eye on our social peeks into our artists’ spaces, channels for a behind-the-scenes look information about upcoming at these creations. performances, and stunning There’s More to See views of our unique campus OPEN STUDIO is a video series that in the mountains. Behind the Scenes goes inside the studios and creative spaces of our artists and asks them about their practices. Step inside the Get involved with Banff Centre online studios of our participants to see what to see even more from InStudio. Every their process is all about. time you see the plus symbol ( ), it means we’ve got more in store for you, with videos and articles available online. You can also explore more on our website and on YouTube. Learn how Tara Bryan’s artists’ book, Down the Rabbit artists get inspired to create their Hole, 2005. Turn the works in our Spotlight series. Plus, page to read more check out our Banff Centre Presents about this work (photo courtesy of series to get a deeper look at the Paul D.