Open House 2003

Identity on stage at the National Theatre School of Canada’s Annual Open House

Montreal, September 15, 2003 – Only once a year does the National Theatre School (NTS) open its doors to offer the public a unique backstage glimpse into the workings of Canada’s foremost theatrical training institution. Future applicants and curious citizens are all invited to join in the activities on Saturday, September 27, 2003, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I.D.

The theme of this year’s event is Identity. The world of theatre is one of story, characters, sets, light and sound. Lines between what is real and what is illusion routinely become blurred as a person’s identity becomes a tool for exploration. All masks are off, however, for this year’s Open House as visitors, along with the School’s staff, faculty and administration, partake in activities designed to help explore who we are.

Visitors are invited and encouraged to bring with them a piece of their identity (one they don’t mind parting with). This can be anything: a pair of sunglasses, a tube of lipstick, or even an old bus pass. These props from our lives will be incorporated into a large, living piece of art. Those who do not come with anything will be invited to create something on-site to contribute to the work.

Activities at the School

There will be a multitude of things to do, beginning with an encore presentation of Le Capitaine Fracasse, a work that was presented this summer by La Roulotte, a city-sponsored children’s theatre troupe who bring plays to parks in and around the Montreal area. The public will also be invited to search through their pockets, purses and handbags to find inspirational props for the playwriting students to use in creating short pieces or monologues on the spot. In terms of poetic demonstrations, visitors can discover how light, music and sound affect the life of a play. Meanwhile, observation of the School’s various acting workshops (movement, dialect, voice, make-up and scene study) give the public a chance to see how actors develop their characters.

These activities are but only an example of what will be happening at the NTS that day. This year the School hopes to attract more Anglophones to the Open House, so several activities will be in English only, or at least bilingual.

Tour the building’s myriad corridors and classrooms and witness first-hand the hard work and dedication of NTS students. Check in on rehearsals and workshops, see what is taught and how it is done, and talk to NTS students and staff to find out all about the School and its programs. A full day of activities and surprises are planned, so you will not want to miss this rare opportunity.