‘FROM THE STAGE TO THE AUDIENCE’: Two-Minute Play Laboratory applied theatre project brings lived experience to the forefront
The Housing Project, which evolved as part of the Two-Minute Play Laboratory, reflects on myriad of issues in Waterloo Region through collaborative and co-operative approach
The idea that art can serve as a mirror to life is apt when describing this inaugural project.
“It really utilizes the power of the mirror and it’s a very human and humanizing process,” the Outta Work Actors Inc. (formerly Kaleidoscope Collective)’s Managing Artistic Director, Heather Majaury, said in describing The Housing Project, part of the collective’s Two-Minute Play Laboratory series.
“Humans observe themselves observing themselves. That’s something that we do for better or for worse,” Majaury added. “And so, this really harnesses the power of that, and it allows us to fictionalize reality without fantasizing reality. That can have really big benefits.”
The Two-Minute Play Laboratory is a theatrical workshop focused on creating and performing short, concise plays that explore various theatrical techniques and foster ongoing dialogue. In this case, organizers sought out stories of lived experiences in Waterloo Region and fused those with accurate, genuine dramatizations to prompt opportunities for reflection, awareness, and knowledge-building.
The process emphasizes greater audience involvement and breaks traditional boundaries between performers and spectators, all while creating more relatable and impactful narratives.
“We build a collaborative environment where everybody is now focused on whatever the problem is, whatever the story is, whatever the conflict may be, and now they’re all talking... co-creatively and analytically about it,” she said. “It’s a way for people to analyze and think critically about ideas they have. It takes the power of the performance from the stage to the audience. So now you have a feedback loop that’s instantaneous. Versus contemplative, and then people go off into their worlds.”
The first lab process involved onboarding the initial cohort of community animators (or actors who collaboratively participated by devising scenes from stories being shared) and solidifying the story-sharing circle process. Seven stories were identified before organizers whittled it down to five that were produced.
The Laboratory’s second phase -- 2.0 -- focused on the dramatic story development of the five stories discovered during Laboratory 1.0 and brought these selected lived experiences to life as works-in-progress that could be presented in the community. Wraparound workshops were then added to give audiences the chance to deeply engage with the material.
Play themes explored the long-term impact of the separation of mother and child while experiencing homelessness (The Story of Dommy), the hidden homeless (Loveseats), housing as a human right (A Better Tent City), a newcomer’s journey to Canada (Canadian Dream), and the vulnerabilities faced by seniors (Aging out of Place).
“Participating in the two-minute play project was an incredibly enriching experience. Made possible through grant funding, this support directly impacted me in two profound ways: First, it provided financial support for childcare through an honorarium, allowing me to dedicate time and energy to my craft without the burden of financial strain. This meant I could fully immerse myself in the creative process, refining my performance and embracing the art of storytelling with authenticity. Secondly, the funding created a structured and professional environment where I could collaborate with fellow artists, grow my network, and develop my skills. The experience of working on this project not only enhanced my artistic abilities but also reinforced the importance of community- driven initiatives in the arts. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity, which reaffirmed my passion for acting and the power of storytelling in driving meaningful conversations.”
“Some of the stories are not as complex, but many of them are layered. Some are deeply intersectional,” Majaury said.
The project was supported financially through Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF)’s Arts Grant Fund, which supports small or medium-sized arts organizations and collectives. Additionally, it is further refined to advance social infrastructure in Waterloo Region. WRCF has researched social infrastructure over the past few years and found a framework they support that was created by Gehl Studio, which focuses on three types of activated spaces: Hubs, Havens, and Hangouts.
The Housing Project exemplifies a ‘Haven,’ a safe environment where people with shared identities or backgrounds can come together, fostering close ties and a sense of belonging, while not being so exclusive as to prevent connections across differences.
"We are collaborating with therapists, social workers, peer supports, outreach workers, frontliners, and people with these lived experiences in a way that can look at how complex these things are and address systems,” Majaury said. “Building these kinds of processes where we can co-operate and collaborate with other disciplines and supports, and to build comprehensive and meaningful wraparounds... I consider that building social infrastructure.”
“We’re also encouraging bringing concerns and issues that are often stigmatized or ‘invisibilized’ into light so that people can address them. You can’t address what you won’t acknowledge,” she added.
The project's impact has varied for the participants, part of the beauty of the Laboratory, Majaury said.
“We have these story-sharing circles where we use these theatre techniques so people can see their stories reflected back. Sometimes that’s enough of a cathartic experience, or enough of feeling validated, or seen, or heard, or felt,” she said. “They’re not required to take it into the future. It may be a catalyst event that also helps them take actions in their own life for their wellbeing, but we’re not offering a therapy process even though aspects of participating can be therapeutic.”
“My experience with Outta Work Actors and the two-minute plays impacted me in ways I did not expect. I can get lost in my own lived experience, and it allowed me to see the shared experiences of others, to feel compassion and some deeper understanding. Seeing my own story lifted allowed me to see my own journey and that it was understood. This has been healing for me.”
As for what comes next?
“We have become a federally registered not for profit under the name Outta Work Actors and our Laboratory is our signature program. I would love to establish an ongoing, sustainable, permanent Laboratory that would allow us a myriad of subjects and that would enable us to continue to do this work,” Majaury said.
“From most of the people who responded and participated, my sense was that they got a lot out of it. They feel that it’s meaningful work. They feel like they’re engaged in producing meaningful work. It’s encouraging co-creation. That process of co-creating together creates community in ways that I think are different than other processes. I definitely think it helps build more familiarity, and with familiarity comes more understanding and less reactivity.”
For more information on Outta Work Actors Inc., visit outtaworkactors.com.
To learn more about WRCF’s Arts Grants Fund, go to wrcf.ca/artsgrants. If you are interested in learning more about social infrastructure, visit wrcf.ca/socialinfrastructure.