Designer Ben Chaisson with son Aaron in rehearsal
I don’t have any kids. Yet. Hopefully I will one day. Other friends have opted not to. And there are many, very good reasons for making that decision – not the least of which concerns whether adding more lives to this severely challenged ecosystem is particularly wise.
Regardless, being 37, I am surrounded by colleagues and friends who are re-imagining their lives and artistic practices as they bring tiny people into the world. It has helped me imagine what it might mean for myself, and raised compelling questions about inclusiveness and gender equality in our sector. It’s worth considering that even a National Daycare Plan would not be that useful to parent-artists in tech, actors performing at night, etc.
These articles share ‘parenting in the theatre’ experiences in an honest and reflective manner that speaks cumulatively to a desire for more integration and/or understanding in an industry where we already make our own rules and schedules. This I can get behind.
Michael Wheeler
Editor-in-Chief: #CdnCult Times
