e-bulletin 29
December 2007

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You are receiving this e-bulletin because you are a preferred contact of the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS).

Go from Student to Professional
at the NTS

It’s that time of year again when theatre students are seriously thinking of applying to the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS).

From backstage to centre stage, the NTS prepares its students to become leaders in the performing arts. Offering highly personalized training in Acting, Directing, Playwriting, Production, and Set and Costume Design in both official languages, the NTS is currently looking for the next generation of theatre artists who will come and study at the School. Please note, the Directing Program is not being offered in the 2008-2009 school year; applications for this program will be accepted in Spring 2009. For all other programs, interested candidates only have until February 15th, 2008 to apply.

Located in one of the liveliest and most culturally diverse districts in Montreal, the NTS stands out as one of the few conservatory-type institutions in the world that unites all the theatre disciplines under one roof. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Sherry Bie and program directors Danièle Lévesque, Brian Drader, Micheline Chevrier, and Lesley MacMillan, the School’s faculty consists of articulate, dedicated and professional theatre artists. Students benefit from individualized training and daily contact with directors, artists and creators active in shaping theatre across the country and abroad. For more information, click here.

To apply, simply visit our website and complete the on-line application form.

Once again, CanWest Global Communications Corp. is the proud sponsor of the NTS National Applications and Auditions.

Restoration

The 2008 English graduating class of the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) is proud to present Edward Bond’s play Restoration, directed by Alisa Palmer, with musical direction by Toronto-based singer, songwriter and banjo man John Millard (adapted from the original compositions by Nick Bicat), from December 11 to 15 at the Monument-National’s Ludger-Duvernay Theatre.

Written by Bond in 1981, Restoration is a dramatic critique of the Restoration period’s comedies (the likes of Sheridan, Goldsmith and Vanbrugh). Set in eighteenth-century England, an era when men were at their most peacock clad, with wigs and patches and high heeled shoes set with precious stones, Restoration tells the story of Lord Are, a foppish aristocrat who is forced by poverty into an unwanted marriage with the daughter of a wealthy mine owner. Possessing a villainous disregard for those employed by him, Are seeks to pin responsibility for one of his crimes on his manservant Bob.

Read the media release.

Simon Brault and RV07

Last November 12 and 13, the Montréal, Cultural Metropolis – Rendez-vous November 2007 (RV07) meeting was held, uniting representatives of the arts and culture community, members of the municipal and provincial governments, members of the business community, as well as other members of civil society, in an action-based context, to discuss and announce projects, measure progress and maintain a focus on cultural matters. NTS Director General Simon Brault, in his capacity as President of Culture Montreal, was the chair of the steering committee and chief organizer of this mega event. For eighteen months, he worked hand in hand with the five major players of RV07: the city of Montréal, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal, the Government of Québec, the Government of Canada, and Culture Montréal.

In his opening address, the Mayor of Montréal, Gérald Tremblay, set the tone by stating that the goal of the event was to rally in support of a vision of Montreal as a cultural metropolis of the 21st century. 1,200 participants attended this 2-day event, either by addressing, presenting or networking, leading Simon Brault to conclude that this was an historic moment in the cultural evolution of the city of Montréal because all the important players rose to the occasion – cultural decision-makers, business leaders and politicians. He sincerely hopes that this new spirit of collaboration will continue far beyond the conference.

Such was the enthusiasm surrounding Simon Brault’s superior organizational skills that Québec’s House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion put forward jointly by Culture Minister Christine Saint-Pierre and the two opposition cultural critics, citing his exceptional work and talent. Kudos to Simon for his indefatigable spirit, his cultural activism, his leadership skills, and his forward thinking! Bravos all around to the fine work of the steering committee that succeeded in making this a touchstone event.

Read about the major orientations of RV07.

CALP – Next Intake

The Cultural and Artistic Leadership Program (CALP) is presently in its third year and its success can be measured by the impressive presentation of close to 50 works, on both the English and French sides. All CALP projects have proven that an idea can be nurtured and furthered by the knowledge that there are financial resources available to NTS students or recent grads. The CALP proposals essentially act as a training ground, encouraging the applicant to give form to a creative notion or innovative idea and package it financially. These are crucial steps in the grant application processes that will follow many artists throughout their careers. None of this would be possible without the support of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the NTS is deeply thankful.

Projects that have taken the lead range from new exploratory theatre forms, musicals, puppetry, and in situ pieces, to community outreach. Take for example graduating Acting student Brendan McMurtry-Howlett’s (our picture), …and stockings for the ladies, written by Attila Clemann and directed by Zack Fraser. It has been acclaimed at both the 2007 Montreal and Toronto Fringes and Montreal’s Centaur Theatre has picked it up for its 11th Wildside Festival, January 8, 10 and 12, 2008. 2004 Acting graduate Anita Majumdar’s new CALP aided work The Misfit will be performed in early January 2008 at the PuSh Festival in Vancouver . Her first CALP project and Dora nominated show Fish Eyes, directed by fellow graduate Gregory Prest, has travelled the globe and recently opened the 2007 PEI Victoria Playhouse Summer Theatre Festival.

Next submission date for 2005, 2006 and 2007 graduates and all NTS students: January 15, 2008.

All you need to know about CALP.

Do You Want to Have Backstage Access?

For the second year in a row, from December 28, 2007 to January 6, 2008 (closed January 1), the School will take part in Backstage Access, an interactive event held at the Montreal Science Centre, in the Old Port. Visitors will be able to discover what actually goes on behind the scenes and experience first hand a variety of stage-related activities, for instance: working projectors, operating sound and lighting boards during scenes from real shows, creating audiovisual effects, and learning how to work the flies. By running the show themselves, they will see that science is everywhere, even on stage. Spectators can also visit dressing rooms featuring a variety of costumes and enjoy an exhibition of set and costume maquettes.

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National Theatre School of Canada
5030 Saint Denis Street
Montréal, Québec H2L 3P5
Tel.: (514) 842-7954
Fax.: (514) 842-5661
info@ent-nts.qc.ca