Director Daryl Cloran is a veritable dichotomy.

Playgoers that have experienced his previous work with Theatrefront get the strong sense that he’s a cerebral, multi-dimensional, speculator expanding the storytelling periphery and allowing audiences to see the world with new eyes.

But sit him down in a chair, slap on a microphone, press the record button on the camera and you’ll find he’s a genuinely warm, spirited, conventional conversationalist displaying unrestrained enthusiasm for his company’s newest drama opening in February at Tarragon Theatre.

In 2006, Theatrefront paired up with Bosnian actors to stage Return: The Sarajevo Project. And now in 2009 he’s up to his old tricks once again, this time flying in a couple of South African performers for his latest offering Ubuntu (The Cape Town Project). The inside word is that his desire to dash his creations with international flavour is by no means expected to end here.

One thing is for certain: Although it’s near impossible to pin down his preferred blend of storytelling due diverse directing credits, Daryl Cloran’s “beyond Canada” approach to performance art has given audiences a universal perspective toward humanity without them ever having to visit a foreign land.

Yes, indeed, despite the vast distances that separate people on this big blue marble we’re all connected in more ways than you’d ever think.