ABOUT BERNARDINE ANN TERAZ STAPLETON
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“Thriving Together is an invitation to a conversation about connection, and partnerships. Our province is vast and unique, a well of potential for collaborations both geographical and creative. I think the most valuable thing we have to offer each other is the essence of ourselves."
-Bernardine Ann Teraz Stapleton
Thriving Together Program Animateur, APTNL |
IN CONVERSATION WITH BERNARDINE ANN TERAZ STAPLETON
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Your name:
Bernardine Ann Teraz Stapleton Your pronouns: She/Her Do you live with a Seen or hidden disability? No. What gender are you comfortable being cast as? I’m good with being cast as any gender, or non-binary roles. How many hats do you wear? I’ve been doing so many different jobs for so many years that I have trouble coming up with an answer when people ask “What are you working on now?” I feel as if I’ve been writing since childhood’s hour (to paraphrase Edgar Allen Poe) I sort of fell into directing when I was with the Grand Bank Regional Theatre Festival, dramaturgy was an offshoot of that, I dreamed of writing books, I guess I’ll always take a role that anyone offers as long as I can function. What is your primary passion/job? I’m happiest when I’m able to focus on my writing, whether it be with books, theatre, blogs, musings, journal work. It’s how I figure everything out. I can live in silence and solitude for long periods of time, quite happily. If I could ever get a job where all I had to do was read I would be ecstatic. My grandfather and I used to get in trouble when I was young because we always wanted to read books at the supper table and for some reason this was considered to be rude. Food, wine, a good book, those all make me feel energy, inspirations, and alive. |
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Where do you live?
I’m based in St. John’s, but I do consider that for most of my adult life I’ve lived on the road. Where do you work? (if different) I work in St. John’s and at the moment I run a summer theatre festival in Grand Falls-Windsor, the Kitchen Party Theatre Festival. I need/want/wish: I do wish there was a means of funding arts which didn’t require so many different ways of justifying the work, over and over, and that could allow an artist to exist within a single project (funded) for years and years. I feel as if I’ve been writing grants for longer than, and certainly in greater quantities than, I’ve been writing plays. I would love to meet: I would love to meet Cher and to be able to be sensible when meeting her and not so star struck that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. I’d love to converse with the ghost of Tennessee Williams and pick his brain about writing and the struggle. |
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I am inspired by:
I am inspired by anything I see on stage that’s good, provocative, flawed, trying, is full of feeling, was clearly loved and tended. Books keep me going, have saved my life. Kindness, Talent. Authenticity. My offerings: I’m a pretty good dramaturg, although I don’t hire myself out for that any more but I will read things if asked and offer thoughts. I can also write a pretty good grant and advise on that. What is your impossible dream? I dream of a time when in the here & now artists can have access to hours and wages that allow childcare, mental health care, paid holidays. What does process mean to you? Process to me, means both impulse and time. It’s something that comes from instinct/impulse that is allowed to germinate and is allowed to be manipulated like dough. |
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What do you hope will change during and after the pandemic in terms of your practice and connections?
I had hopes of, and still have hopes of change in all directions. Less stress, more money, growth toward diversity, inclusion, compassion and room to fail.
What aspects of pivoting or technology do you plan to keep and incorporate into your practice?
I don’t know because I go along with the flow in terms of zoom and on-line streaming. I still don’t know half as much as I should and use it half as much as I need to.
What does it mean to you to be part of an arts community and ' or tell us about a time you felt held/ supported by your fellow artists?
Ours is an amazing community. There is more good than not, more waiting to be uncovered, and more yet to come.
I had hopes of, and still have hopes of change in all directions. Less stress, more money, growth toward diversity, inclusion, compassion and room to fail.
What aspects of pivoting or technology do you plan to keep and incorporate into your practice?
I don’t know because I go along with the flow in terms of zoom and on-line streaming. I still don’t know half as much as I should and use it half as much as I need to.
What does it mean to you to be part of an arts community and ' or tell us about a time you felt held/ supported by your fellow artists?
Ours is an amazing community. There is more good than not, more waiting to be uncovered, and more yet to come.
The Thriving Together initiative has been made possible through support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
