ADA1O/ADA2O: In this lesson, students will learn about the world of professional Canadian theatre. In particular they will learn about the life, career and thoughts of a legendary Canadian theatre artist, by watching videos from Canada’s Theatre Museum Legend Library Collection. This could be used as a standalone lesson, or could also be used as part of a larger unit on Canadian theatre.

Guiding Questions
  • What makes someone a legend?
  • What legendary theatre art or artists do we already know about? 
  • What is the Legends Library?
  • What can we learn about theatre in Canada from exploring the Legends Library?
Learning Goals

By the end of this lesson, students will…

  • Identify a person who is a legend of Canadian theatre
  • Identify places, people, organizations and/or projects that have been part of their Canadian theatre legend’s career
  • Analyze and reflect on the artist’s statements about their career in Canadian theatre
  • Generate questions to extend the conversation
Readiness

Students will be familiar with responsible digital citizenship and appropriate use of online resources.

Terminology
  • Anchor chart
Materials

Minds On

Whole Class > What Makes a Legend?

Write a quote on the board: “I am not going to be a star. I am going to be a legend.” - Freddie Mercury.

Ask students their initial responses to this quote. Pose a question to the class: What does it mean to be legendary? Who do they think of when they think of someone who is ‘a legend.’?

Pairs > Brainstorm Legendary Theatre Artists, Theatre Companies, and Plays

Pose a question to the class: Who are some legendary theatre artists, theatre companies, and/or famous plays that they know of?

Ask students to brainstorm, with a partner, and write down any theatre artists they know (often these might be actors), or any plays they have heard of. 

Pairs > Brainstorm Canadian Theatre Artists and Plays

Once students have their lists, ask them to circle any artists or plays that are Canadian. (If they’re not sure if someone’s Canadian, they could do a web search to find out.)

Then, ask students to brainstorm if they can list any other Canadian theatre artists, companies, or theatre works. 

Whole Class > Anchor Chart, Inquiry Questions

Ask students to share the ideas they came up with of Canadian theatre artists, plays and companies. Create an anchor chart with these ideas.

As a class, reflect on how much they knew about Canadian theatre, and how it compared with their knowledge of theatre from elsewhere. 

Key Questions for Discussion

  • How many Canadian artists/companies/plays were we able to name? 

  • How does this compare with artists and plays from other countries? 

  • Why do you think this is?

  • Were we able to come up with any local artists or companies? 

Extensions

Ask students if they know of any locally-based artists or companies. Discuss the responses. Use the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) Theatre Map to explore which/if any are nearby.

Differentiation (DI)

All activities could be done in a variety of groupings - including as a whole class, with small groups, or individually as a journaling activity. 

Students could write responses, or share them orally to be compiled by the teacher on the whiteboard, or using a digital brainstorming tool. 

Assessment for Learning (AfL)

Assessment through observation through whole class discussion

Action

Whole Class > Introduce the Legends Library

Introduce the Legends Library to the class. Explain that it is a repository of video interviews with Canadian theatre legends. The Theatre Museum describes it as “Icons of the Canadian stage, in their own words.” 

Show the class the clip from the Legends Library: Martha Henry - On knowing our theatre history. (1:24 in total).

Key Questions for Discussion

  • Have you heard of any of the Canadian theatre artists that Martha Henry names?

  • Have you heard of Martha Henry, or R.H. Thompson? (the people in the video clip)

  • What does Martha Henry mean when she says ‘you are standing on their shoulders’?

Individual > Explore the Legends Library

Provide students with the BLM worksheet, and the link to Canada’s Theatre Museum Legends Library. Assign or have them select artists of choice and have them watch one or several videos, completing the BLM as they watch.

Whole Group > Share and Compile

Ask students to share the list of people, places, organizations and projects that were mentioned in their interviews. Add to the anchor chart from the Minds On section earlier. This is probably a great glimpse into the world of Canadian theatre!

Whole Group > Map It Out

Compile all of the places described by artists in the interviews by plotting them on a map of Canada. Invite students to notice patterns, or notice things that are missing. 

Key Questions for Discussion

  • What are we seeing here about where theatre is happening in Canada? 

  • Are there any areas that seem overrepresented or underrepresented? 

  • Why do you think that could be? 

  • Are there any near to where we are located? Again, why do you think this could be?

Individual or Small Group - Theatre Artist Presentation or Poster (Extension)

Have students do further research into their theatre artist. Create a short presentation to share information about this theatre artist with the class, or create a poster or digital slide to share. Resources such as the Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia would be great sources.

Assessment for Learning (AfL)

Circulate while students are working independently

Check in with students, offering descriptive feedback and offering prompting questions

Assessment as Learning (AaL)

Co-create success criteria for completion of worksheet

Consolidation

Whole Class > Reflection Question Discussion

Invite students to again respond to Martha Henry’s statement “you are standing on their shoulders.” Ask them to share what they identify as key contributions of their Canadian theatre legends. 

Key Questions for Discussion

  • Now that you’ve watched videos from the Legends Library, how do you feel about Martha Henry’s statement: ‘You are standing on their shoulders?’

  • What do you think were the major contributions of your theatre artist that makes them a Canadian ‘theatre legend’?

Individual > Exit Ticket

Ask students to complete PDF #1 Canadian Theatre Legend Interview to consolidate their learning.

Assessment of Learning (AoL)

Assessment of worksheet using co-created success criteria