Wil Andruschak
‘When the artists finally arrive on our doorstep it creates a wonderful feeling of accomplishment’
How long have you been involved with the festival?
This is my seventh festival as artistic director and it has been both a rewarding and challenging experience.
What is new for this year?
Each year the festival presents a new lineup of indoor performances and over 20 free arts activities and workshops are held at Olympic Plaza. It’s a huge event that attracts a very diverse age demographic so the programming has to be diverse as well. We have everything from a baby rave called We Dance wee groove from Scotland for children six months to five years old and their grown-ups to a Monty Python-esque performance from the Netherlands called Performance in Which Hopefully Nothing Happens that will appeal to kids and adults who love all things absurd.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
The arrival of the artists. I am extremely proud of this year’s lineup which showcases a wealth of exceptional performances created by local national and international artists. When the artists finally arrive on our doorstep it creates a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. It means all of the hard work the festival staff and volunteers have accomplished throughout the year can now be shared with Calgarians.
I hear you travel a lot to research for work. Where has this year’s travels brought you?
This year I was invited by the Dramatic Arts Centre of Iran to be an international juror for a festival in the ancient city of Hamedan Iran. The arts councils of Denmark and Australia invited me to international festivals. Not to mention travelling across the country from Vancouver to Montreal to experience the amazing performances being created in our country.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Finding 12 exceptional theatre music and dance productions for specific age groups that can share the seven various sized venues in the Epcor Centre over a five-day period. I see over 200 live productions each year and review over 3000 submissions from all over the world and sometimes it’s still difficult to find 12 really exceptional performances to present at the festival.
What is your favourite place you have visited?
The most welcoming and warmest people I have found during my extensive travels were the artists and people I met while in Iran.
What is it like providing entertainment for children as opposed to parents?
If the performance is creatively strong kids are immediately engaged in the world the artists have created. Children have an innate understanding of metaphor and the ability to accept the world of the story unfolding before their very eyes. They are instinctively creative beings. They understand so much more than we give them credit for. More often than not I hear children explaining the meaning of the story to their parents as they leave the theatre.
Do you prefer puppets or balloons?
I prefer exceptional performances and creative experiences that fully engage the minds and hearts of children teens and adults. If those performances happen to include puppetry/balloons in an innovative and creative way then great. If they don’t you won’t find them at the festival.
