Associate Professor
Dramatic Arts
905 688 5550 x3221
graby@brocku.ca
I worked as a professional director in Canada and the US, with occasional forays into university teaching, from 1983 to 2001. In my mid-forties I started teaching full-time at Queens University, and eventually joined the faculty at Brock in 2001. Here, I have directed 14 Mainstage productions and nine fourth-year 456 production experiences with graduating students. Between 2005 and 2011, I animated nine plays with Niagara youth and Carousel Players in my SHHRC funded, award-winning Commotion project. I love raising money for good projects! I published quite a lot resulting from this original research on group dynamics, contracting the audience, and dramaturgical story tropes (5 papers published in journals such as Canadian Theatre Review, Interdisciplinary Science Review, Theatre and Performance Design). For In the Soil Festival 2018 and 2019, I co-devised We Who Know Nothing About Hiawatha are Proud to present Hiawatha, and A Glass of Wine with Noam Chomsky, respectively. These short works expressed a commitment to social justice that fuel my creative work. Throughout my tenure at Brock I was a member of the Social Justice Research Institute and the President’s Advisory Committee on Human Rights, Equity and Diversity. Collaboration with the Philosophy department and the Kristeva Circle constitutes another outcome of this commitment in a belief that theatre is “Philosophy on its feet”!
My original and devised scripts, and particularly my adaptations, have been produced in Ireland, the United States, and the UK. In 2023 my adaptation of Nicolai Erdman’s Russian farce, The Suicide, was produced in Quebec and Thailand (the latter translated into Thai). I am the Dramaturge and Artistic Producer for Compagnie Zuma Puma’s festival tour of Don’t Do It- DO IT! from Los Angeles to Adelaide, the Fringe and 2S gallery in Melbourne, Edinburgh, Buddha Fields UK. In March, July, and November 2022, Don’t Do It- DO IT! played to standing UK ovations at Rosemary Branch Theatre, Soho Theatre London, and Bristol’s Wardrobe Theatre respectively. Locally, I contribute as an Artistic Associate with Stolen Theatre, with whom I toured Stage Fright! to the Hamilton and Edmonton Fringe Festivals. Following my retirement from teaching full-time in 2022, I continue to work with the Department of Dramatic Arts as an Adjunct Professor and Dame: artist in residence. I’ll be directing the 2025 Winter Mainstage, Metamorphoses.
Deviser, Director, Project Leader: We Who Know Nothing About Hiawatha are Proud to Present Hiawatha. Production commissioned by In the Soil Arts Festival April 28-30 2018.
Director: Sabina’s Splendid Brain, by Carol Sinclair. Stolen Theatre Collective. Production commissioned by Luce Irigaray Philosophy Circle. MIW Theatre, Brock University, Jun. 15, and Sept. 09-22 2018.
Director: Sabina’s Splendid Brain, by Carol Sinclair. Stolen Theatre Collective. Public performances at MIW Theatre, Brock University,Sept. 14-18 and Sept. 20-23, 2018.
Dramaturge: The Welland Canal, by Kevin Hobbs. Jun-Aug. 2017. FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
Playwright, Director, Collaborator: The Ash Mouth Man. Stolen Theatre Collective and Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts, Marilyn I. Walker Theatre, Sept. 15-24, 2016.
Playwright, Director, Collaborator: The Ash Mouth Man. Stolen Theatre at In the Soil Festival. Apr. 28- 29, 2017.
Dramaturge, Director: Somnambulists in Love, by Jason Cadieux. In the Soil Festival St. Catharines. Apr. 26-27, 2013.
Dramaturge, Director: Somnambulists in Love, by Jason Cadieux. Staged reading, 13th Street Winery. May 5, 2012.
Director, Choreographer: Advocate P. Americana by Linda Rodriguez-Guglielmoni, composed by Cecilia Castro Alonso. Atlantic Artists Centre USA, Doris Leeper Theater. June, 2008.
Dramaturge, Project Leader: R.S.V.P. Youth Devised Plays with Carousel Players Theatre and Brock University. Mad World, Inferno, I-Life. March-May 2007. Court House Theatre, St. Catharines.
Director, Dramaturge: Fingers and Toes: a jazz-tap musical. Ontario tour of ten theatres in two seasons; selected for Canadian Series by Community Cultural Impresarios of Ontario, 2004.2005. Blue Water Playhouse, Kincardine; Port Stanley Festival Theatre; Theatre Orangeville Opera Playhouse; Lighthouse Theatre, Port Dover; Theatre Aquarius, Hamilton; Circle in the Square Theatre, Kitchener; Markham Theatre; Heritage Theatre, Peterborough; Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Brock Centre for the Arts.
Dramaturge: Workshop for Fingers and Toes: a jazz-tap musical. Stratford Festival. Supported by Stratford Company workshop program and Stratford Ensemble actors. Tanya Moisevitch Rehearsal Studio. Oct.29, 2003.
