Carly DW Bones
Theatre Director
As a director, I gravitate toward stories that shed light on our collective cultural wounds around sexuality (whether reclaiming these themes through a feminist lens within classical works, or digging deep into modern masterpieces and brand new stories). I am drawn to stories with charged subject matter, and lead their exploration by making the entire process a brave space in which artists can safely create uncomfortable work. Art is meant to challenge us, to push us toward vulnerability and growth — and that never needs to come at the cost of anyone’s dignity, integrity, mental health or sense of belonging.
I am aligned with the healing power of theatre and performance, and the ability of art to allow people to access a deeper, more embodied level of empathy than they can access through intellect alone.
I lead a feminist theatre ensemble, The Illyrian Players, committed to nurturing a community where artists can embrace their roles as healers and change-makers through ritual story-telling. Our productions evolved to culminate in community forums to discuss as a group of artists and audience how what moved us from the story can activate us in our lives outside the theatre.
I believe that, at its heart, the theatre is an art form that is meant to serve communities. It’s a space where we should be able to (in both the process and the product) help each other figure out how the world works, and the ways in which we want to make it work better. I see theatre as both an artistic expression and a magical ritual. Saying words aloud, physically enacting an event—these things can bring any story to life in our world. Through creativity and imagination, we can make something that is both real and outside of our direct reality, that a community can experience in the present moment, face to face, together. I do not take this power lightly, and I believe it is so important to be mindful of the stories we choose to tell and why we need to bring them to life at this moment in time.
“Carly has an amazing way of working through uncomfortable material in a professional and collaborative environment. She creates a space in which actors are able to take the time and attention needed to ensure they feel safe and empowered. She was able to model a common language for us to communicate our needs and boundaries without sterilizing the magic of finding the scene. ”
