Disruption and The Space Between: Staging The Tao of the World in Precarious Times

The Tao of the World is an original play written and directed by Jovanni Sy, inspired by William Congreve's comedy The Way of the World. This play was produced by the Drama Division of the School of Creative and Performing Arts, University of Calgary, and was performed for live audiences at the University Theatre from February 11 - 13, 2022. This artist statement reflects on the process of directing this piece with a specific focus on: (1) how the Omicron variant of COVID-19 affected the rehearsal process; (2) the role of disruption as a tool to challenge assumptions and prompt creative thinking; and (3) the liminal space between Asian and Western cultures and between logical and creative processes.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Drama

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Sy, Jovanni

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Brubaker, Christine

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Balkwill, Peter
• Shi, Fei

• Restoration comedy
• Asian Canadian drama
• cross-cultural adaptation
• pandemic drama
• COVID theatre

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/41875

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/117032