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Brendan McCall

Freelance performance-maker and writer

Brendan McCall, originally from the United States, has lived in Turkey, Australia, and Norway since 2008.  His work in theater & dance has been presented in over 45 countries on 5 continents, and his articles have been published in English, French, Norwegian, Russian, and Belarusian.  He has taught at the Yale School of Drama, the New School of Drama, New York University, and elsewhere.  He recently directed the movement-theater concept album "Visions of Kerouac" (Norway), Aaron Landsman´s site-specific "Open House" (Norway + Morocco), "As You Like It" (New Mexico, US), and "Rabbit Hole" (California, US).  He is currently developing a new opera with composer Kristin Norderval through a series of residencies at the Norwegian Opera House, performing for Meredith Monk in her upcoming remount  of Quarry, and serving as a producer for Butoh Encounters (Norway/Japan). BFA with Honors, New York University.  MFA, Bennington College.

Actors stand in front of a collage of faces along the back wall of a theatre
The Art of Listening Is Political
Essay

The Art of Listening Is Political

27 October 2017

In the fifth installment of this series, Brendan McCall reflects on the work of Norwegian American vocalist Kristin Norderval, and how her art transforms listening into a political act.

Process as Collective Property- Nela H. Kornetová / T.I.T.S.
Essay

Process as Collective Property- Nela H. Kornetová / T.I.T.S.

5 September 2017

In the fourth installment of this series, Brendan McCall discusses the work of Czech-born, Norway-based artist Nela H. Kornetová , and her performance collective T.I.T.S. 

The Sonic Harvests of Øystein Elle / Capto Musicae
Essay

The Sonic Harvests of Øystein Elle / Capto Musicae

18 August 2017

In the third installment of this series, Brendan McCall discusses the work of Norwegian artist Øystein Elle and his company Capto Musicae. Originally a classically trained opera singer, Elle now works in a hybrid performance field combining live and recorded music, with performances that border on vocal concerts or art installations.

Nordic Black Theatre
Essay

Nordic Black Theatre

Drama, Diversity, and Celebration

12 August 2017

In the second installment of this series, Brendan McCall discusses the work of Cliff Moustache and Nordic Black Theatre. 

Grusomhetens Teater
Essay

Grusomhetens Teater

Cruelty and Entertainment

5 August 2017

In the first installment of this series, Brendan McCall discusses the work of Lars Øyno and his company Grusomhetens Teater.

On Belarus and Theatre, Activism and Exile
Essay

On Belarus and Theatre, Activism and Exile

5 March 2015

In his last installment, Brendan McCall talks with Nicolai Khalezin, one of the founders of Belarus Free Theatre about art, exile, and if theatre has any impact on politics.

Theatre at Belarus’ University in Exile
Essay

Theatre at Belarus’ University in Exile

23 December 2014

In this installment, Brendan explores what happened when he directed some of the plays from the Belarusian Dream Theater at Belarus’ exiled university, resulting in differing perspectives.

a production shot from belarus dream theatre project
Beyond Lukashenko
Essay

Beyond Lukashenko

New Short Plays About Belarus

3 November 2014

In addition to new works by Belarusian playwrights, writers as far-flung as Europe and the United States, Australia and New Zealand, ended up making excellent contributions. The Belarusian Dream Theater project linked playwrights with more than a dozen independent presenting groups in Europe and North America, who donated their time and talents to assemble the collaborators necessary to present as many of the twenty-five new plays as each group wanted.

Creating the Belarusian Dream Theater Project
Essay

Creating the Belarusian Dream Theater Project

19 September 2014

While I was reaping the benefits of working internationally, my Belarusian friends were living as a theater company in exile. What could I do to help make a difference? What tools could I use, as a theater artist, to break down this silence, censorship, and oppressive regime?

a production shot from being harold pinter
Belarus, Theater, and Breaking the Zones of Silence
Essay

Belarus, Theater, and Breaking the Zones of Silence

15 August 2014

I felt compelled to act, to do something, to speak up—but how? What could I, an expatriate American living in Scandinavia, do to break the zone of silence surrounding Belarus? While I was enjoying certain freedoms as a theater artist in this affluent Nordic country, my friends and colleagues elsewhere in Europe—writers, directors, journalists, and more—were being imprisoned and threatened.

a production shot from Discover Love
Belarus Free Theatre
Essay

Belarus Free Theatre

Threats and Open Conversations

2 July 2014

These personal experiences of Belarus Free Theatre—what they have endured, and what they are willing to sacrifice for what they believe in—humbles me. I cannot imagine being arrested for doing theater, much less being physically threatened by my own government for a play I wrote or acted in or directed. Would I be able to be as brave as Khalezin and Koliada or the other members of their company?

Beyond Ibsen
Series

Beyond Ibsen

Brendan McCall discusses the work of Norwegian artists.