Patricia Allison, from the Ruff Leadership Collective, sits down with Theatre Rusticle’s Allyson McMackon for a beautifully gentle conversation about creation, Shakespeare’s the Tempest, and how to make art in this day and age. We’re thrilled to have this episode kick off our 2024 season of Ruff Radio for our season long exploration of all things Tempest and Shakespeare in the Ruff.
OUR GUEST
Allyson McMackon (Director): Allyson (she/her) has been working in the theatre and dance for 34 years as an actor, director, movement director and educator. She founded Theatre Rusticle in 1998. She directed Brooke Johnson’s Trudeau Stories (TPM, Neptune, NAC/Mag North, Centaur, Thousand Islands and everywhere since 2009). A sought-after teacher, she has taught at Unionville School of the Arts, The Centre for Indigenous Theatre, Sheridan College Musical Theatre, George Brown Theatre School, The University of Toronto and four seasons at the Globe Conservatory in Regina. Contract faculty at York University since 2008, she has taught devising, physical theatre and movement in Theatre Studies and the BFA/MFA conservatories. Since 2013, she has guest directed at George Brown, York, and Sheridan College. She has led Master classes for the Director’s Lab North, Buddies in Bad Times and Factory Training Enhancement Programme. Allyson was three times nominated for the KM Hunter Artists Award, received Dora nominations for direction, production and choreography and was Harolded in 2008. She has mentored with Buddies’ Young Creator’s Unit and the Paprika Festival. She is a contributor to Evan Tsiatsis’ The Director’s Lab (Playwrights Canada). She has an MFA in Performance from York University and a BA in Drama and English from the University of Toronto.
THE TEMPEST
JANUARY 18–28, 2024
