Tara Brodin

About Tara

Tara is a theatre artist and international workshop leader. An experienced director and actor, she specializes in improvisation, physical comedy and modern clown, with an interest in playwrighting and singing. Her areas of expertise as a workshop leader are in devising original works and in unleashing an actor's sense of honest and spontaneous play.

Tara received her theatre training from the University of Alberta (B.Ed. Drama) and Grant MacEwan College (Theatre Arts). Furthermore, she has enriched her knowledge of world theatre traditions by travelling to study with renowned theatre practitioners. She loves comedy and has studied the art of improvisation extensively with the internationally acclaimed Rapid Fire Theatre Company in Edmonton, AB and The Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City. Tara is very passionate about the art of clowning and has studied with The New York Downtown Clowns, Christopher Bayes, Mick Barnfather and some of Canada's celebrated clowns: Jan Henderson, Shannan Calcutt and Sue Morrison.

Tara began receiving critical acclaim over a decade ago with her performance in The Woolgatherer that garnered the title: "Pick of the Fringe" at the theatre festival in Edmonton. She has written and performed her one-woman piece entitled Neurotica and is the co-author of a film noir/black comedy entitled, Urge to Kill. In the 2006 season of the Edmonton Fringe Festival, Tara directed MacIvor's See Bob Run to rave reviews. She also directed and produced Sherri D. Sutton's one-woman show Don't Make Fun of Jesus to sold out houses and standing ovations at the 2008 Edmonton Fringe. Currently Tara is creating her own solo clown show and is directing several new works for performance next year.

Tara has taught various styles of theatre and numerous forms of dance. She has led workshops and extended intensives with all levels of participants, from junior high to university, as well as educators and theatre professionals. A former IB theatre instructor and staff development leader, Tara implemented and trained staff in cross-curricular practice, thinking maps/learning strategies and best practices. Currently, she is freelancing as a workshop leader with ISTA (International Schools Theatre Association) and is an examiner for the IB theatre curriculum. An award winning educator, Tara's students have received numerous provincial awards and have participated in national competitions. Recently she worked with Encore Ensemble Theatre in France and devised an original musical, Boat Boy that toured to the Avignon Theatre Festival. In addition, Tara is writing a resource guide for educators entitled Permission to Play!

Currently, she is most excited about her role as the Artistic Director of Break the Wall Productions, a devising company that specializes in creating works that explode the conventional audience-actor barrier, and Break The Wall between us.