At York University, Post National was a joint project between Deborah Pearson, Volcano and York University’s Theatre Department. The original performance was a double bill, featuring the instruction-based show and a pre-rehearsed devised piece with the 12 fourth year acting conservatory students. Set, sound and lighting, and all technical elements were created and executed by York University students with guidance from the creative team.
‘‘There is no core identity, no mainstream in Canada. There are shared values — openness, respect, compassion, willingness to work hard, to be there for each other, to search for equality and justice. Those qualities are what make us the first postnational state.’’
– Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the New York Times, 2015
Following on in the tradition of pieces like White Rabbit Red Rabbit and Rimini Protocol’s 100% project, British/Canadian artist Deborah Pearson, Canadian choreographer Kate Alton, and Canadian company Volcano worked with students from York University (Toronto) to create an instruction-based touring production for 12 guest performers at a time.
Historically, university students have been the bastions of political change. Deborah Pearson, Kate Alton and Volcano have created a piece that asks what this generation of students’ attitudes towards political change look like today, exploring the post-national approach supposedly shared by many Canadians with a national and international audience, involving instruction-based choreography, text, and questions answered live.
Post National is a concept by Deborah Pearson. The text is by Deborah Pearson with choreographic instructions by Kate Alton, staging decisions made jointly by Ross Manson, Deborah Pearson and Kate Alton, and dramaturgical contributions from Ross Manson, Kate Alton and students from the York University Theatre Department.
