DaPoPo Theatre's Live-In

Five years ago, the members of DaPoPo Theatre hatched a clever idea for financing rehearsal space. Why not book the TNS Living Room theatre on Agricola for an entire month, rehearse during the day and host paid performances and readings at night? Thus, the Live-In was born, and has become a much-anticipated and very popular event on the Halifax fall arts scene. The theme of this year's Live-In, which includes performances, readings, workshops and special events, is The Personal is Political. "Part of DaPoPo's mandate is to pursue political theatre," says the company's artistic director Garry Williams. "But that can also mean looking at what we do as individuals in our everyday lives. Actors' choices can make an impact. The types of stories that are being staged and that audiences are seeing have an impact. There's a lot to discuss and to think about." Williams is particularly excited that the Live-In is hosting Sky Gilbert, the co-founder and artistic director of Toronto's Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Gilbert will be reading from a new work called Hackerlove about Bradley Manning and Adrian Lamo and conducting a workshop on approaches to playwriting. While this month-long festival is shaped around a profound topic, events such as parties, cabarets and even a Thanksgiving pot luck offer plenty of opportunities for the theatre community and public at large to mingle, talk and enjoy. —Kate Watson