'An Interview with Canada's Most Famous Transsexual' (from Exbalibur, York U's student paper, Nov 4th, 2009)
December 9th, 2009
by Evan Vipond: Contributor
http://ninaarsenault.com/2009/12/an-interview-with-canadas-most-famous-transsexual-from-exbalibur-york-us-student-paper-nov-4th-2009/ (http://ninaarsenault.com/2009/12/an-interview-with-canadas-most-famous-transsexual-from-exbalibur-york-us-student-paper-nov-4th-2009/)
Nina Arsenault is commonly referred to as Canada's most famous transsexual. Arsenault has two postgraduate degrees in theatre, one of which was completed at York University alongside her undergraduate degree. After quitting the theatre world to transition from man to woman and undergoing 60 cosemtic procedures, Arsenault has recently re-entered theatre as both playwright and performer. Her most recent play, The Silicone Diaries, will be produced by Buddies in Bad Times Theatre from Nov 14th to 21.
EVAN: Playwriting is about creating a story, while directing is about representing or interpreting someone else's story. Which do you prefer, the role of the primary creator or the interpreter?
NINA: Primary creator at this point, absolutely. Because the thing is, where I am in my life, my identity and my history, there's not a lot of stories like mine. It's not like I can filter my experience through another writer's words. I don't really know any other writers [like me.]