Andrew and The Division
I spent a few days in Toronto with my dear collaborator Andrew Kushnir. We met five years ago, working for a wonderful organization called McCall Macbain Scholarship Foundation, where we get to run summer retreats for the scholars. Andrew is a brilliant facilitator. He comes from the world of theatre and is an expert in a practice called “Verbatim Theatre” where scripts are developed documentary-style, from verbatim interviews. I had seen part of this work in our sessions, where he will do “Verbatim on the Spot” having scholars interview each other seeking what he called “punctures” or breaks in normalcy that are emotionally surprising and moving. I’d also, years ago, seen a play he directed for one of my closest friends and collaborators, Khari Wendall McClelland. But I had never really seen Andrew’s own work in full bloom.
This is one of the joys of my whole existence, that I move about my daily life and encounter people who truly live an artist’s life (including the man who created this website you are reading, Vinay Kiran from Antimatter Studios, who is a fabulous musician and film maker). Andrew has a 25 year practice of verbatim, and it has currently fruited as a play called “The Division.”
Five actors play about 25 characters, and tell the story of Andrew’s own search for the hidden histories of his grandfather, an immigrant to Canada from the Ukraine. I can’t tell you more because I will spoil it, I can’t even tell you about the massive insight the play affords into the current chaotic state of the world. I can’t! I dare not!
But what I can tell you is that working with working artists in the field of facilitation and group dynamics is like a 1000% turbo boost. Seeing Andrew’s play was a confirmation of what I already knew, that his dedication and devotion to his craft mean he shows up as a facilitator full of gifts, fully tempered, and with a tender and unimposing self confidence that is impossible to fake. I have always told all facilitators that I work with that you must have a deeply committed creative practice to truly know yourself as the instrument of your facilitation.