Viability Reviews – Col Cseke

Research focus

As a prairie artist, Col wanted to explore the themes of Language and Landscape, through the lens of Viability Reviews, using verbatim text and participatory forms.

What are Viability Reviews? We’re glad you asked. In Alberta, when a rural community hits a prolonged period of challenges it triggers a Viability Review that literally asks “is this community still viable?” To get to an answer they send in a team of auditors to take an account of the place: finances, demographics, infrastructure, services, and that elusive “Community Spirit”. They also hold town halls and offer a few other ways residents can share their thoughts. Ultimately the task force gives their judgement that can either say “Alright, actually if you just do these x-number things you’ll be back on track and viable”, or “Yikes, sorry folks, this community is hopeless, the best move is to dissolve and be absorbed by the nearest, actually viable community.” Then, and this is the best part, the community votes. One resident-one vote, one question, a binding result.

How can the dramatic government process of Viability Reviews be adapted into a participatory, theatrical framework? How can multi-lingual verbatim text be incorporated for an audience that doesn’t speak the same language?

The fundamental question “Is This Viable?” is an expansive starting point that offers rich, fertile ground for experimenting and working to embody and express together these themes of Language and Landscape.

About the researcher

Col Cseke is a theatre-maker living and playing in Calgary on Treaty 7 territory. “Theatre-maker,” that promiscuous catch-all term, contains his work as a playwright, director, deviser, ensemble member, documentary maker, Deaf-Disability-Mad Theatre advocate, podcaster, teacher, community organizer, activist, and arts administrator. https://www.insideouttheatre.com/