There Is So Much More To Say
A performance that makes multigenerational conversations with the people who are in the room.
There Is So Much More To Say is grounded in the belief that connection and communication between people at different stages in life is important in navigating our shared world.
There Is So Much More To Say was created and performed by Erin Brubacher, Chloe Cha, and Anne Wessels, with support from collaborators Sara Constant, Janet Morton, Andrea Nann, and Reza Nik. It was first performed at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, in June 2024 and subsequently at Eastern Edge Gallery in St. John’s Newfoundland, in July 2024.
Earlier iterations of this work were called Talk To Me, originally conceived by Erin Brubacher and Erum Khan. See project history here.
AUDIENCE RESPONSES
When I walked in, I wrote that I am 39 but feel 12. Partially because I spend a lot of time playing and being silly, but also because I think 12 is challenging socially - especially for girls. There's the fear of not fitting in and feeling like a stranger in your own body. I often return to those feelings of insecurity in social spaces with strangers. So, when I walked in, I felt a rush of 12. By the end of the performance, I didn't feel 12 anymore and it felt very healing to be part of a process whose arc focused on developing connection rather than resolving conflict.
A space where complete strangers felt comfortable being so vulnerable with each other. As someone who is generally anxious about participatory performances, I appreciated that there were opportunities to share publicly, and equal opportunities to engage in smaller, more intimate ways. In two short hours I learned about family deaths, new love, first kisses, recurring nightmares, precious gifts, and favourite dances…
A calm and reflective space created in the centre of the Megacity. Most welcome in the turbulence of daily living.
The Performance gave me a gentle nudge as if to say: “Hey. Are you truly present with the people in front of you?” And then gave all of us in the audience a chance to connect with each other and try out a deeper kind of listening and sharing.
Powerful, emotional and a once in a lifetime experience that felt very sacred and special… Regular in person conversations around a table to share life experiences is a big part of being human that has been lost in the hustle and bustle of today's technology drenched culture... I was emotional because it put me back in touch with that urge to share and listen thoughtfully in-person… The artwork creates an instant community.
This work has received funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.
