Plot

"NewfoundLanded" is a verbatim theatre play about the experiences of immigrants and refugees to Newfoundland and Labrador. This documentary will share the journey of creating such an important piece of theatre in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Audiences often miss what has happened "behind the scenes" when creating a theatre piece. How was the story conceived? What were some challenges developing a show? What were the steps to take the piece from an idea to paper, paper to the stage? Is it possible to measure a play's impact before it is presented to the public? Making Newfoundlanded is a documentary about the making of TODOS Productions' NewfoundLanded , allowing viewers to see how a theatre piece is developed from the very early stages onwards. The idea of Newfoundlanded was born after Santiago Guzmán, Artistic Director for TODOS Productions, realized how little-to-no diversity was presented on local stages. NewfoundLanded focuses on putting stories of immigrants and refugees across our province front and centre. Through a series of interviews, artists Santiago Guzmán and Vanessa Cardoso-Whelan collected stories of fellow immigrants and refugees, that served as source material for the writing of the dramatic script. Making Newfoundlanded will collect excerpts of interviews with participants, will follow members of TODOS Productions as they craft the script based on these interviews, and will document the rehearsal process as the final stage before opening the show to local audiences in St. John's, NL. The beginning of contemporary Newfoundland theatre saw multiple projects based on collective creation (such as CODCO, The Mummers Troupe and The Newfoundland Travelling Company). TODOS Productions' NewfoundLanded pays homage to Newfoundland tradition while highlighting the diverse ecology of voices and experiences in our province.—todosproductions.com