'The Self-Isolated Artist' Series: Toronto Profile of Janet Kish
Information compiled by Joe Szekeres, Chief Toronto Critic (Twitter: @szekeresjoe Instagram: @reviewerguy60)
I had the opportunity to attend and review some productions that took part in the Association of Community Theatres – Central Ontario (ACT-C0) Division for the 2019-2020 season. I also had the chance to watch the online presentation of the ACT-CO awards and recognition which was handled professionally by Linda Lyons and Reese Brunelle. Recently, I had completed a profile on Autumn Smith, the adjudicator for the Drama category. I’ve already asked Andrew Lamb (adjudicator for the Musical category) for an interview and his answers will be forthcoming shortly. Stay tuned.
Janet Kish was the adjudicator for this year’s Comedy category. Although I have never met her personally, her name sounded familiar to me. Thank goodness, she provided me with a brief bio as it now came clear where I’ve recognized her name.
She was the former Curriculum Leader of the Arts at the Claude Watson School for the Performing Arts and was the Head of Drama for many years at Scarborough’s Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate. After a long and successful career, Janet left the classroom to become an independent theatre maker. She is a playwright, director and dramaturg and a proud alumna of The Director’s Lab North and Director’s Lab Chicago. Janet has also adjudicated for the former high school Sears’ Festival (now known as the NTS Drama Festival) and has been an adjudicator for the last two years with ACT-CO.
Janet is also on the jury for the 2019-2020 Dora Mavor Moore awards.
We conducted our interview via email:
1. It has been nearly two and a half months of isolation and quarantine. How have you been doing during this time? Is your immediate family doing well?
Actually, I’m surprised with how well I’ve been managing. Because I’m immunocompromised, I’ve voluntarily remained home since mid-March. I never dreamed I could survive this length of time alone and still remain sane and inspired. Thankfully modern technology has made it easy to stay connected with family, friends, news and entertainment.
2. As one of the adjudicators for this year’s ACT CO festival and virtual celebration, I’m sure you were probably at the very end of preparations from watching productions and getting your notes together. Did you have more productions to see when the pandemic was declared? Were you involved or being considered for any other projects outside ACT CO before the pandemic was declared and everything was shut down? If so, what has or what will become of these projects?
There were two ACT-CO productions remaining in the Comedy category that sadly had to be shut down before the end of season. Both companies were able to send me videos of their shows, however, and we conducted our private adjudications via Facetime and ZOOM. It may not have been ideal but it was still a very positive and interesting learning experience for all of us.
I’ve also sat on the jury for the 2019/20 Dora Mavor Moore Awards in the Independent category. Sadly, a number of plays had to be closed before they even opened. I can only imagine how emotionally and financially catastrophic that must have felt for everyone involved. I know I was very disappointed in not being able to see those new shows. If there is a bright light, though, it was that TAPA has decided to go ahead with the celebrations to celebrate the productions that had played before everything shut down. ‘The 2020 Dora Mavor Moore Awards - Virtual Edition’ will be live streamed on June 29th.
3. What has been the most difficult and/or challenging of this period of isolation for you?
Before the pandemic I was attending two to five plays a week throughout the city and the GTA. There’s a certain immediacy and air of anticipation when you first walk into a lobby and you wait to be let into the performance space. I miss the gathering of audiences. I miss being surrounded by my tribe. I miss the collective heartbeat when the audience and the actors are in sync
4. What have you been doing to keep yourself busy during this time of lockdown?
It’s been a productive period and a chance to realign. The lockdown has provided me with time to reflect, read. write, research, and connect in new ways. Last week I agreed to act in a live broadcast reading of a play in development. I haven’t acted in a few years so I was terrified, but it turned out to be a lot of fun to return to that side of a script. There are so many live broadcasts available every day as well as masterclass sessions in playwriting, directing and acting. I can’t keep up with all the opportunities but I’m trying. I find it fascinating and inspiring how the challenges have brought out the very best in artists and our impulses to explore, play and create.
5. Any words of wisdom or sage advice you would give to other performing artists who are concerned about the impact of COVID-19? What about to the new theatre graduates who are just out of school and may have been hit hard? Why is it important for them not to lose sight of their dreams?
So many of my former students are working professionally in the industry. At the best of times, that fact alone is testament to their skill, talent, drive, and tenacity. It’s impressive how emerging and established theatre artists and companies have rolled up their sleeves and are actively brainstorming, strategizing and creating viable alternatives. Theatre makers are, by their very nature, intuitive problem-solvers. I have faith as our world evolves that these creators will not only survive but also thrive. My greatest fear is for future generations. How many students will change their minds about attending theatre school? How will those schools adapt their programs while sustaining students’ passion and rigour? How will high school drama programs be impacted by social distancing and what will this mean in ten or twenty years down the road? It’s critical we sustain Arts in Education and that Arts educators become even more politically proactive.
6. Any words of wisdom or advice to the amateur/community theatre groups for their upcoming 2020-2021 seasons?
One of things being an ACT-CO adjudicator has taught me is that community theatre is alive and well and has remarkably loyal and supportive audiences. I believe those audiences will continue to stand by as we navigate the months ahead. This pandemic I believe is a call for society to diverge, emerge and transcend. It’s an opportunity to revisit mandates and review goals beyond 2021. Where do we want to go? What must we do differently to get there? What risks do we need to take? How can we bring in newer works and feature more Canadian playwrights? What do we need to do to attract younger and more diverse audiences? Let this pandemic be the impetus we all need to bring about our own metamorphoses.
7. What is it about the performing arts you still love that Covid will never destroy?
I have a ritual of reciting a little blessing with my actors just before they go on stage: “The theatre is magic; the magic is theatre. May the blessed magic begin.” I truly believe in that magic. There’s an exquisite alchemy, a sacred communion if you will, that occurs when the right script, direction, design, technology, actors and audience are blended together. Theatre has survived thousands of years through war, famine, and previous plagues because it is magical. Theatre will outlive Covid and flourish.
With a respectful acknowledgement to ‘Inside the Actors’ Studio’ and the late James Lipton, here are the 10 questions he asked his guests:
a. What is your favourite word?
AHA!
b. What is your least favourite word?
Mundane.
c. What turns you on?
Breaking rules. Travelling the road not taken.
d. What turns you off?
Racism, the gun-culture, conspiracy theories and Donald Trump. Not necessarily in that order.
e. What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of water – the ocean surf, a rain shower, even the trickling of a fountain or the splish-splash of jumping in a puddle.
f. What sound or noise bothers you?
The sound of people talking or eating or texting during a show.
g. What is your favourite curse word?
Fuckity-fuck-fuck.
h. What profession, other than your own, would you have liked to attempt?
Neuroscientist. I’m fascinated by the mysteries of the brain but I was terrible in the sciences and maths as a student. Maybe in my next life.
i. What profession would you not like to do?
i.C.E. agent. Can you imagine how soul-numbing that would be?
j. If Heaven exists, what do you hope God will say to you as you approach the Pearly Gates?
“Hurry up, the play’s about to begin.”
If you wish to follow Janet Kish:
(Instagram) https://www.instagram.com/janetkish/
(Twitter) https://twitter.com/Kishcakes
(Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/kishcake