Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bryant Edwards. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Bryant thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

When you are first starting in theatre and as you develop as an artist you tend to feel like you have to perform and create art in a certain way – maybe you must be a starving artist, you need to abide by a very specific dress code, you must fit into your type, you need to take everything as seriously as a heart surgery.

When I first started Theatre Contra, it was out of a want and need to create work that I want to work on and to create a space for artists to try new things without the fear of judgment by other artists. If you want to act, try it out. If you want to direct, we’ll be there to support you. At first, in my mind, that meant doing Very Serious Work (TM) – You have to suffer to be an artist, after all.

But very quickly, I realize that wasn’t sustainable, nor interesting. We already suffer enough as humans, I began to think it was weird to think I had to suffer in this very specific ARTIST way to be taken seriously. Once we started to produce movie readings, we truly had to let go of all of that. We wanted to be a place that people wanted to come back to , that they found joy in.

However, a few comments were made, especially in our earlier years, that we “aren’t real theatre”. There was no explanation why. It was just a statement made. When I looked at the theatre those people were creating though, all I saw was theatre for them as a singular person. Not an experiential place for the audience around you.

That was the moment I and Theatre Contra realized we have to suck f*ck suffering, let’s just have fun. Not only did that mentality make it easier to manage the work of running a theatre company, but it resonated with audiences far more than any of us expected.

Bryant, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Bryant Edwards, I’m a founding member of Theatre Contra – a Philadelphia Theatre Group that thrives on the phrase “low stakes, high fun”. By challenging the typical audience-theatre dynamic, we aim to fill spaces with joy, share stories of conflict and conviction, and make theatre for everyone who wants to experience it.

I grew up in a very small town in lower Delaware (Slower Lower, as some would say). Eventually I moved up to the Philadelphia suburbs where I was encouraged to try theatre. I immediately fell in love with it. Not only did I appear to grasp it as a skill, but it was also a place where my stutter disappeared which was a wonderful feeling.

After getting a Theatre and Political Scienece degree a the University of Pittsburgh, I moved to Philadelphia to work as an apprentice at the Arden Theatre, where I learned a little bit of everything it takes to make theatre beyond the artistic elements. From there, I had the opportunity to produce a Philadelphia Fringe show that brought together dozens of collaborators and found some really incredible people.

Several of these people formed the basis of Theatre Contra. We’ve just passed 5 years and what I am most proud of is the community dynamic we’ve created. We are all about enjoying theatre again. Making it a place that ANYONE feels like they can attend to forget the outside world (mostly) and just breathe easy.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I was always very self-concious and had a tendency to compare myself to others, especially my friends and colleagues who were and are incredibly talented. I also always found it difficult to self-advocate. I was always just happy lifting those around me and helping them achieve goals, and always afraid to ask for the same. This thought process, while fulfilling in ways, left something out.

That’s a driving force behind Theatre Contra – I knew I hated comparing myself to people I respected and wanted to succeed, but I wasn’t quite finding the space that would let me raise others, while also fulfilling my own wants and needs. the “Low Stakes, High Fun” mentality has really driven my creative journey ever since we started Theatre Contra. I feel like I can have fun again. I find joy in the success of others and I find it easier to self-advocate all the same – because ultimately, we are just having fun in a room with people from our community.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I just love bringing joy to others. I know, that’s pretty cliche, but true. I love hearing feedback, good and bad,and I love that people are invested in Theatre Contra and want it to succeed as much as I do. It feels like it’s becoming something that every single person has built and I’m proud that I am a driving force behind that. That I took a risk and chose to do something I wanted that would benefit the people I love. It’s an incredible feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theatrecontra.com
• Instagram: @theatrecontra
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theatrecontra

Image Credits

Bryant Edwards
Elsie McCart
Emilie Krause, GlassCanary Photography