In celebration of , the Fountain School of Performing Arts wanted to create a rendition of the classic tale, Frankenstein, also celebrating its milestone 200th year. And like the cultural phenomenon, it was essential the production come from the pen of a female writer.
Enter Gillian Clark.
The recent Dal Theatre graduate (BA’13), at just 26 years of age, is making quite the name for herself in the theatre community. Not only has she acted in numerous highly-acclaimed productions in the five years since graduation, she also founded Keep Good (Theatre) Company with two of her closest friends, Karen Gross and Laura Vingoe-Cram, both graduates of University of King’s College. Based out of Halifax, Keep Good’s shows have toured throughout Canada, the United Kingdom and India.
Now, as the playwright of , Clark has taken a 200-year-old tale and shocked it alive with new energy.
“Gill’s fresh, bold and honest approach, and her willingness to question social norms made her the perfect fit to write Drums and Organs,” says Roberta Barker, associate professor of Theatre at Dal and director of Drums and Organs. She describes Clark's play as a new "theatrical creature" inspired by Shelley's book.
“This is a rare opportunity to have at this point in [Clark's] career — the freedom to explore and create this piece of work in her own way. We are all incredibly proud of her successes thus far and thrilled to have her involved.”
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Embodying the text
While Drums and Organs was inspired by Mary Shelley’s classic, Clark worked to make it her own and create a show that the audience can interpret by today’s standards.
“I spent a lot of time with Shelley’s text. I tried to transform the idea of loneliness into navigating the world for companionship,” says Clark, who is currently studying playwriting at the prestigious National Theatre School of Canada. “I wanted to create a show that’s about being young, and the importance of this unique time in one’s life… when you’re exploring and finding yourself.”
Clark was also keen to create a script that the students could relate to, which she says has been one of the most rewarding parts of this opportunity.
“Seeing the students connect to and embody the script and watching them having fun has brought me a lot of joy,” says the Calgary native. “I fondly remember my own fourth-year production and am happy to be a part of theirs.
Clark in her fourth-year performance, Triumph of Love. (Nick Pearce photo)
“My time at Dal was formative. The experiences and opportunities I