S5E07 Exploring Brain Injury Through Theatre with Mike Griffin

Foreword

Have you ever experienced a concussion? Or perhaps you know someone who has? Traumatic brain injury can cause issues with concentration, memory, balance, vision, speech, sleep, and mood. The symptoms are often invisible, can last anywhere from days to years, and can be difficult for others to comprehend.

Mike Griffin, has worked with students to bring that experience to the stage in his recent production of “The Mysterious Mind of Molly McGillicuddy,” performed February 15-18, 2024 at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.

Mike is a lecturer with the Department of Dramatic Arts, affectionately known as DART. He received the Faculty of Humanities’ 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award in recognition of his work helping students discover their creative voices. Mike has worked in universities, schools, and theatre companies across Canada as a theatre educator, writer, and director. He researches and teaches the theatre form Commedia dell’Arte, which flourished in Italy in the 16th to 18th centuries and is characterized by the use of masks. “The Mysterious Mind of Molly McGillicuddy” is not Mike’s first DART Mainstage production; He also wrote and directed “Pantalone’s Palace” in fall 2017.

We spoke to Mike in his office at MIWSFPA about his work on “The Mysterious Mind of Molly McGillicuddy” shortly before its opening night.

Links

Mike Griffin faculty profile

Department of Dramatic Arts, Brock University

Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts

Brain injury and the arts research colloquium (2 February 2024)

DART students prepare for opening night (Brock News, 13 February 2024)

Innovative mainstage production explores brain injury through the arts (Brock News, 30 January 2024)

Teaching award recipient inspires students to find creative voices (Brock News, 16 June 2023)

Love and power collide in fun-filled physical theatre comedy at Marilyn I. Walker theatre (Brock News, 24 October 2017)

The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino

Credits

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Foreword is hosted and produced by Alison Innes for the Faculty of Humanities at Brock University.

Series five sound editing is by Serena Atallah. Theme music is by Khalid Imam.

This podcast is financially supported by the Faculty of Humanities at Brock University.