Canadian Performance Documents and Debates: A Sourcebook

“Through the invaluable service of gathering together the breadth of crucial texts and materials addressed in its exploratory essays, Canadian Performance Documents and Debates creates, defines, and shapes the very subject of Canadian performance.” Shelley Scott, Professor, University of Lethbridge

“Canadian Performance Documents and Debates reflects profoundly upon conceptualizations of Canadian identity and upon debates over the role of the arts in the formation of that identity: both vital questions for us to understand more deeply as we strive to move towards reconciliation and a more just, equitable, and compassionate society.” Roberta Barker, Associate Professor, Dalhousie University

“A gargantuan undertaking by the editors and publisher, [Canadian Performance Documents and Debates] is highly informative, engaging, and enlightening with extremely high-quality editing. Considering the wide variety of themes, genres, and materials included, the designer did a fantastic job ensuring the content is manageable and easy to navigate.” Jury comments, 2023 Alberta Book Publishing Awards

"Canadian Performance Documents and Debates: A Sourcebook undeniably fills a gap in resources for the Canadian performance history community through its unique content. The collection is aptly titled A Sourcebook as it spans four centuries, containing carefully considered content in which the compilation juxtaposes new publications and fresh points of view with previously available Canadian performance history materials. The text distinguishes itself as an accessible resource with the inclusion of a thematic Table of Contents which uses resonant and relevant categories, including race and gender, and allows a reader to hone in on topic(s) related to their interests. This organizational format contextualizes the contents and sutures the events and documents in time and place while putting them in conversation with one another…. Racism in performance is a thread that runs through many of the chapters, and the accu­mulation of these examples reifies a vivid tapestry illustrating Canada’s settler colonial rela­tions.” Tanya Berg, Theatre Research in Canada, 2023 (Full review at DOI: 10.3138/tric-2023-0027)