Centre for Indigenous Theatre
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1974 by the late James H. Buller, the Native Theatre School was started with the vision that Aboriginal people
could create change in Canada
through theatre
. Buller was a noted opera
and musical comedy singer.
While earlier in the Canadian Navy before founding the school, Buller competed as a popular boxer
known as "Gentleman Jim". He wanted to see aboriginal actor
s, playwrights and directors flourish across Canada and create a network of aboriginal theatre companies. He believed that the Native Theatre School was the way to develop theatre professionals who could do that.
In 1994 the Native Theatre School was re-named the Centre for Indigenous Theatre to reflect the organizations greater commitment to the pre-professional training, professional development and promotion of aboriginal theatre in North America
and around the world. In 1995, the centre announced the development of its first new program in support of aboriginal theatre, the James Buller Awards for Aboriginal Theatre Excellence.
1998 marked the launch of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre's newest and most ambitious program. Based on the Native Theatre School model, the Centre opened the new Indigenous Theatre School, the first full-time, 3-year theatre training program in North America with a curriculum that integrates training in acting, voice, movement and traditional aboriginal cultural classes in dance, song and oral history.
The Centre for Indigenous Theatre is located in Toronto
, Ontario.
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
could create change in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
through theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
. Buller was a noted opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and musical comedy singer.
While earlier in the Canadian Navy before founding the school, Buller competed as a popular boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
known as "Gentleman Jim". He wanted to see aboriginal actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s, playwrights and directors flourish across Canada and create a network of aboriginal theatre companies. He believed that the Native Theatre School was the way to develop theatre professionals who could do that.
In 1994 the Native Theatre School was re-named the Centre for Indigenous Theatre to reflect the organizations greater commitment to the pre-professional training, professional development and promotion of aboriginal theatre in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and around the world. In 1995, the centre announced the development of its first new program in support of aboriginal theatre, the James Buller Awards for Aboriginal Theatre Excellence.
1998 marked the launch of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre's newest and most ambitious program. Based on the Native Theatre School model, the Centre opened the new Indigenous Theatre School, the first full-time, 3-year theatre training program in North America with a curriculum that integrates training in acting, voice, movement and traditional aboriginal cultural classes in dance, song and oral history.
The Centre for Indigenous Theatre is located in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario.
Notable graduates
- Tina Louise Bomberry - 1988
- Gary FarmerGary Farmer- History :Farmer was born in Ohsweken, Ontario into the Cayuga nation and Wolf Clan of the Haudenosaunee/Iroquois Confederacy. Farmer attended Syracuse University and Ryerson Polytechnic University, where he studied photography and film production....
- 1974 - Graham GreeneGraham GreeneHenry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
- 1974 - Lucie IdloutLucie IdloutLucie Idlout is a Canadian rock singer.An Inuk from Iqaluit, Nunavut, she is the daughter of Leah Idlout d'Argencourt and granddaughter of Joseph Idlout, an Inuk hunter who was the subject of a National Film Board documentary, Between Two Worlds, in 1990 and was one of the Inuit hunters depicted...
- 1997 - Melvin John - 1982
- Rosa John - 1982
- George LeachGeorge LeachGeorge Leach is a Canadian musician and actor. A Sta'atl'imx from Lillooet, British Columbia, he released his debut album Just Where I'm At in 2000. He subsequently performed at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards....
- 1996 - Billy MerastyBilly MerastyBilly Merasty is a Canadian actor and writer of Cree descent. He moved to Toronto at the age of 17, and launched his acting career after attending a theatre school program for aboriginal youth....
- 1984 - Jennifer Podemski - 1992
Notable faculty
- Herbie Barnes
- Columpa BobbColumpa BobbColumpa C. Bobb is a Canadian photographer, actress, playwright, poet and teacher of Coastal Salish descent. She has been performing, writing plays, and teaching for 20 years....
- Sadie Buck
- Mark Christmann
- Carol Greyeyes - artistic director 1997-2001
- Micheal Greyeyes
- Margo KaneMargo KaneMargo Kane is a Cree-Saulteaux performing artist and writer known for her solo-voice or monodrama works Moonlodge and Confessions of an Indian Cowboy, as well as her work with Full Circle First Nations Performance.-Early life:...
- Jani LauzonJani LauzonJani Lauzon is a Canadian puppeteer and musician of Métis heritage from East Kootenay, British Columbia, Canada. She is a three time Juno Award Nominee with Muppet Show credits that include additional puppetry on Follow That Bird, performing on The Jim Henson Hour, and the character Dip in the...
- David Ley
- Lee MaracleLee Maracle-Early life:Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, she grew up in the neighbouring city of North Vancouver and attended Simon Fraser University. She was one of the first Aboriginal people to be published in the early 1970s.-Career:...
- cultural director 1998-2000 - Muriel Miguel
- Daniel David MosesDaniel David MosesDaniel David Moses is a First Nations poet and playwright from Canada.Moses, of Delaware descent, was born in Ohsweken, Ontario, and raised on a farm on the Six Nations of the Grand River. He has an Honours BA from York University and an MFA from the University of British Columbia. Moses was the...
- Drew Hayden TaylorDrew Hayden TaylorDrew Hayden Taylor is a Canadian playwright, author and journalist.Born in Curve Lake, Ontario, Taylor is part Ojibwa and part Caucasian. About his background Taylor says: "I plan to start my own nation. Because I am half Ojibway half Caucasian, we will be called the occasions...
- Paul ThompsonPaul ThompsonPaul Thompson may refer to:*Paul Thompson , quarterback for the University of Oklahoma Sooners*Paul Thompson , former basketball player...
- John Turner (Mump and SmootMump and SmootMump & Smoot are a Canadian clown duo created by Michael Kennard and John Turner, directed by Karen Hines. Also referred to as 'clowns of horror' they've produced interactive, improvisational plays aimed squarely at adult audiences.-Background:...
)