Dramaturge: Workshop/Public Presentation of Fingers and Toes:a jazz-tap musical. New Script Series, Theatre Orangeville. The Opera House, Orangeville. Oct. 28 2002.
Director, Dramaturge, Videographer: Fingers and Toes:a jazz-tap musical . Showcase Presentation of Act One. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Brock University, (invitation to CCI conference). Jun. 05, 2002.
Director: Zoo Story, by Edward Albee. Sullivan-Mahoney Studio Theatre, Carousel Players Community Outreach Production. May 16, 2003.
Director, Dramaturge: Quarry, by Mo Bock. Thousand Islands Playhouse, Gananoque. Aug. 30-Oct.16, 2001.
Dramaturge: Workshop for Quarry, by Mo Bock. Toronto Theatre Alliance Studio. Jul 06-Jul 13, 2001.
Director. Dramaturge: Skirmishes, by Elizabeth Logan Harris. Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati. Jun. 08,2000.
Director: Moliere, by Sabina Berman, trans. Shelly Tepperman. National Theatre Centre, On the Verge Festival, May 7-14, 2000.
Director, Dramaturge: Alice, by Maristella Roca. Young Peoples’ Theatre,Toronto. Mar-Aug. 2000.
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL PRODCUTION
Raby, Gyllian, Co-devisor, Co-director Don’t Do It, Don’t Do It—Do It. Lyric Hyperion Theatre Los Angeles February 2019, Adelaide Comedy Festival March 2019.
Raby, Gyllian, Adaptor. Nicolai Erdman’s farce The Suicide. Cork School of Music, Ireland. Director Johnny Hanrahan. Stack Theatre, Cork. April 11-14, 2018.
Raby, Gyllian, Dramaturge. Fingers and Toes by Logan Medland. Merrygoround Theater, Auburn U.S. July-August 2012. Plaza Theatre Manalapan Palm Beach Florida US.Aug. 2014; Ivoryton Playhouse, Ivoryton Connecticut US. Jun. 2014.
UNIVERSITY PRODUCTION
Director: Len Falkenstein’s Lac Athabasca. Brock University 4F56 production. Marilyn I. Walker Theatre. December 02-04, 2018.
Director: Maria Irene Fornes’ Fefu and her Friends. Brock University 4F56 production. Marilyn I. Walker Theatre. Oct. 22-24, 2016.
Project Leader and co-director: Jennifer Haley’s Neighbourhood Three: Requisition of Doom. Brock University 4F56 production. Marilyn I. Walker Theatre, Apr. 21-23, 2017.
Director: Will Eno’s The Flu Season. Brock University 4F56 production. Marilyn I. Walker Theatre. Apr. 16-19, 2016.
Director: Simon McBurney’s Mnemonic. Brock University 4F56 production. Marilyn I. Walker Theatre. Oct. 24-25, 2015.
Project Leader/Director: Fourth Year Devised Show, Awkward and Uncomfortable. Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts Studio Theatre production, St. Catharines. Apr.16,17 2015.
Adaptor, Director: Hannah Cowley’s The Belle’s Stratagem. Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts Main Stage production, Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, St. Catharines. Nov. 13-16, 2014.
Director: Jason Sherman’s An Acre of Time. Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts 4F56 Studio 107. Apr. 14-16, 2013.
Adaptor, Director: Nicolai Erdman’s The Suicide. Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts Main Stage production, Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, St. Catharines. Nov.11-13, 2012.
SSHRC Project: Devised Theatre with Niagara Youth R.S.V.P studying creativity in production with Commotion project. Projects include:
Project Leader: Commotion. Dramaturge Dealer’s Choice and Is This Thing On? two original dramatic works by Niagara youth. Produced in partnership with Carousel Players and T.A.L.K. (Teams of Adults Listening to Kids) Niagara. Sullivan-Mahoney Studio Theatre, St. Catharines. Dec. 8-10, 2011.
Project Leader: Commotion. Dramaturge Squawk: Flippin’ the Bird and On the Line, two original dramatic works by Niagara youth. Produced in partnership with Carousel Players and T.A.L.K. (Teams of Adults Listening to Kids) Niagara. Sullivan-Mahoney Studio Theatre, St. Catharines. December 9-12, 2010.
Project Leader: Commotion. Dramaturge Cutting Corners and Own It, two original dramatic works by Niagara youth. Produced in partnership with Carousel Players and T.A.L.K. Niagara. Sullivan-Mahoney Studio Theatre, St. Catharines. December 10-12, 2009.
Project Leader: Production Facilitator. Swell, an original dramatic work by students of DART 4F56. Studio 103 theatre. Apr. 12-14, 2011.
Pilot creative research projects for SSHRC application. Project Leader, Director, Co-creator. Inferno and I-Life, two original dramatic works by Niagara youth. Produced in partnership with Carousel Players and T.A.L.K. Niagara. May 2008.
