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Barbra French is a director, writer and educator. She received her undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of British Columbia (Honours) and her MFA in Directing from the University of Alberta.
For the past decade, Barbra has been teaching acting, scene study, creativity, improvisation, play analysis, performer created theatre, and oral communication at various universities and colleges in Western Canada, such as the University of Lethbridge, University of Alberta and Red Deer College. She has directed over 25 plays and coached countless student pieces over the years. Her research interests and artistic specializations include devsied theatre, collective creation and artistic collaboration, physical and imagistic theatre, and alternative forms of storytelling. Barbra enjoys a multidisciplanary approach to art creation, using movement, dance, music, poetry, visual storytelling, sound collage, mulitmedia and other forms of artistic expression in her work. 2oth century artistic movements such as Dada, Epic Theatre, Theatre of the Absurd and Surrealist Theatre are also of interest.
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In 2002, she and several like-minded artists founded the Etcetera Theatre Collective (ETC) in Edmonton, a company that specialized in collective creations, alternative storytelling and physical theatre. Under Barbra’s Artistic Direction, ETC produced 5 full length productions, 2 national tours and garnered a Sterling Award Nomination for Outstanding Independent Production in 2005.
Barbra and ETC also founded Indie 5, a subscription package season of independent companies producing alternative (performing) art at Fringe Theatre Adventures in Edmonton, which began with the 2006/07 season. When Barbra took a term position at the University of Lethbridge, Indie 5 continued under the watchful eyes of various artists, and still offers indie theatre to Edmonton audiences today.
Most recently, she directed The Arsonists at Vancouver Island University and was the Artistic Adjudicator for the North Island Regional Drama Festival in Nanaimo, BC. Barbra lives with her husband Greg on Vancouver Island; she is currently writing a new play and a student guide to term papers.
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From ETC's DOSSIER (above) and Shadowplay (right).
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