Plain Language Stories

Two Great People in One Company –
The Inside Out Theatre Project Company

Ruth Bieber loves theatre and started The Inside Out Theatre Project 12 years ago. Ruth wants to give people with disabilities a safe place to share the issues that affect their lives by being creative and telling stories. The stories are shared with others by acting them out at schools, theatres, community halls and festivals. The actors at The Inside Out Theatre Project go to places like Vancouver, Edmonton and Saskatoon as well as Calgary.

One of the actors is Philip Gagnon. He has a brain injury. Philip has trouble walking, using his hands, speaking and understanding what people tell him. Philip was born in Quebec, so he only understood French when he came to Calgary. This makes things even harder for him but he just works hard and stays positive. Philip lives away from his parents, he has a job, and he has been part of Inside Out since 1999. At Inside Out, Philip does many things, he:

• Acts
• Helps with the lights and sound
• Makes the other actors feel good about what they do
• Tells the newspaper, T.V., and radio reporters about The Theatre Company
• Talks to many people about the Theatre Company

Ruth says that even though Phil has a harder time doing things than others in The Theatre Company, he never complains and he makes other people feel like they want to do a great job.

The actors in the Theatre Company mostly make up what they are going to say as they go along. Most of the short plays make fun of what people who do not have a disability think about disabilities.

Ruth feels that theatre is a great way to reach out to other people. She says it is a great feeling to act, hear people clap for you, laugh when you are being funny, and to know that people are glad they came to see you on stage. She also says that theatre is a wonderful way to teach others and support each other.

Now, there are 3 different programs to join:

1. Inside Out
2. Second Inside Out
3. Drama in Transition

Ruth plans to start 2 workshops to build the actors skills:

1. Script writing – writing plays
2. Stand up comedy

These new workshops are great for Phil because he wants to be a Hollywood movie star, write a movie with someone else or make movies. Philip says that “if you truly believe in something, one day it will come to you.”

Many people voted for both Ruth and Philip to win awards. People voted for Ruth to win the Dreamweaver Award and they voted for Philip to win the Leadership award.

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