In 1975, the theme for the newly-founded Association for Canadian and
Quebec Literatures at the Learned Societies’ Conference in Edmonton was
Canadian and Quebec theatre. Although the conference programme was designed
as a series of “Confrontations” between French and English Canadian presenters,
what emerged was a schism between academics, on one side, and theatre practitioners,
led by George Ryga, on the other. My sense is that, despite the existence
of organizations like the ACTR, the gap between the academy and the theatre,
between theory and practice, has actually widened over the postmodern period.
There are numerous material and ideological reasons (in fact I doubt the
two can be separated) for this weakening of links. The question I wish
to ask is how do we get beyond the myths and negative stereotypes of Canadian
nationalism? How do we move toward an embracing and celebration of transculturalism
and post-nationalism (if these are the realities of today)? The objective
of my presentation is to open reflection on how to continue the process
of both theorizing and practising Canadian theatre. The questions are intended
to underscore the practicalities of finding synergistic ways to do and
promulgate, to teach and study, to think about and enjoy Canadian theatre.
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