ian a. wallace a.k.a nion
A founding member of Toronto's Theatre Resource Centre (1975),
Ian worked in partnership with Richard Pochinko to evolve the
T.R.C. Mask/Clown Technique, a uniquely Canadian approach to
Mask largely drawn from Amerindian sources and to establish a
safe, creative environment for theatre artists. Best known for his
work as Nion on stageand on film for which he received both Dora
and Genie nominations. He has played such varied characters as
Picasso, Hitler, Jean Genet, Ezra Pound, Pythagoras,
AlfredJarry's Supermale, Nion, the Demon, and many Fools.
Ian worked in partnership with Richard Pochinko to evolve the
T.R.C. Mask/Clown Technique, a uniquely Canadian approach to
Mask largely drawn from Amerindian sources and to establish a
safe, creative environment for theatre artists. Best known for his
work as Nion on stageand on film for which he received both Dora
and Genie nominations. He has played such varied characters as
Picasso, Hitler, Jean Genet, Ezra Pound, Pythagoras,
AlfredJarry's Supermale, Nion, the Demon, and many Fools.
teaching
Since 1975 Ian has guided extensive
mask/clown workshops for the T.R.C., and in
schools and theatres across the country,
including: Mummers Theatre, Newfoundland;
Niagara-on-the Lake Mime School; Maggie
Basset Studio; University of Toronto; Parks
Canada; Da-Boj-A-Ma-Jig Theatre,
Manitoulin Island; Native Earth Theatre;
Caravan Farm Theatre; Vancouver Film
School; Workshops in the Performing Arts,
Van.; Street Kids at Station Street Theatre,
Van.; Musqueam teens; ongoing (10yr.) mask
therapy for Friends for Life and People with
Aids, Van.; Keremeos, Youth on Purpose,
outward bound camps for teens; Xenia, Bowen
Island, attitudinal healing ; Mask for young
teens from the Squamish Nation; Theatre
Terrific, neutral mask training; Memorial
University, St. John's, Nfld.
mask/clown workshops for the T.R.C., and in
schools and theatres across the country,
including: Mummers Theatre, Newfoundland;
Niagara-on-the Lake Mime School; Maggie
Basset Studio; University of Toronto; Parks
Canada; Da-Boj-A-Ma-Jig Theatre,
Manitoulin Island; Native Earth Theatre;
Caravan Farm Theatre; Vancouver Film
School; Workshops in the Performing Arts,
Van.; Street Kids at Station Street Theatre,
Van.; Musqueam teens; ongoing (10yr.) mask
therapy for Friends for Life and People with
Aids, Van.; Keremeos, Youth on Purpose,
outward bound camps for teens; Xenia, Bowen
Island, attitudinal healing ; Mask for young
teens from the Squamish Nation; Theatre
Terrific, neutral mask training; Memorial
University, St. John's, Nfld.
training
Neutral, Character Mask, Clowning with Richard Pochinko for 12 years
Journeyman actor, Stratford Festival with Robin Phillips, Movement Expression, Linda Rabin,
Montreal;Â Voice, Anne Skinner, Ottawa and Toronto; Film Technique, MarushkaStankova, N.F.B.
Toronto:Â Stage-Craft, Neptune Theatre, Halifax;Â Mask-making, Set Design, Graphics, Painting,
Vancouver Art School;Â B. Ed. University of Alberta, Mathematics & Art.
Journeyman actor, Stratford Festival with Robin Phillips, Movement Expression, Linda Rabin,
Montreal;Â Voice, Anne Skinner, Ottawa and Toronto; Film Technique, MarushkaStankova, N.F.B.
Toronto:Â Stage-Craft, Neptune Theatre, Halifax;Â Mask-making, Set Design, Graphics, Painting,
Vancouver Art School;Â B. Ed. University of Alberta, Mathematics & Art.
It is a workshop of self-discovery, a way in to your
creative source and how to use your unique energies to
create a character and clown. The students will make
their own mask as well as learn to internal technique
with emphasis on interpret any other character mask
simply communication, gesture, body language and
through form and color, bypassing the thought process.
creative source and how to use your unique energies to
create a character and clown. The students will make
their own mask as well as learn to internal technique
with emphasis on interpret any other character mask
simply communication, gesture, body language and
through form and color, bypassing the thought process.
CENTERING - 7 direction Medicine Wheel, Rooting of sound
INTRO TO NEUTRAL MASK - Starting place, Readiness, Necessity, Economy, Universal
WALKING TO THE WALL - Being in the moment, confronting fears
LOOKING FOR A FEELING - Listening inside, seeing with the whole body
EMOTIONAL POLARITIES - Creating safe space to experience and balance universal energies of
Love/Fear, Innocence/Experience, Masculine/Feminine, etc.
Love/Fear, Innocence/Experience, Masculine/Feminine, etc.
COLOR RHYTHMS - Expressing personal movement, sound and emotion triggered by the internal
resonance of different color vibrations
resonance of different color vibrations
FORMING A PERSONAL MASK - on clay, with the eyes closed, from an internal rhythm. Then
Papier-mache over clay and Painting of paper mask.
