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Community Update

June 29, 2022

As we move into the summer, we’re grateful to be sharing a community update on the 2021-2022 season.

It was an equally challenging and inspiring season here at Prairie Theatre Exchange. As we all navigated COVID, the Omicron wave, and eventually re-opening(s), we have remained open, agile, and responsive. We have also dedicated ourselves to continuing all of the work of the company, on stage and off.

Through it all we have been buoyed by the imagination of artists, the dedication of audiences, and the support of funders. We wouldn’t be here, where we are today, without community, in all its forms.

LIVE PRODUCTIONS

This season we were able to open our theatre to live audiences for two productions: The War Being Waged by Darla Contois and Outside Joke: The Improvised Musical. It was absolutely extraordinary to see people in the theatre again, and to feel the energy exchanged between artists and audiences.

While audiences returned, they did not return in the same numbers as before the pandemic. In connecting with colleagues at other theatres nationally and internationally, we are aware that the return to live theatre will be a slow and incremental journey. We are so grateful to all those who joined us and look forward to welcoming even more people to the theatre for our 2022-2023 - PTE's 50th anniversary season.

DIGITAL THEATRE

This season we continued to produce, present and explore telling stories in a digital medium. In addition to our announced productions of 11:11 by Samson Bonkeabantu Brown (Theatre Passe Muraille production) and Deer Woman (ARTICLE 11 production), we also created a film of The War Being Waged by Darla Contois. With the postponement of Bad Parent by Ins Choi (with vAct and Soulpepper), we programmed two additional digital offerings: Places We Go by Hazel Venzon and David Oro (UNIT Productions) and PTE-produced A Dance to the End of the World by Thomas Morgan Jones; directed by Soheil Parsa with illustrations by Josh Murdock.

The War Being Waged is currently available on the Stratford Festival’s Stratfest@Home streaming service. We’re thrilled to continue sharing this story.

The War Being Waged, Places We Go, and our production of VOICE by Ismaila Alfa also enjoyed a national digital school tour, playing to thousands of young people in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

ACCESSIBILITY

In previous community updates we reported that we were committing to fully accessible live performances at Prairie Theatre Exchange in 2022.

We are pleased to share that we offered ASL, Audio Described (with VIEW), and Relaxed performances of Outside Joke in May.

For 2022-2023, we have included these three accessible performances as part of our production calendar for every live show in the season.

COMPANY IN RESIDENCE

This is a cross-over period between our existing company in residence and our new company in residence.

Out From Under the Rug (OFUR) will premiere their new production, Bastard in the Colin Jackson Studio Theatre this August. This will be the culmination of their two-year residency. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and support them.

In July 2022, we will be announcing our new company in residence, which will be entering into their two-year residency.

We are honoured to be able to support and host these brilliant artists as they bring their stories to life.

EDUCATION RESIDENCIES

This season we completed a second year of support for RISE Musical Theatre Company and their educational offerings for IBPOC youth. A third year of residency will continue in 2022-2023.

We are also hosting One Trunk Theatre for an education residency over the summer of 2022.

COMMISSION

We have 14 active commissions and a number of ongoing seed projects. These include new works by:

Sharon Bajer and Liam Zarrillo

Frances Koncan (premiering upcoming season)

Donna-Michelle St. Bernard

Guillermo Verdecchia

Liam Zarrillo (premiering upcoming season)

Cole Alvis

Marie Beath Badian

Keith Barker

Tara Beagan

Lindsay Anne Black

Brian Drader

Anusree Roy

Ian Ross

David Yee with Andy Moro and Deanna Choi

WASHROOMS

Thanks to a grant from Canadian Heritage, we were able to complete renovations on our restrooms (lobby and administration) to be gender inclusive. This included removing urinals and replacing stall walls and partitions with new ones that offer more privacy.

We are eager to welcome patrons to our space with restrooms that are safe, inclusive, and welcoming to all.

STAFF TRAINING

Our full staff participated in a 2SLGBTQ+ Awareness, Inclusion, and Affirmation workshop led by Rainbow Resource Centre as we all continue our journey of learning.

NEW LOGO

In honour of our upcoming 50th anniversary season, we have created a new logo for Prairie Theatre Exchange. Our thanks to the team at Guppy Design for their brilliant work and collaboration in bringing this new logo to life.

GENERAL AUDITIONS & COLLABORATOR CONVERSATIONS

This season we were able to return to General Auditions, as well as invited Collaborator Conversations to meet creative artists working and creating in the Prairies.

We met with 154 artists in total and were so grateful for all the artistry and dialogue.

STRATEGIC PLAN 2022-2025

In June 2022, our Board approved a new strategic plan which can be accessed HERE.

The conversations that led to what is articulated in the plan were transformational. Community conversations were had with staff, board, artistic community and audiences, all facilitated by local company Blueprint Inc.

We are energized, focused, and hopeful as we moved into the next three years of Prairie Theatre Exchange, beginning with our 50th anniversary season in 2022-2023.

These are a summary of major activities at the company this past season. They can’t encapsulate the entire journey, but we are inspired by what we’ve learned, what we’ve accomplished, and we are clear about the work ahead of us. And, as always, we’re ready for the unknown.

We’ll post another community update in the fall, and we already know there will be so much to share…

On behalf of everyone at Prairie Theatre Exchange, thank you for reading, and for engaging with our theatre and company.

To contact us:

Thomas Morgan Jones, Artistic Director: ad@pte.mb.ca

Lisa Li, Managing Director: lisali@pte.mb.ca

Board of Directors: board@pte.mb.ca