Persephone losing artistic director amid turmoil
The future of Del Surjik as Persephone Theatre’s artistic director had been discussed recently, but his departure was sped up following social media posts from the theatre’s account and an ensuing backlash, says the chair of Persephone’s board of directors.
After nearly 13 years as artistic director at the Saskatoon theatre, Surjik announced his resignation on Tuesday.
It comes one week after the theatre was criticized for posts created during Blackout Tuesday on June 2.
“We know that our organization has much work to do in appropriately supporting, respecting, and amplifying the voices of our Indigenous artists, Black artists, and artists of colour,” Surjik said in a statement.
“As the artistic leader I am responsible for these shortcomings. Now, given the urgency of this moment in our society, it’s clear that the best thing I can do to help Persephone move forward is to step aside and make room.”
The theatre’s attempt at supporting the Black Lives Matter movement — posting the same black square shared on profiles across the globe, but without any context or statement — was poorly received by many in the community, as was an ensuing apology that prompted complaints and posts about discrimination within the theatre world.
Nikki Hipkin, chair of the Persephone Theatre board of directors, said the backlash last week was not the only factor in the board accepting Surjik’s resignation, but it was “absolutely” a part of it.
“We’ve been having conversations about what his future looks like for a while. He’s been thinking about that as well,” Hipkin said. “The time frame shortened as all of this started to happen.”
Hipkin said a number of allegations have come to light in the past couple of weeks regarding incidents of discrimination and racism in Persephone Theatre — allegations that until recently had not reached her ears. Hipkin said the theatre had to find a new way forward in the artistic community.
“We can’t ask people of colour, Indigenous people, Black people, we can’t ask them to be solely responsible to speak up about this,” she said.
“We need to do a better job of that as an organization here, and we need to do a better job of it as citizens in Saskatoon.”
Surjik and Johnna Wright’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear, simply titled LEAR, was slated to appear on Persephone Theatre’s main stage in 2021. Hipkin said they’ll revisit that show with Surjik in the next few days.
Hipkin credited Surjik for his work over the years, but said they agreed now was the proper time for him to let someone new take the position.
“Del Surjik has done some really great things in our community and he really has inspired a lot of theatre-goers in Saskatoon, and he and we all recognize that there’s so much more to do,” Hipkin said.
The theatre will review all hiring practices to help identify and engage with candidates of all creeds, colours and nationalities for the artistic director position as well as other future openings, she added.
Surjik said he will remain in his position until June 22, “to help with an orderly transition,” adding that it “has been my great honour” to serve as artistic director for more than a decade.
The time frame shortened as all of this started to happen.