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More Filipino representation pushed in Canada's theatre community

A Filipino director at Canada's National Arts Centre pushes for a more diverse theatre community as the country marks Asian Heritage Month.

Article (news)

Rowena Papasin

TFC News

<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3LLdSjABx2o?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>Award-winning theatre director Nina Lee Aquino is no stranger to fighting for a more diverse and inclusive theatre community.As the first Filipino-Canadian to hold the post of English theatre artistic director at the National Arts Centre, she led efforts to recognize the artistry of Filipinos.It was through her direction and support that the NAC Theatre staged the limited run of “Prison Dancer: The Musical.&quot;The story was based on the viral “Thriller” dance of inmates in Cebu province in the Philippines.It was also under her stint that Fil-Canadian performance artist Ralph Escamillan was honored with the first RBC Emerging Artist award.&quot;The chance to be in service of other Filipino-Canadian artists through theater and making sure that our writers are seen, actors are on our stages, it&#x27;s really important,&quot; Aquino said.Canada celebrates Asian Heritage Month this May.In line with this, Aquino chose to display the work of another Fil-Canadian on NAC&#x27;s giant Kipnes lantern to celebrate Asian artists and audiences.&quot;The one thing, though, that we&#x27;re really proud of is for this month is our lantern,&quot; she said, &quot;which to me is probably one of the brightest, biggest digital canvases in the country.&quot;Manila-born graphic artist Christine Mangosing’s “Sama-Sama, Sala-Sala” is a living tapestry.It pays tribute to indigenous weaving and tattoo traditions from the central and northern regions of Luzon and Panay Island.Aquino said Mangosing is not only a brilliant graphics artist but also a talented writer and theater performer.&quot;I was looking through Filipino Canadian artists that can do this kind of scale and size of the work,&quot; Aquino recalled. &quot;I just thought of Christine right away.&quot;The artistic director added: &quot;She has had other organizations commission her to do beautiful murals on other buildings as well.&quot;At a recent event for Asian Heritage Month in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau honored Filipino-Canadians for their contributions to the country.He also reaffirmed his government&#x27;s commitment to tackling anti-Asian hate.For her part, Aquino believes the theatre can be an enriching vehicle that can foster greater empathy and understanding among different cultures.&quot;As soon as the lights go down and everybody takes that deep breath when the story begins, right?&quot; she said. &quot;So, already we are one, and powerful messages can be communicated through storytelling.&quot;Aquino added: &quot;Inclusion and diversity and kindness and understanding, all of those are connected. To me, the best way to receive them is through storytelling.&quot;Aquino, who has been a theatre artist for more than two decades, said she is just warming up and promises to bring more Filipino voices on the NAC stage in the future.

A Filipino director at Canada's National Arts Centre pushes for a more diverse theatre community as the country marks Asian Heritage Month.

Fil-Canadian artistic director pushes for more Filipinos in theatre community

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Fil-Canadian artistic director pushes for more Filipinos in theatre community

Rowena Papasin,

TFC News

Published May 15, 2024 04:49 PM PHT

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