60 Seconds With… Terrific Pioneers of ‘Harvest 2022: Zoetic’

Briefly introduce yourself/your company…
Theatre Terrific pioneers inclusive opportunities for artists with disabilities to develop performance skills and collaborate in the production of theatrical works. Through its work, Theatre Terrific challenges audiences to be open to the impact of thought-provoking art.

What is it that makes your work/company unique
All of Theatre Terrific’s classes, workshops, community, and professional productions are made up of people of all colours, abilities, genders, and backgrounds. This means that at any given time, a cast or class may include people who may have mental health issues, developmental challenges, physical challenges, or simply practicing actors who want to learn new methods of inclusive theatre development.

What kind of experience do you hope audiences will have during your show?
A bit of an awakening in several aspects:
Personal: As a human being, I am a piece of the whole that is Mother Earth. How do I develop a responsible and caring relationship with my fellow living entities?
Community: We are all a part of a community; human, animal, plant, air, water, and earth. We need each other, and we affect each other.
Sensual: How do we awaken our senses to develop a relationship with the living world? Meaning all that is living touch/smell/sight/taste/hearing/voice.

Without spoilers, tell us what you think audiences will remember most about your show?
The first impact will be the diverse, inclusive cast presence in a natural park setting.
Most importantly, though, the audience will take away a sense of connection and community. This production of ZOETIC will have portions that directly interact with the audience, which bring home that we are all connected as persons, that we are all connected as vital parts of the living world and that we have a responsibility towards all that lives in whatever form. ZOETIC – from the Greek PIE root *gwei- “to live”, literally meaning “life”. Zoetic means “pertaining to life”

What do you think is the best thing about the Fringe?
Reaching a broad, diverse audience. Theatre Terrific has been part of the Vancouver Fringe Festival for over 15 years. The Vancouver Fringe Festival was the first theatre community that respectfully welcomed a cast and production that represented lived perspectives and voices of artists of all abilities, cultures, ages and gender. Not only welcomed but valued that Theatre Terrific spoke to issues relevant to all of humanity. It has given our all-inclusive community the outlet to express creative takes on the environment, relationships, work, and much more. We are not defined by labels but described as fully invested contributive artists to topics that connect us all.

What is the most important thing you hope audiences will take away from your show?
To honour oneself, those you may not be familiar with, the living world, ultimately to awaken our underused senses to connect, communicate and create community.