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Bang Bang at Magnus Theatre

9/15/2018

Here's an opportunity to dive into the conversation about "whose story is it to tell?":

BANG BANG by Kat Sandler is timely, hilarious and sometimes explosive.

A white playwright uses the shooting of an unarmed young Black man by a police officer as a “jumping off point” for his hit play that is soon to be adapted into a major movie. As Hollywood comes knocking for the writer, he makes a surprise visit to the home of the officer involved in the shooting incident. BANG BANG traces the impact of what it means to be inspired by true events and the effects that art may have on the people involved.

“This is a great new play, the story of a family grappling with the realities of a violent act and the repercussions of their story being turned into entertainment,” says Magnus Theatre Artistic Director Thom Currie. “What constantly strikes me about BANG BANG is how gripping it is, how topical it is and just how damned funny it is.” Currie warns that the play is not for the faint of heart, and that BANG BANG contains some extremely adult language.

BANG BANG is a brand-new play which premiered in Toronto in February. Strong writing and excellent performances from the cast in this new Thunder Bay production.

JOIN US! 10x10 artists and friends are invited to see BANG BANG on Sunday September 16th at 2:00 pm. Pay What You Can performance--no advance ticket sales. Come laugh with us and join in the conversation. Hope to see you there!

Whose story am I telling?

9/14/2018

Post by Cathi Winslow, lead photo by Kaitlyn Baker

In 2018, the world of theatre is bristling with challenges around cultural representation: who gets to tell the story? Who decides? There are no clear answers. Each artist has the power to be aware, informed, and responsible for your own choices. We invite 10x10 playwrights to think about these important questions as you approach your work:

Whose story am I telling?
What's my place in the conversation?
Can others recognize themselves in my work?
Am I making assumptions about a culture?
How do other people see me and my impact in the world? (What is my relationship to power?)

Let's acknowledge where we've been and where we're at now as artists within a society. If you wish to write about a character who belongs to a cultural group which is not your own, think about why--why do you want to write this story? Should you write it? The answer isn't necessarily no. If you choose to write outside your own lived experience, try to find ways to acknowledge your perspective within the work.

For the 10x10 project, we are committed to our blind submission process: the jury evaluates scripts without knowing the identity of the playwright. However, in order to judge fairly and with sensitivity, sometimes the jury needs to know whether or not a playwright is speaking from a lived experience of oppression, discrimination, or marginalization. If your script centers on characters or issues identified with a traditionally marginalized group of people, please provide a brief "position statement" which describes your approach to the material, what you are attempting, and why. Without identifying yourself, help the jury to understand how you are uniquely equipped to tell this story.

As always, there is no limit on subject matter or style. Write what you want. Be aware of the bigger picture. Write till you get it right, or write something else. Keep writing!

Please click on these links for perspectives from other writers:

"We have a responsibility with the words and images we use. We do not make art in a vacuum."
Hanorah, Montreal

10 or so questions to ask yourself before making art about a group you don't belong to

"News articles focused on disabled people are usually framed in terms of 'The Three Ts': Triumph, Tragedy, or Trauma."
Red Nicholson, Auckland, New Zealand

Writing about disability? Here are five tips to get it right

"I'm an Indigenous woman living in Canada. I'm 'not allowed' to say no. This country has made its position on that clear countless times."
Alicia Elliott, Brantford, Ontario

The cultural appropriation debate isn't about free speech---it's about context

Go deeper with these guidelines on Writing the Other:

"When we create characters from backgrounds different than our own, we're really telling the deeper story of our own perception."
Daniel Jose' Older, Brooklyn

12 Fundamentals Of Writing "The Other" (And The Self)

Playwriting Weekend in October

9/6/2018

Join us for an exciting weekend with Toronto playwright Jeff Ho!

SEPTEMBER 17 submission deadline for Playwriting Master Class.
Details HERE.
Please note: you do not have to submit work in order to participate
in the Master Class, but it is highly recommended.

Magnus Theatre School

9/6/2018

Playwrights, directors, and actors: keep your Thursday evenings free for exciting opportunities for adults at Magnus Theatre in Education! Get started with Intro to Adult Theatre and challenge yourself with Character Study. Register at Magnus.

Thanks to all our supporters!

5/15/2018

10x10 would like to thank those who support us in so many ways. We couldn't do this without you! Friends of 10x10, please help us to give back to these community-minded businesses, organizations and individuals.

Write NOWW LitFest

4/30/2018

Join us to celebrate Northwestern Ontario writers and enjoy Amanda Doig's 10x10 play Of Marriage Minded Misses at the Write NOWW LitFest Awards Dinner on Saturday May 5th at the Prince Arthur. Tickets going quickly!

Two days of literary celebrations that include a reading and conversation
with author Angie Abdou, a writing workshop, and a gala dinner
featuring the announcement of
the NOWW annual writing contest winning entries.
May 4-5, 2018

10x10 Playwright Featured by ISC

4/28/2018

Heart of our City - Alycia Novak

(EXCERPT:)

My name is Alycia Novak and I am an ARTIST!

... I want to tell every young girl with dreams of the big city, NEVER underestimate the healing power of home. You are rooted with the trees, Lake Superior flows in your veins and you are strong like the Sleeping Giant. Some of my best work emerges when I am at our camp surrounded by Mother Nature.

SUNDAY DINNER is one of the first 10-minute plays that I wrote. It hit the stage at Thunder Bay’s 10x10 Showcase in 2015. I adapted the script for the screen, then produced, starred in and co-directed the short film. (You wear many hats when you are just starting out.) I am thrilled to announce we are in the final editing stages. SUNDAY DINNER will be hitting film festivals across Canada later this summer...

[Read the entire post HERE]

Playwrights featured on LU Radio

4/21/2018

"That's interesting -- ten-minute plays? I think I could do that!"

Enjoy this interview with Susan Rogers and Bronson Carver on LU Radio's Paradigm Shift Cafe. Many thanks for featuring the Sixth Annual 10x10 Play Showcase!

paradigm_shift_cafe_interview_-_april_13_2018.mp3
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Complete podcast HERE

TBT News & CBC Radio Feature 10x10

4/21/2018

TBT News interviews Artistic Director Cathi Winslow with clips from the Sixth Annual Play Showcase (coverage begins at 8:24):

CBC Radio's Lisa Laco interviews Project Manager Sheena Albanese and Playwright Thomas McDonald on Superior Morning:

Audience Favourite Awards

4/15/2018

Announcing the Audience Favourite Awards for 2018:

Thanks to our audience for three sold-out performances of the Sixth Annual Showcase--over 700 voters. Congratulations to all ten plays for vibrancy and passion. The scores were extremely close.

Here is how the audience voted:

FIRST PLACE: Of Marriage Minded Misses (written by Amanda Doig; directed by Beverley Gravelle MacLeod; starring Bailey Giroux, Hilke Grunys, Ken Horton, and Lauren Payette)

SECOND PLACE: Extended Warranty (written by Susan Rogers; directed by Brandon Walker; starring Steven Gothard and Barb Philp)

THIRD PLACE: Dirty Rotten Pictures (written by Roy Ellis; directed by Maranda Dumas; starring John Christopher Welyki)

Of Marriage Minded Misses will be performed at the NOWW LitFest Awards Dinner on Saturday May 5th.

Director Beverley Gravelle-MacLeod, Playwright Amanda Doig,
Bailey Giroux, Ken Horton, Hilke Grunys, Lauren Payette