The Co.ED Project
About the project
The Co.ED Project was my final directing practicum assignment at York University. The work consists of two plays, both by Deborah Pearson. The piece was the result of a collaboration between York University and Volcano. This was the North American premiere of the production.
The first play, TableTalk constructs a world of men – suits, cold offices, poker nights and total vacancy of emotion. The first play builds a narrative framework which the second play, A Play About the Other Play then deconstructs from the perspective of women. The show looks at gender and how it is construction and where there are flaws in the design.
My Role
I acted as the Assistant Director for TableTalk working under Volcano artistic director Ross Manson. My job was to support the director and the actors in daily rehearsals by prompting, maintaining detailed rehearsal notes, running errands, recording blocking, compiling final archival materials, and standing in for absent actors.
What I Learned
When the show reached previews I was provided with a unique opportunity. One of the actors fell ill and was day-to-day for performing. Assistant Directors have “unspoken” duty to fill in when there are no understudies. In a whirlwind 24 hours I learned the entire part including lines, blocking, dance choreography and fight choreography and performed the role for the second preview. In such a situation is not expected that the stand-in learn all lines or choreography but I wanted to go above and beyond the call of duty, memorizing the whole part so that the absence of the actor was not noticed.
To this day I consider it to be one of the most amazing experiences of my life and will never forget the stress, anxiety and subsequent adrenaline rush.
Theatre @ York presents Co.ED (or How to Become Your Gender, in ten easy steps) (York University Press Release)
