Workshops | 1980-Present: Have taught workshops in the following subjects: Theatre of the Oppressed, Popular Theatre, Playwriting, Performance, Clown, Commedia d’ell Arte, Brecht, Movement and Mask. |
| Those taught include: National Art Centre/GCTC playwriting unit, Teesri Duniya Theatre Company, La Veille 17, Ottawa District Labour Council; Théâtre du Jade, Paris, France; Women’s Health Interaction, Ottawa, Ontario; Nova Scotia Popular Theatre Alliance, Dalhousie University; The Coady Institute, St Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, N.S; International Adult Education Conference, Toronto: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Windsor Ecology Coalition; Returned Peace Corp Volunteers, Madison, Wisconsin;; Canadian Popular Theatre Alliance Festival, “Standin’ The Gaff” Sydney, Nova Scotia; Common Ground Women’s Centre, Toronto; Outaouais Popular Theatre, Ottawa; McGill Women’s Union; CUSO, Montréal; Carlos Busolanos Cultural Workshop, Toronto; International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union, Toronto; Canadian University Press; Sheatre, Blythe, Ontario; Popular Education Network, Winnipeg; Elgin House Literacy Centre, Winnipeg; Women in the Workplace, Toronto; Registered Nurses Association of Ontario; Manitoba Popular Theatre Alliance; Native Women’s Transition Centre, Winnipeg. |
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Directing | Professional | |
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| Almighty Voice and His Wife: Daniel David Moses. Theatre Kingston, Kingston. |
| AMBIGÜITÉ: Guy Marsan. Ottawa |
| LETTERS TO MY GRANDMA: Anusree Roy. Teesri Duniya Theatre. Montreal |
| WHERE THE BLOOD MIXES: Kevin Loring. Teesri Duniya Theatre, Montreal. |
| FALLING OPEN: Luna Allison. Also Co-creator, dramaturge. Montreal & Ottawa Fringes, GCTC Undercurrents Festival. |
| ON A TOUS LE MÊME ÂGE MAIS PAS EN MÊME TEMPS… Michèle Matteau with Lib Spry and Esther Beauchemin. La Vielle 17, Ottawa |
| NO POWER GREATER/L’UNION FAIT LA FORCE: Lib Spry. Dramamuse. * |
| HANSEL AND GRETEL: Shirley Barrie. Geordie Productions. |
| JULY 2, 1872: Lib Spry. Parliament Hill Players, Ottawa: |
| WHAT IF?: Shirley Barrie. Straight Stitching Productions, Toronto. |
| CARRYING THE CALF: Shirley Barrie. Straight Stitching Productions, Toronto. Dora Award Winner: Best Theatre for Young Audiences. |
| Almighty Voice and His Wife: Daniel David Moses. Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa. |
| STRESS/ANGST, PUIS-JE VOUS AIDER, CAN I HELP YOU? *: Luciano Iogna and Lib Spry. Passionate Balance. Ottawa. |
| Straight Stitching: Shirley Barrie.. Straight Stitching Productions, Toronto. Nominated for 1990 Dora Award in Theatre for Young Audiences category. Chalmers’ Award winner in the same category. |
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| Community | |
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| WE ARE OLD! WE ARE WONDERFUL!: devised. RECAA, Montreal |
| SHE CAN’T HEAR ME: collective RECAA, Montreal |
| BREAKFAST: collective. Theatre Forum of Elder Abuse. RECAA, Montreal. |
| AUNT ENID: collective. Theatre Forum of Elder Abuse . RECAA, Montreal. |
| THE CASSANDRA PROJECT: Collective Creation. Windsor Feminist Theatre. With Lea Schaetzel. |
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| Training/University | |
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| JELLY BELLYMAKES GABAGE DELIGHT OF ALLIGATOR PIE: Dennis Lee/Kim Selody. Ottawa Theatre School. |
| RED NOSES: Peter Barnes. Drama Guild, University of Ottawa |
| BLOOD AND ICE: Liz Lochead. Concordia University Theatre Department. |
| CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE: Bertolt Brecht. Concordia University Theatre Department. |
| WE WON’T PAY! WE WON’T PAY!: Dario Fo. Concordia University Theatre Department. |
| THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS: Carlo Goldoni. Theatre Guild, University of Ottawa. |
| THE GOOD PERSON OF SZECHWAN: Bertolt Brecht. Theatre Guild, University of Ottawa. |
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Writing (selected) | TRANCE FOR MATRON: Theatre Agile, Montreal June 2013 |
| WE ARE OLD! WE ARE WONDERFUL: with members of RECAA, Montreal 2013. |
| NO POWER GREATER/L’UNION FAIT LA FORCE: Dramamuse.* Gatineau |
| PLAYING ROBIN HOOD: Salamander Theatre, Ottawa. |
| BUNGSU AND THE BIG SNAKE: Odyssey Theatre. Ottawa |
| THE RAVEN: Carlo Gozzi: Odyssey Theatre, Ottawa. Co-translator/adapter with Laurie Steven. |