Papier-mache over clay and Painting of paper mask.
MASK WEARING - Interpreting the color and form of the mask through the body into character improvisation.
RETURN TO CHILDHOOD - Exploring the Innocence of the character
WAVING GOODBYE TO SOMEONE YOU LOVE - Exploring the Experience of the character
CLOWNING - Playing the Innocence and Experience of the Mask character to open
the universal arena of the Trickster, Buffoon, Contrary, Heyoka, Clown
the universal arena of the Trickster, Buffoon, Contrary, Heyoka, Clown
My major performance work has been as a
multi-disciplinary theatre artist, bringing
together elements of mask, clown, ritual
ceremony, video and graphic arts. I started in
professional theatre as a journeyman actor at the
Stratford Festival in 1974 and continued to
perform primarily in Toronto and Montreal for
Nightwood, Native Earth, T.W.P., Tarragon,
Factory, Theatre Centre, Quatre-Sous,
PasseMuraille, and the Citadel in Edmonton. I
have played a diversity of characters including
Jean Genet, Picasso, Hitler, Ezra Pound,
Pythagoras, Alfred Jarry's Supermale and the
Demon as well as Nion and numerous Fools. I
was co-founder and artistic director of the Theatre
Resource Centre in Toronto for 10 years and
collaborated with Richard Pochinko to evolve the
Pochinko Technique of mask & clown. My most
recent project brought together professional actors
and people with life-threatening illnesses. I
adapted and directed two short Pirandello plays,
interweaving personal healing stories in a
ceremonial mask structure presented at St. John's
church in the west end of Vancouver. Most
recently i played Mr. Hardcastle in Goldsmith's
She Stoops to Conquer at the Gastown Actor's
Studio in Vancouver.
multi-disciplinary theatre artist, bringing
together elements of mask, clown, ritual
ceremony, video and graphic arts. I started in
professional theatre as a journeyman actor at the
Stratford Festival in 1974 and continued to
perform primarily in Toronto and Montreal for
Nightwood, Native Earth, T.W.P., Tarragon,
Factory, Theatre Centre, Quatre-Sous,
PasseMuraille, and the Citadel in Edmonton. I
have played a diversity of characters including
Jean Genet, Picasso, Hitler, Ezra Pound,
Pythagoras, Alfred Jarry's Supermale and the
Demon as well as Nion and numerous Fools. I
was co-founder and artistic director of the Theatre
Resource Centre in Toronto for 10 years and
collaborated with Richard Pochinko to evolve the
Pochinko Technique of mask & clown. My most
recent project brought together professional actors
and people with life-threatening illnesses. I
adapted and directed two short Pirandello plays,
interweaving personal healing stories in a
ceremonial mask structure presented at St. John's
church in the west end of Vancouver. Most
recently i played Mr. Hardcastle in Goldsmith's
She Stoops to Conquer at the Gastown Actor's
Studio in Vancouver.
directing theatre
| Vital Signs Jane Martin The Cavern, Vancouver Woman With a Flower in Her Mouth Luigi Pirandello St. John's Church, Vancouver The License Luigi Pirandello St. John's Church, Vancouver Andre's Mother Playlet Theatre Positive, Vancouver The Maids Jean Genet Theatre Resource, Toronto Red Noses Peter Barnes Theatre Resource, Toronto Passages Mask, Ritual TRC, Toronto Asylum Clown Show TRC, Toronto Winter Solstice Mummers Play St. John's, Newfoundland Circus Bizarro Outdoor Circus Kensington, Toronto Cyrc en Bicycle Outdoor Circus Ottawa, N.C.C. |
Dora award nominations for Nion: performance, direction, production,
costume design, set design. Best new musical - American Demon.
Genie nomination for Kabaret de la Vita, Dora Award for Pythagoras
costume design, set design. Best new musical - American Demon.
Genie nomination for Kabaret de la Vita, Dora Award for Pythagoras
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland July
4, 1944. Immigrated to Canada
1951, Canadian citizen. I can
ride a horse, sail a small boat,
speak beginners Italian.
Age range 40 - 75
Member: B.C.P.U., Actor's Equity
4, 1944. Immigrated to Canada
1951, Canadian citizen. I can
ride a horse, sail a small boat,
speak beginners Italian.
Age range 40 - 75
Member: B.C.P.U., Actor's Equity
personal
contact
Ian Wallace (nion) as The General in Auto-da-fe,
created by Conrad Alexandrovitch, Dancemakers, Toronto
created by Conrad Alexandrovitch, Dancemakers, Toronto
Barbara Anderson Boyd Wallace & Ian Archibald Wallace, July 4, 1944
Ian Wallace as Nion in Kabaret de la Vita, Rivoli, Toronto, 1981
Neutral Mask
J.R. Talent
Gloria 604.688.4883
Gloria 604.688.4883
ENTERING THE ROOM - Presenting yourself
pochinko mask technique
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