Amanda Kellock, BFA 03 | Photo courtesy of Kellock
In April, Kellock becomes artistic director at Montreal’s Repercussion Theatre. Well known for its outdoor Shakespeare productions, the company brings classical theatre to communities across Quebec.
Making a living working in theatre is never easy. Kellock says the secret to her success was in thinking long-term.
“What I learned, slowly but surely, is that it’s a long road,” she says. “I had to make it about building a life for myself, not just a career. If I based my sense of self-worth on my professional success, it would have been devastating.”
Kellock graduated from Concordia’s Theatre and Development program and went on to do a master’s in theatre direction at the University of Ottawa.
She then worked for the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the Centaur Theatre, Geordie Productions and Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal. She has acted and directed productions at Repercussion Theatre. Yet she was often out of work.
The important thing, Kellock says, is to enjoy the road you are on. She sought out collaborators she loved working with, wanted to learn from and who made her better at what she did.
“At every stage of the game, I had incredible mentors who said, ‘I’m going to introduce you to somebody’. I didn’t realize that behind the scenes someone was talking to someone else saying ‘Hey, if you ever have something, you should really consider Amanda.’”
Kellock now shares her knowledge of the business. She teaches at Concordia, where she is an artist in residence, and has also taught at McGill University and Dawson College.
Graduating theatre students come to her for career advice. Kellock’s counsel: “Do every show as if it were the most important one ever, thank people along the way and don’t be afraid to be vocal about wanting to work with someone again.”
“I look back at my career and it makes perfect sense, but at every step of the way, I had no idea what was coming. I think knowing that and not waiting for someone to place the next step in front of you, in some ways, it’s the greatest lesson.”
While there is no “you’re in” or “welcome to the club” in the theatre profession, Kellock looks forward to her new role at Repercussion — where she’ll be busy grant writing, fundraising, programming the season and making sure that other artists can pay their rent. Tough, daunting work — but she’s used to that.
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