| KAMALAY. Odyssey Theatre, Ottawa. |
| THE MISER: Odyssey Theatre. Ottawa. Co- translator and adapter with Laurie Steven |
| JULY 2, 1872: Parliament Hill Players, Ottawa: * |
| TURANDOT: Odyssey Theatre: Ottawa |
| WHAT ABOUT US/ET NOUS AUTRES? * Commissioned by Revenue Canada’s Women’s Committee. Passionate Balance. Ottawa |
| CONGRESS: André Rousseau: Translator. Théâtre Derives Urbaines: Gatineau |
| IT’S OUR LIFE, ISN’T IT? created for CUPE. Passionate Balance. Ottawa. |
| THE TRAVAILS OF TRAVEL. Dramamuse, Museum of Civilization, Gatineau, |
| LE BON, LA VITE ET LE PLUS LENT. La Grosse Valise, Joliette |
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Acting (selected) | TRANCE FOR MATRON. Theatre Agile. June 2013. Eadeg. |
| ON A TOUS LE MÊME ÂGE MAIS PAS EN MÊME TEMPS… La Vielle 17. Joker. |
| LEMONADE. Mile End Productions. Montreal QC. Dr. Clayton. |
| MYRRH: Panthéâtre, Paris. Workshop Production. Nurse and others. |
| THEY CAME IN FROM THE SEA: collective: Welfare State International, Ullverston, England: Marie Louise, Landlady. * |
| BRIGIT BONDFAST: SPACE SCIENTIST: Shirley Barrie. Straight Stitching Productions: One woman show for Senior K-Grade 3: Brigit |
| EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY: Hélène Pedneault. CBC Radio Drama, Montréal: Laura |
| THE SPIRIT GARDEN: R. Murray Schaffer: The Spirit Garden Collective. Ottawa. Mistress of the Planting |
| MOTHER COURAGE: Bertolt Brecht. Sock’ n Buskin, Ottawa. Mother Courage (Guest Artist.) |
| CONGRÉS: André Rousseau: Théâtre Derives Urbaines: Gatineau. Emma Brown. |
| SPECIAL DU JOUR: Collective. La Grosse Valise. Joliette. Emma Plum. |
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Academia | 2017 – 2019 | Queens University, Kingston, On |
| | Drama Teacher: Advanced Acting. Stage and Screen Playing With History. |
| | Drama Department: 1998 – 1999 |
| 2005 – 2007 | McGill University, Montreal, Qc |
| | Introduction to Performance, Playwriting. |
| 2003 – 2005 | Concordia University, Montreal, Qc |
| | Artist in Residence: Taught Script Analysis, Introduction to Acting, Brechtian Acting, Story Telling, plus directing two productions. |
| 2003 | Guest Director: We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay! Dario Fo. |
| 1997 – 1998 | Theatre and Development: Popular Theatre |
| 1984 – 2002 | University of Ottawa, Ottawa, On |
| | Part-time teacher. Taught Introduction to Acting, The Stanislavski Tradition, Theatre History, Introduction to Theatre, Dramaturgy. Directed: A Servant of Two Marsters; The Good Person of Schezwan: The Pear is Ripe; The Caucasian Chalk Circle. |
| | Artist in Residence 1999 and 1988. |
| 1975 – 1985 | Vanier College, St Laurent, Qc |
| | Theatre Department: Full-time Professor. Redesigned and taught all the theatre classes. |
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Professional Memberships | Canadian Association for Theatre Research, Indigenous Literary Studies Association, |
| Canadian Actors Equity Association, |
| Playwrights Guild of Canada, |
| Playwrights Workshop of Montreal. |
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Areas of Research | – Settler Decolonization |
| – Play as a tool for change |
| – Popular and vernacular theatre |
| – Political theatre and Humour |
| – Theatre in non-traditional venues. |
| – Digital embodiment |
| – Teaching acting from a physical theatre perspective. |
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Education | 2021 – 2023 | Concordia University, Montreal Qc |
| | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| | Horizons program. |
| 2014 – 2020 | Queens University, Kingston, On |
| | PhD in Cultural Studies |
| | Thesis: Unsettling Settlers’ Colonial Privilege Through Performance: Movement, Sound, Participation, Play, Laughter. |
| | Supervisor: Clarke Mackey |
| 2004 – 2006 | Goddard College, Vermont |
| | MFA in Creative Writing |
| | Thesis: Missing Earth – a play with songs and music. Supervisors: Deborah Brevoort and Jacquelyn Reingold |
| 1964 – 1972 | University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon |
| | BA in Drama |
| 1970 – 1971 | York University, Toronto, On |
| | BA in Drama |
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Training | 2006 – 2009 | L’Ecole Philippe Gaulier, Paris, France |
| | 3 years training in Jeu, Neutral Mask, Greek Tragedy, Play Mask, Bouffon, Character, Melodrama, Writing/Directing, Shakespeare / Chekov, Clown 1, Vaudeville, Clown 2. |
