By Jodie Sinnema
Anna Seifreid and Meredith Vanstone are staging a teen rebellion . . . against teen rebellion.
“We’re not all hoodlums getting into trouble,” says Seifreid, co-producer of Youth Infringement, a theatrical festival run completely by young people.
Ottawa students aged 13 to 21 write, direct, produce and act in nine plays to be debuted during a three-day drama bonanza at the Bronson Centre next May.
The fringe-like festival — featuring on-the-edge plays — is in its third year and aims to show that not all teenagers dress like Britney Spears or dance like Ricky Martin.
“I like the kind of people who show up for auditions,” says Seifreid of the 150 or so wannabe stars who sign up every year. “They’re all interested in drama and don’t limit themselves to the kinds of friends they have. They don’t all go to the same shops, wear the same clothes or listen to the same music.”
Everyone gets a chance to audition and those who don’t make the final cut often work behind the scenes.
Last year, Meredith, 16, wrote and directed her first play about a young girl with a mental disorder, acted by Honor Bravazon.
Bravazon, an OAC student at Lisgar Collegiate, has been acting since she was seven with companies such as the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. She says one of her most challenging roles has been Meredith’s Blaine.
“I had to portray her inner feelings and in theatre, you have to make them larger than life,” says Bravazon, 18. “It’s hard enough to open up in real life.”
Blaine heard voices and was paranoid and anxious. The only relief she found was in sculpting and painting.
“Art is this person’s only recourse and only hope,” says Seifreid, who produced the show last year.
She sees this as a metaphor for Youth Infringement: “Art is such a huge part of who we are. It gives us a place to express ideas we might not be able verbalize.”
She and Meredith say this place for young voices might be lost if priority isn’t put into arts.
“The arts isn’t seen as important to politicians,” says Meredith.
They are depending on a $4,300 ArtsSmarts Grant from the Community Foundation of Ottawa-Carleton, but it doesn’t come through until mid-December. They have also applied to the Ontario Arts Council and count on private donations.
“The greatest thing about (Youth Infringement) is the empowerment that comes with it for teens,” says Bravazon. “We have the power. We make the decisions. We have to depend on each other. We’re on our own here.”
The only real adult input is from professional actors and directors who act as mentors and hold workshops.
“There’s a continuous collaboration required between the young people,” says local director Jan Irwin, who has worked with the National Arts Council and the Great Canadian Theatre Company. “They have to pool their energies to a common end. It encourages very responsible thinking.”
Students have to learn to meet deadlines and take criticism, she says. But Irwin says her input is very minimal.
“The dramatic stuff happens when the adults aren’t around,” she says.
Bravazon agrees and says drama gives self-confidence to young people.
“I like the freedom it gives you to explore parts of yourself you wouldn’t necessarily know about. You exercise muscles you don’t usually exercise,” says Bravazon. “It helps you do things you wouldn’t normally do.” Like leap into the skin of an imaginative character.
“It’s really a nice place to start out,” says Meredith. “It’s really a non-judgmental atmosphere.”