Although acting work takes him to Toronto, as artistic
co-director of Halifax-based 2b Theatre, Barry’s always coming back
here. That said, 2b will keep him moving in the next year, with The
Russian Play touring to the west coast, Invisible Atom
and Revisited to the UK, and the recent Homage to
Montreal and southern Ontario. Barry met his creative partner Anthony
Black while teaching at the Neptune Theatre School, and they formed 2b
in the summer of 1999, which makes this season their 10th
anniversary.
The Coast: Since you’re touring so much with material
produced through 2b, will the cuts to federal arts funding affect your
ability to bring it nationally and internationally?
Christian Barry: This coming season is the season we’ll find
out. Right up until March of last year they were still giving out
Heritage grants, and there’s a one-year lag to it. You’re always
applying eight months ahead. There are rumours now that some of that
money will be dispersed through the Canada Council. We’re still hoping
and praying that the gap will be filled, and every advocacy group that
we’re part of will be lobbying for that.
TC: Do you have any particular memories of great times here
in Halifax in the summer?
CB: In a way summer is the season is cliches for me. I’ll
take any excuse I can to lie on a park bench to read a book. I love to
lay low and go to the cottage. Another cliche, but going to Festival
Antigonish, going down to Chester, going to Ship’s Company in
Parrsboro. All great places to visit for reasons other than theatre,
but great theatre towns, too.
TC: What theatre are you looking forward to this summer as an
audience member?
CB: I could plug Anthony Black’s show in Festival Antigonish
called Geometry in Venice. I suspect if I told you what it’s
about I’ll get it wrong. He’s one of the later openers. And I love
Shakespeare by the Sea, I love sitting in the park by the ocean to see
some theatre.
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This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2009.