| 2000 | Panthéâtre |
| | 4-month training is voice and movement. |
| 1984 – 1985 | CEDITADE |
| | 1 year apprenticeship with the Paris company of Augusto Boal. Took and gave workshops in all aspects of Theatre of the Oppressed. Co-wrote, directed and joked forums for the company. |
| | Recent Workshops |
| | Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: Future Narratives: Contemporary Indigenous Artistic Practice. Wanda Nanibush. |
| | Gabriel Dumont Centre: mamawi-kiyokewin (good visiting-nehiyawewin/Cree). A weekend of an artistic collaborative exchange between Saskatchewan First Nations and Metis elders and storytellers, performers, theatre artists and invited guests. Maria Campbell, Bruce Sinclair. |
| | Jumblies Theatre Company: Art Essentials; |
| | Francine Coté: Bouffon; |
| | Jesusa Rodriguez: Reality Doesn’t Exist (How to build a political cabaret.) |
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Publications | Spry, Lib. “Being Old, Working with the Old, Performing Oldness.” TRIC 42.2, Special Issue on “Age and Performance: Expanding Intersectionality” (Fall 2021). |
| Spry, Lib. “Fifty Years of Play” Playwrights POV, PGC News Vol 2 Issue 3Spry, Lib. “Lightness and Political Theatre” Alt. Theatre, Winter 2013 |
| Spry, Lib. “Structures of Power: Towards a Theatre of Liberation” in PLAYING Boal: Theatre, Therapy, Activism; Eds. Mady Schutzman and Jan Cohen-Cruise; 1994; Routledge, NY & London. |
| Spry, Lib and Peggy Sample. PEACE AND PLENTY: 1993; Holt, Rhinehart and Winston; Toronto. |
| Spry, Lib. “Theatre of the Oppressed/But Not in Canada” Canadian Theatre Review, Summer 1986. |
| Spry, Lib. A PRINCESS Never Should: 1979; Playwright’s Union of Canada; Toronto. |
| Spry, Lib & Annie Smith. “Experiences from the Edges of the 8th Fire: Indigenous Sovereignty and Settler Responsibility/Expériences des bords du 8e feu: souveraineté autochtone et responsabilité des colons.” TRIC 43.2, (Fall 2022). |
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Conferences | CATR 2017 Terra Nullius: Charting Paths To Reciprocal Settler–Indigenous Relationships through Indigenous Theatre and Performance in Academic Contexts”. A panel/seminar organized with Annie Smith. |
| CATR 2016 Decolonizing Theatre and Performance Seminar 2: Indigenization, Settler Methodologies, and Intergenerational Responsibility. Dylan Robinson. |
| Festival Of Original Thought (UofT) 2023 Thinking Outside the Black Box (lecture/workshop) and Playing !Unsettling! |
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Juries | 2012-14 Montreal English Theatre Awards |
| 2013 Canada Council for the Arts: Artists and Community Collaboration Program |
| 1994 Governor-General Award for Literature (Plays) |
| 1992 Canada Council for the Arts: Projects |
| 1990 Ontario Arts Council: Community Arts |
| 1988 Ontario Arts Council: Projects |
| Ottawa-Carleton Region Theatre Projects |
| City of Ottawa Theatre Projects |
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Awards | Ontario Government Scholarships 2015-17 |
| 2012-13 Artists and Community Collaboration Program: “We Are Old! We Are Wonderful” with Respecting Elders: Cultures Against Abuse (RECAA). Canada Council of the Arts. |
| 2008 Professional Development Grant to work with Philippe Gaulier (second year). Conseil des arts et des letters du Québec |
| 2006-07 Professional Development Grant to work with Philippe Gaulier(first year). Canada Council of the Art |
| 2001-2 Writer-in-Residence: Odyssey Theatre, Ottawa. Ontario Arts Council |
| 1998-99 Writer- in -Residence: GCTC. Ontario Arts Council |
| 1997 Artist in the Community Grant. Ontario Arts Council, City and Region of Ottawa. |
| 1995 Maggie Bassett Award presented by Theatre Ontario in recognition for outstanding contribution to theatre in Ontario. |
| 1995 Canada Council ‘B’ Grant to study mask with Laurie Steven & Karen Rodd and celebratory theatre with Diana and Jerrard Smith and Welfare State International |
| 1994 Ontario Arts Council Artist in the Workplace grant to work with Kingston and Labour District Council. |
| 1993 Canada Council project grant to attend The 7th International Theatre of the Oppressed Festival in Brazil |
| 1992 Dora Award for best production theatre for young audiences: CARRYING THE CALF by Shirley Barrie |
| 1989 Ontario Arts Council individual artist grant to work with Lea Schaetzel. |
| 1984-85 Canada Council B grant to apprentice with Augusto Boal. |