Theater students at Exposed, end of year performance, spring 2024.
Theatre courses at UBCO attract students from all faculties, many of whom have commented that these classes were the only places where they made friends, established a sense of community, and felt a sense of belonging.
To address these needs, Tracy Ross, a lecturer teaching performance and theatre courses in the Department of Creative Studies, Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS) has created the Public Theatre Project (PTP). This project aims to foster cross-faculty collaboration and build a sense of community, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, and provide creative tools and outlets that contribute to student well-being.
“I started the project because of the feedback that I was receiving from students. They were expressing the value of learning to speak, and listening to one another, about being in dialogue and having a safe space to consider alternative perspectives,” says Ross. “Students want to engage with each other and the world and this project aims to provide students opportunities to work together across faculties so that they can do just that.”
Ross herself is a multi-disciplinary interdisciplinary artist and educator who ran her own theatre company for 10 years working with people of all ages.
“Working in the performance area for FCCS provides me with a unique opportunity to work with students from all across campus and to work in spaces where they can interact and create connection.”
Performance and communication skills such as body awareness, vocal expression, and creative problem solving are powerful tools for students of any discipline. The PTP initiatives are designed to engage students within various time frames that range from a 10- minute drop-in commitment, to one evening, to recurring drop-in sessions over one week.
This is a great opportunity for people to meet one another, engage in conversation, practice speaking on things that are important to them, to take positive risks in a supported environment, and to provide space for students to co-create, express and make connections, explains Ross.
“These are small interruptions in our daily busy lives that seek to improve well-being, connection, community and develop a sense of belonging,” she adds.
The PPT activities will include:
Voices Unleashed- Public Speaking Series
Voices Unleashed is an uncurated, monthly public speaking series open to all UBCO students, fostering a community of expression and connection. Each one- hour session, followed by coffee and treats for networking and discussion, provides a platform for students to share their stories, insights and what matters most to them. Students will have the opportunity to enhance their public speaking skills and listen to their peers. The event’s uncurated format was inspired by Ross’s classroom experiences, where students valued having a space for respectfully sharing and discussing opposing views.
This series will happen monthly, dates TBC. Students will have the opportunity to sign up on a first- come, first -served basis through email in advance to tracy.ross@ubc.ca.
Love Letters- Interactive Installation and Public Performance
Love Letters is an interactive art installation featuring a love letter booth. Participants begin by selecting a letter left for them from one of the mailboxes. They then enter the booth, read the letter, and choose their stationery to write a love letter in response, leaving it in the mailbox for the next person. Everything needed is either at the desk or found in your heart. I collect all the correspondence and turn it into a live reading—a conversation between “X” and “O.” This reading, open to all writers and invited audience members, takes place on a separate evening, bringing people together to engage in an event of their co-creation.
This event will happen on campus in February 2025.
One Day Choir
The One Day Choir initiative aims to bring people together through the power of song. Led by a skilled choral leader, participants will gather in a public space on campus, such as the stairwells in the Commons building, to learn and sing a pre-selected song. The music and song choice will be provided in advance, with the event’s date, time, and location announced to encourage participation. This inclusive event welcomes everyone, fostering a sense of community and harmony among participants.
This event will happen in December 2024 and April 2025.
If you have any questions about these events or want to get involved, please contact Tracy Ross, tracy.ross@ubc.ca
Theatre student, public speaking on stage
Love Letters booth, 2023