Award-Winning Actress Michelle Thrush in Residence at Trent University
May 2016 residency to feature workshops and public performances
Michelle Thrush, an award-winning Canadian actress who has been working in film, television, and theatre for over twenty-five years and who uses her gift as an actress to promote healing through the arts, will be welcomed to Trent University’s campus this week as she returns to Nogojiwanong (Peterborough) as a performer in residence through the Indigenous Performance Studies program at Trent.
Following her stellar, sold out, performance of Find Your Own Inner Elder during Trent University’s 40th Annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering earlier this year, Ms. Thrush will be a visiting guest artist at Trent, from May 16, 2016 to May 22, 2016. The residency is in partnership with the Indigenous Performance Studies program, the First People’s House of Learning and the department of Indigenous Studies at Trent. It will offer students, and the broader Peterborough community the opportunity to participate in enrichment, and community engagement initiatives.
As part of her stay at Trent, Ms. Thrush will be putting on a free performance on Thursday, May 19 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Nozhem: First Peoples Performance Space, where she will be talking about the making of "Treaty 7", which is a performance project with a mandate to promote a greater understanding of history, and the contemporary relevance and cultural history of Treaty 7. Ms.Thrush will also be visiting schools that serve regional First Nations, supporting Indigenous children, youth, students and teachers, and working privately with regional artists, Trent students, and community youth drama groups in Wshkiigimongaki (Curve Lake First Nation) and Peterborough.
Ms. Thrush tours extensively across North America with her one woman shows that she writes, directs, and produces. This includes her well-known performances, Reclaim, Right Next Door and, most recently, Find Your Own Inner Elder. She uses her gift as an actor to promote healing through the arts to explore creative expression. Ms. Thrush is also well known for her community work across the country as a keynote and public speaker. Her work with children, addressing important issues through comedy and performance is what Ms.Thrush enjoys most.
About Trent University
One of Canada's top universities, Trent University was founded on the ideal of interactive learning that's personal, purposeful and transformative. Consistently recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Here, undergraduate and graduate students connect and collaborate with faculty, staff and their peers through diverse communities that span residential colleges, classrooms, disciplines, hands-on research, co-curricular and community-based activities. Across all disciplines, Trent brings critical, integrative thinking to life every day. Today, Trent's unique approach to personal development through supportive, collaborative community engagement is in more demand than ever. Students lead the way by co-creating experiences rooted in dialogue, diverse perspectives and collaboration. In a learning environment that builds life-long passion for inclusion, leadership and social change, Trent's students, alumni, faculty and staff are engaged global citizens who are catalysts in developing sustainable solutions to complex issues. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, while Trent University Durham delivers a distinct mix of programming in the east GTA.
Hilary Wear, associate artistic producer, 705-957-9157 or hilarywear@gmail.com