In this intimate sharing for the Roadshow Series, Dr. Martin Julien discusses his ongoing archival work with the original founding members of Caravan Farm Theatre, the outdoor theatre company established in 1978 in the North Okanagan. Drawing on his own history with Caravan—where he acted and wrote for 11 productions between 1998 and 2013—Martin emphasizes the company’s communal roots and the deep relationships he maintains with many of the artists.
Recently, he returned to the farm to conduct oral-history audio interviews with surviving founders, many now in their seventies and eighties. Working alongside multi-disciplinary Caravan artist Niall McNeil, who lives with Down syndrome and is engaged in his own story-gathering practice, Martin underscores the urgency of preserving these memories before they are lost. His work involves recording and transcribing interviews while navigating questions of ethics, care, and relational responsibility.
