Artistic Director of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador speaks on his role in the company that brings us the Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

(This article originally appeared in TNL’s Summer 2013 Newsletter.)

The Artistic Director of a professional theatre company is responsible for conceiving, developing, and implementing the artistic vision and focus of the company. And my vision for Theatre Newfoundland Labrador is to tell the story. Now you might be asking; what is the story? What is the vision? Why does he choose the plays he chooses?

And this is when it gets personal. Because a vision is personal. It can’t be dictated to you; it can’t be taught to you, you can’t learn a vision from a book – it’s personal and comes from your heart and your soul – who you are. I was born in Grand Falls/Windsor, the son of a millworker and a master of all trades – my mother. My first real experience with theatre was at the ripe old age of 15 when our school drama club created a play about the demise of the Beothuck Indians in Central Newfoundland. This I believe was the first stich in what has become the fabric of my life – telling stories that are immediate and have an impact on the artist’s lives as well as the lives of our audiences. From here I went on to be a part of the Mummers Theatre Troupe, a very socially conscious theatre company that created, produced and often toured plays about Newfoundland and Labrador, her politics and most importantly her people. My life has since been dedicated to furthering that vision; telling stories that relate in very real ways to the artists and audiences involved in the experience – my vision is at work no matter if I’m writing my own plays or directing and creating seasons for Theatre Newfoundland Labrador.

Some typical responsibilities of any Artistic Director are:

• Hires, supervises and evaluates artistic personnel including directors, performers, designers, and playwrights
• Develops, implements, and evaluates plays and programs for the year
• With the General Manager develops annual program budget
• Acts as a spokesperson for the organization’s artistic purpose via speaking engagements, public and social appearances, and, as requested, at fundraising events and solicitations
• Develops relationships with other artists including playwrights, actors, directors and designers to realize the company’s artistic direction
• Reports to the Board of Directors on a regular basis to give an update on artistic activity
• Directs a number of productions per season

For Theatre Newfoundland Labrador it’s choosing the plays we perform at our Gros Morne Theatre Festival, holding auditions and hiring the actors and/or musicians, and choosing our directors, designers and playwrights. I then work closely with these artists in crafting what you, our audience will ultimately see on stage at our Festival every summer.

Hand in hand with this is working closely with our Artistic Associate, SaraH McDonald in her work with our Youth Theatre program, the fall community show and Stage Head Academy. It’s important that SaraH have control over her own artistic vision but that vision should also go hand in hand with the overall vision of the company. I am a great believer in our youth and our young artists – they have a lot to contribute – witness my own beginnings at 15!

It’s important that I am able to work collectively within our company. While I might be at the heart of an ‘artistic’ vision – I also have to consider the overall vision of the company and that includes working with our Board of Directors and our General Manager, Gaylene Buckle. It is my shared vision with Gaylene of an important top quality professional Canadian theatre company that is proudly based in Newfoundland and Labrador professionally producing plays that relate to the vision of the story we’re telling.

And what is the story? The answer is in the plays we choose to produce.