Yorath House welcomes its next artists in residence
Jason Chinn, photo by Ian Kucerak. Amanda Bergen, photo supplied.
In December, the inaugural artists in residence at Yorath House, Alma Visscher and Taryn Kneteman, wrapped their residency. This week we’re happy to welcome the next residency pair: Jason Chinn and Amanda Bergen.
Jason Chinn is a playwright, community-based theatre facilitator, and educator. Recent plays include: E DAY, (Theatre Network Performance Series), I SHOT A DUCK (Augustana University), Murderers Confess at Christmastime (Summerworks, Theatre Network Performance Series), an adaptation of Chekhov’s The Seagull (University of Alberta, MacEwan University), and Ladies Who Lynch (Azimuth Theatre, Workshop West Theatre’s Canoe Festival). Short plays include: хлеб (Theatre Yes), Screen Time (Concrete Theatre), I Love Your Hair and Other Conversations for The National Elevator Project (Theatre Yes), and Problems in Politics and the Pitfalls of Public Service, which was created during a residency at Edmonton’s City Hall (Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre). Jason was last seen on stage in Beth Graham’s The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble (Theatre Network) and Nathan Cuckow’s The Conversion (Kill Your Television).
Jason is a recent a graduate of the University of Alberta’s MFA Theatre Practice program with a specialization in playwriting and community-based theatre. During his degree, Jason has worked with various communities in Edmonton to promote positive social change; including migrant caregivers with Migrante Alberta, intergenerational theatre company the GeriActors, Kenya’s Ignite Afrika, and the Cerebral Palsy Association in Alberta. He is a multiple Elizabeth Sterling Haynes award nominee and shares a Dora award nomination for outstanding ensemble with the cast of Mr. Marmalade (Toronto’s Outside the March).
Amanda Bergen is an educator, director, and sometimes actor. She is a graduate of the MFA Directing program at the University of Alberta where she directed April de Angelis’ Ironmistress, Gabriel by Moira Buffini, and Fetch, a staged reading of a new play by Elena Belyea. Her thesis production Tribes marked the end of a challenging adventure. As founding Artistic Director and Producer of the Capitol Theatre she wore all the hats to create a season of quirky, heart-filled productions along with a series of film screenings. Amanda programmed and directed three seasons including The Importance of Being Earnest, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Poof! The Musical by Nick Green and Darrin Hagen. Prior to that she headed up Twenties Street Productions also at Fort Edmonton Park. Since 2008, along with award winning playwright, Nick Green, she has premiered many original works such as My Blue Heaven, A Long Night, Love Letters and Under the Big Top. Amanda’s Fringe credits as director include Witches ’Brew Carrot Stew, The Kingship of NNNNorp!, and Target Audience. Acting credits include Bitches: A Woman's Fury, The Flood: A Disaster Story, Pornstar.USA and most recently Trout Stanley. Currently Amanda is part of the education team at Grindstone Theatre and the U of A Drama Department.
According to the artists, they intend to use their time at Yorath House to explore ways in which they can serve Edmonton communities: “Our intention is to use community-based theatre to make space for voices that are not often included in mainstream theatre. Using our complimentary directing, playwriting, and producing skill sets, we intend to design community-based play-making workshops for communities who may not identify as theatre creators but have a strong desire to share their unique stories with the larger Edmonton community.”
The Yorath House Artist Studio residency project is a partnership between the Edmonton Arts Council, the City of Edmonton, and the City Arts Centre. Residency opportunities, such as this one, work to create diverse platforms for collaboration in Edmonton that allow artistic and heritage communities to connect, create, and collaborate -- one of the Aims of the City of Edmonton’s Connections & Exchanges plan.
Jason and Amanda will work out of Yorath House, nestled against the North Saskatchewan River in Buena Vista Park, for the next eight weeks. We look forward to checking back in as their residency progresses, so keep an eye on the YEGArts blog for future updates.
