Tara Beagan is the recent winner of the 2020 Siminovitch Prize. We had our conversation just a couple of weeks prior, so she didn't know at the time that she would win!
We cover a lot of ground - the early days of theatre in the Distillery District, art during the pandemic, the culture of poverty that theatre can create, what it's like to have a company with your partner, how long it took for her to finally call herself a Writer, and how it feels to be shortlisted for such a high profile award when you're from a marginalized community. Tara spins magic into everything she does, and this interview is no exception.
Tara Beagan is proud to be Ntlaka’pamux and, through her late father’s side, of Irish ancestry. She is cofounder/director of ARTICLE 11 with Andy Moro. Beagan served as Artistic Director of Native Earth Performing Arts from February 2011 to December 2013. During her time, NEPA continued with traditional values for guidance, had an Elder in Residence, and named and moved into the Aki Studio. Beagan has been in residence at Cahoots Theatre (Toronto), NEPA (Toronto), the National Arts Centre (Ottawa) and Berton House (Dawson City, Yukon). She is now Playwright In Residence at Prairie Theatre Exchange (Winnipeg). Seven of her 28 plays are published. Two plays have received Dora Award nominations (one win). In 2018, Beagan was a finalist in the Alberta Playwrights’ Network competition. In 2020, Honour Beat won the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award for Drama. Recent premieres include Deer Woman in Aotearoa (New Zealand), Honour Beat opening the 2018/19 season at Theatre Calgary, The Ministry of Grace at Belfry Theatre in Victoria, and Super in Plays2Perform@Home with Boca Del Lupo (Vancouver).
Check out Tara's work with Article 11 below:
Website: www.article11.ca
Instagram: instagram.com/tarambeagan
Facebook: facebook.com/11tharticle
Want to learn more about Megan? Head over to www.ubuskills.com to learn more about her work as a speaking, visibility and confidence coach.
She's also a musician! All of the music on the podcast is her own, and you can stream everything on your favourite platform, or purchase your faves on her Bandcamp site.
Intro Music: "Detroit" from how we think about light
Ad Music: "Specialface" from See Your Midnight Breath in the Shipyard
Outro Music: "Sprout Through The Load" from See Your Midnight Breath in the Shipyard