Project Leader, Director, Co-creator: Spin Cycle. Co-venture with Carousel Players and T.A.L.K. Niagara. Sullivan Mahoney Theatre St. Catharines. March 20-23, 2006.
Project Leader, Director, Co-creator: Mad World, original dramatic work by students in DART 4F56. Produced in partnership with Carousel Players and T.A.L.K. Niagara. May 2008.
Director: Big Love, by Charles Mee, adaptated from Aeschylus’ The Suppliant Women. Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts Main Stage production, Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, St. Catharines. Feb. 11-13, 2010.
Director: Jeffrey Hatcher’s Smash! adapted from Bernard Shaw’s novel An Un-Social Socialist. Department of Dramatic Arts Main Stage production, Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. Brock University. Feb. 13-16, 2009.
Director: Kevin Kerr’s Unity, 1918. Department of Dramatic Arts Main Stage production. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. Brock University. Feb. 13-16, 2007.
Director: Arthur Miller’s The Crucible in an Age of Terror. Department of Dramatic Arts Main Stage production, Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. Brock University. Nov. 17-21, 2004.
Translator, Adaptor, Director: The Demi-Monde by Alexandre Dumas-fils. Department of Dramatic Arts Main Stage production, Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. Brock University. Nov. 16-19, 2003.
Playwright: Workshop for The Demi-Monde by Alexandre Dumas-fils. Dramaturge: Kim Selody. Supported by Carousel Players, actors from the Shaw Festival Theatre and Brock Humanities Research Institute. Sullivan-Mahoney Studio Theatre. Sept. 28, 2003.
Director: Shelagh Stephenson’s Experiment with an Airpump. Department of Dramatic Arts Main Stage production, Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. Brock University. Nov. 16-19, 2002.
Director, Adaptor: Aphra Behn’s The Rover. Department of Dramatic Arts Main Stage production, Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. Brock University. Nov. 16-19, 2001.
PUBLICATIONS ABOUT ARTISTIC WORK
Morrow, Martin. The History of Wild Theatre: The History of One Yellow Rabbit. Banff: Banff Centre Press, 2003.
BOOKS AND CHAPTERS CONTRIBUTED TO BOOKS
“Confounding the Circle of Expectation: Outwitting the Media Super-peer with Collaborative
Dramaturgy”. The Visual and Performing Arts: An International Anthology Volume II. Athens: ATINER, 2012.
Raby, Gyllian. “From Pre-Luddites to the Human Genome: Smashing Frames in Shelagh Stephenson’s play An Experiment with An Airpump”. Images and Imagery: Frames, Borders, Limits: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Eds. Corrado Federici and Leslie Boldt-Irons. New York: Peter Lang: 2005.
Raby, Gyllian. “Character and Identity in the Aftermath of War”. Seneca in Performance. Swansea: University of Wales Classical Press, 2000. Pp 173-195.
Raby, Gyllian. “Conversation Killer”. Chosen Monologues 1996-1997 International Monologue Competition Chapbook. Toronto: Playwrights Union Press, 1997.
Raby, Gyllian, trans. Polygraph. R. Lepage and M. Brassard. Canadian Play Anthology. Ed. Jerry Wasserman. Vancouver: Talonbooks, 1994. Also published in England and distributed as a film.
PAPERS
Raby, Gyllian. Contracting the Audience for Plays about Science. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, New Directions in Science and Performance. Eds. Dr. Careena Bartleet and Dr. Kirsten Shepherd-Barr. Oxford University. August, 2014.
Raby, Gyllian. “Improvisation and Devising: the Circle of Expectation, the Invisible Hand, and RSVP”. Canadian Theatre Review, Toronto, Summer edition, 2010.
2019 – Banff Centre for the Arts Winter Writers Residency.
2016 – Walker Cultural Leadership Award, The Ash Mouth Man.
2014 – Prestige International Film Awards: Gold medal for educational documentary category, Silver medal for research documentary category.
2008 – Ontario Volunteer Recognition Award for Community Service.
2008 – Atlantic Artists Center USA Residency Award, May-June 2008.
2006 – Brock University Internal SSHRC, Laidlaw Foundation and T.A.L.K Niagara grants for studying RSVP Creative Process in Niagara schools.
2001 – Brock University Humanities Research Institute Award for translation and adaptation of The Demi Monde by A. Dumas fils.
2000 – Queen’s University Creative Scholarship Award for Faust and the Human Genome.
1998 – Cincinnati Critics’ citation for Best University production, “The Trojan Women” by Seneca.
1992 – Michael Lukovich Heritage Trust Award for Career Recognition
1991 – Chalmers New Play Award: translation of Polygraph by Robert Lepage and Marie Brassard.
Commotion, devised theatre with Niagara Youth, a project with Carousel Players and Four Grounds Media 2005-15
MEMBERSHIPS
- Playwrights Guild Canada
- Actors Equity Association Canada
- Theatre and Performance research Association, UK
- Council of Canadians Centre for Policy Alternatives