Daniel Brooks Receives First Baillie Artistic Fellowship

Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today announced Daniel Brooks as the first recipient of the Baillie Artistic Fellowship. The Baillie Artistic Fellowship constitutes a residency at the Soulpepper Theatre Company for an internationally renowned artist, during which the artist will contribute to the artistic and pedagogical enrichment of Soulpepper's tripartite mandate.

"Charles and Marilyn Baillie have once again shown remarkable vision and philanthropic leadership that will forever enrich the Soulpepper Theatre Company, " said Schultz. "It is thrilling to be able to invite an artist of Daniel's calibre into the company for a significant residency."

Daniel Brooks is a versatile and highly regarded Canadian director, writer, actor and teacher whose innovation and risk-taking have made him a leader within the Canadian cultural landscape. Recognized with accolades and awards throughout Canada and around the world, Brooks is an extraordinary mentor and inspiration to an entire generation of theatre artists. Brooks was the recipient of the inaugural Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre in 2001, and is the Artistic Director of Necessary Angel Theatre Company.

As the inaugural Baillie Fellow, Brooks lends his expansive theatre experience and innovative vision to the strategic planning and implementation of the Soulpepper Academy, develops course curriculum, and offers artistic guidance for the artists. "One of the great pleasures of my life has been learning. Another has been the communication of what I have learned - that is, teaching," said Brooks. "The Baillie Artistic Fellowship will afford me the opportunity to both learn and teach through my work with the Soulpepper Academy. I am truly grateful for this opportunity."

Selected through an exhaustive nation-wide search, the Soulpepper Academy is comprised of 10 artists who undertake a two year residency to further develop their skills under the guidance of leading theatre practitioners. The artists are involved in Soulpepper productions, teach in the classrooms of the local community, mentor youth and develop a collective creation. The Academy is comprised of directors, playwrights, designers and performers and in many cases, artists that are skilled in more than one area or discipline.

Brooks' principal project as the Baillie Fellow is leading the 2009/2010 Academy in a comprehensive theatrical undertaking spanning an intensive 10-week period over the spring and summer of 2009, and continuing into 2010. The project consists of an in-depth study of Anton Chekhov's final play, The Cherry Orchard, with Brooks leading the Academy's exploration of innovative approaches to creative, thematic, and technical perspectives on this classic piece.

Marilyn and Charles Baillie are especially pleased with the first recipient; "We are delighted with the selection of Daniel Brooks, for he represents the essence of what we envisaged when, with Albert, we instituted this fellowship to assist Soulpepper to become even more excellent."

As previously announced in July of 2008, long-time supporters and celebrated arts philanthropists Marilyn and Charles Baillie generously donated a $1 million endowment gift to Soulpepper through the TD Waterhouse

Private Giving Foundation. The Baillie Fellowship Program is the result of this remarkable gift.

Soulpepper Theatre Company is an artist-founded, classical repertory theatre company with a three-tiered mandate: to present the world's greatest stories in vital Canadian interpretations; to provide classical training to a new generation of theatre artists; and to provide access and mentorship programs for young people using theatre as the vehicle.

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