Partnership in Production Leadership with Means of Production

August 10, 2021, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

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Partnership in Production Leadership

Means of Production (pmtd.ca) is a collective of Production Managers and Technical Directors working together to reexamine the way we build shows. Incubated by Generator, and funded by the Canada Council, from 2021-2022 we are researching and developing a values-based approach to production that prioritizes equitable, sustainable working conditions and improved relationships between Producers, PMs and TDs.

This roundtable invites Production Managers, Technical Directors, Technicians, Suppliers and Arts Workers to discuss:

**What is a values-based approach to production?

**How can production and technical leadership contribute to the paradigm shift of building back better post-pandemic?

**Which tools and practices can PMs and TDs develop to support under-represented arts workers and their productions?

**Where can PMs and TDs affect change to improve working conditions for arts workers, within or outside of an institutional framework?

**When must the show not go on?

Moderator: Autumn Coppaway, CITT/ICTS Director at large
Level: General (for all)
Discipline: Human Resources, Management, Production Management and Technical Direction, Career Development.

Session's objectives:

  • Facilitate an open dialogue around working conditions between various stakeholders within live performance production leadership.
  • Foster discussion that will contribute to the research and development of tools that PMs and TDs can use to better advocate for themselves and the crews they lead.
  • Introduce ways to get involved with Means of Production, and our yearlong project to develop a values-based approach to production with the live arts and events community.

Presenters:

Sue Balint, Producer
Sue is a longstanding member of the Toronto arts community, having been active at various stages of her career as a playwright, dramaturg, theatre maker and currently as a producer and facilitator. Recent projects include: Festival Producer for Aluna Theatre’s CAMINOS and RUTAS festivals, Progress (SummerWorks / The Theatre Centre), and Weesageechak Begins to Dance (Native Earth), as well as collaborations with Modern Times Stage Company, Chocolate Woman Collective, So Much Drama, and others. Sue was the 2018 recipient of The Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for Leadership in Administration, and is an Adaptive Facilitator for the Metcalf Foundation’s Staging Change program.

Pip Bradford, Production Management, Live Art, Production Outreach
Pip Bradford is an arts worker based in Toronto, mostly working as a production manager and producer with dance companies and festivals. She sometimes makes events and spaces with Rebecca Vandevelde as part of Art Is Hard.

Crystal Lee, Production Manager
Crystal Lee began her independent career as a freelance Production Manager in Toronto where she received a Harold Award for her contributions to the community. She currently works full-time with Why Not Theatre as their Production and Technical Manager.

Sally Roberts, Production Manager, Stagehand, Technician
Sally Roberts lives and works in Toronto. She has been the head technician in the Baillie (Downstairs) Theatre at Berkeley for 3 years. In 2019, Sally was the PM for The Black Drum, produced by the Canadian Cultural Society for the Deaf, supported by Soulpepper Theatre, and is passionate about work with both Deaf and hearing artists.

Em Aubin, Stage Manager
Em Aubin (they/she) is a stage manager for theatre and experimental performance based in Tkarón:to. Select credits include: Century Song, Infinity (Volcano Theatre); Pass Over, School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, hang (Obsidian Theatre); Art (Soulpepper); Lady Baby, Portrait (The Dietrich Group); The Men in White (Factory Theatre); Tributaries (LuminaTO 2017); Freedom Singer (Project:Humanity); We Keep Coming Back (Selfconscious Theatre); Counting Sheep (SummerWorks 2015); It Comes in Waves (Bluemouth Inc and Necessary Angel); M’dea Undone (Tapestry Opera); Harper Regan (Canadian Stage).