Before Declarations was a performance, it was a video piece, performed by Liz Peterson. This video, and everything that came after, would not have existed without Sam Lebel-Wong. Sam, thank you so much for your faith in my idea, your artistry, and your friendship, I am eternally grateful. A big hug, also, to Michael DiCarlo and everyone else who worked on this video.

Now Declarations exists as a beautiful book, thanks to the incomparable team at Coach House Press: Alana Wilcox, Crystal Sikma, Jessica Rattray, and Ricky Lima. Also, my immense gratitude to Andrew B. Myers for his perfect photograph.

Finally, I would like to thank my family: James, Andrew, Dad, Granny, Gramp. And of course, Zoikie.

About the Author

Jordan Tannahill is a play-wright, director, and author. In 2016, he was described by the Toronto Star as being ‘widely celebrated as one of Canada’s most accomplished young play-wrights, filmmakers, and all-round multidisciplinary artists.’ His plays have been translated into multiple languages and honoured with a number of prizes including the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama and several Dora Mavor Moore Awards. Jordan’s films and multimedia performances have been presented at festivals and galleries such as the Toronto International Film Festival, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Tribeca Film Festival. From 2012 to 2016, Jordan and William Ellis ran the influential underground art space Videofag out of their home in Toronto’s Kensington Market. In 2017, his play Late Company transferred to London’s West End while his virtual reality performance Draw Me Close, a co-production between the National Theatre (UK) and the National Film Board of Canada, premiered at the Venice Biennale. Jordan’s work in dance includes collaborations with Christopher House and Akram Khan. His debut novel, Liminal, was published by House of Anansi Press in January 2018.

Typeset in Amethyst Pro.

Printed at the Coach House on bpNichol Lane in Toronto, Ontario, on Zephyr Antique Laid paper, which was manufactured, acid-free, in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, from second-growth forests. This book was printed with vegetable-based ink on a 1973 Heidelberg KORD offset litho press. Its pages were folded on a Baumfolder, gathered by hand, bound on a Sulby Auto-Minabinda and trimmed on a Polar single-knife cutter.

Edited by Alana Wilcox

Designed by Crystal Sikma

Cover art by Andrew Myers

Rehearsal photo by Nathan Kelly

Author photo by Alejandro Santiago

Coach House Books

80 bpNichol Lane

Toronto ON M5S 3J4

Canada

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800 367 6360

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