One Year In. Wow. It's been an entire year since The Next Stage made its first entrance. Glancing back over the first post from that day I'm pleased to realize that not much has changed with regards to my mission statement, and I have to say how proud I am to have discovered so many… Continue reading Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
Author: Simon Ogden
This One Goes to Eleven: Katrina Dunn
If you want an example of absolute commitment to our theatre, look no further than Katrina Dunn, who has been on the front lines of the fight to bring great Canadian theatre to Vancouverites for many years. She's been the Artistic Director of Touchstone Theatre and its all-Canadian mandate since 1997, and was one of… Continue reading This One Goes to Eleven: Katrina Dunn
New Feature Alert – Video Listings Now Available
Marketing a play? Looking for some exposure? The Next Stage is pleased to offer a new section of video listings, free for a limited time to Victoria independent theatre companies. Features of your listing include: all your production and contact information, a brief write-up or synopsis of the play itself, embedded links to your company… Continue reading New Feature Alert – Video Listings Now Available
A Proud Day for Canadian Theatre
It is now T-minus 30 days until World Theatre Day and counting. The WTD organizing committee, the International Theatre Institute, has officially announced the author of this year's international theatre message (drum roll please): Canadian icon and contemporary theatre revolutionary Robert Lepage. The ITI is an world-wide non-governmental agency founded by UNESCO in 1948. On… Continue reading A Proud Day for Canadian Theatre
This One Goes to Eleven: Susan Stevenson
A lot of time is spent on this site and its interview series discussing the many potential ways that the theatre business in Vancouver may be improved. Lest this offer the impression that our theatre has a foot in the grave we present a conversation with Susan Stevenson. Susan is the Executive Director of the… Continue reading This One Goes to Eleven: Susan Stevenson
For Theatre Nerds Only
Why did no one tell me about this? Sometimes the murky depths of the internet yield up some astonishing treasures, like this internet radio station devoted to all things New York theatre. Playbill Radio features daily features like Playbill Presents: "Playbill Radio takes its microphones backstage and into the rehearsal rooms of Broadway for "Playbill… Continue reading For Theatre Nerds Only
This One Goes to Eleven: Jessica Van der Veen
Hi. My name is Simon, and I'm a playwright, actor, and working theatre artist. I can claim all of these things to be fact today because of Jess. Hers was the very first acting class I was dragged to, by a doorman at some club I was flipping bottles in at the time, 15 years… Continue reading This One Goes to Eleven: Jessica Van der Veen
Devoted and Disgruntled: A Journey Through “Open Space”.
Ian Mackenzie over at Theatre is Territory will occasionally drop a post entitled What should we talk about now?, a call to discourse that, in my opinion at least, neatly sums up the need we all have as theatre artists to develop a common language towards breaking down the barriers between us and our dream… Continue reading Devoted and Disgruntled: A Journey Through “Open Space”.
Independents the Future of Canadian Theatre?
"The Canadian Stage Company, which has a stated aim to create and produce the best in Canadian theatre, will not produce any Canadian work on its mainstage next season, industry sources say." - From the Toronto Star. Yet another questionable decision by "Canada's largest not-for-profit contemporary theatre company". Not only is there no indication of… Continue reading Independents the Future of Canadian Theatre?
New Feature Alert!
I used to walk around saying that we have to start devoting a full 50% of our efforts into the business side of our productions if we ever hope to reach our goal of a sustainable popular theatre. I no longer believe that to be true. I now think that number is closer to 90%.… Continue reading New Feature Alert!
This One Goes to Eleven: Rebecca Coleman
And of course, no one expects the Spanish Inquisition! Put her in the comfy chair! 1.) In one word, describe your present condition: Buzzing. 2.) With no restrictions, describe the present condition of the Vancouver theatre scene. It feels very hierarchical to me. There is the nobility, the upper class, if you like, I’m talking… Continue reading This One Goes to Eleven: Rebecca Coleman
This One Goes to Eleven: Kirsten Kilburn
I know that there are those of you out there with concerns for the future of our theatre. Rest assured, if it lies in the hands of young artists like Kirsten you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Ms. Kilburn is a Vancouver stage and screen actor. She opens Twenty-Something Theatre's one-woman show The Fever… Continue reading This One Goes to Eleven: Kirsten Kilburn
Mission Paradox Establishes Theatre Brain Trust
One of my greatest new discoveries out here hacking through the tangled jungle of the theatreweb is a blog by Adam Thurman called Mission Paradox, a site devoted entirely to arts marketing and publicity. It is essential reading for all of us, with a pragmatic yet completely artistic take on the business side of the… Continue reading Mission Paradox Establishes Theatre Brain Trust
Controversy in Canadian Theatre. No, Seriously.
Near the beginning of last year a big ol' Toronto theatre organization, The Canadian Stage Company (billed as Canada's largest not-for-profit contemporary theatre co.) gave a "political" play called My Name is Rachel Corrie some no-such-thing-as-bad publicity by canceling its planned production in their 07/08 season. Artistic Producer Martin Bragg dropped it from the line-up… Continue reading Controversy in Canadian Theatre. No, Seriously.
This One Goes to Eleven: Sabrina Evertt
A graduate of the theatre program at UVic, Sabrina has a solid academic footing in both directing and costume design. She is the artistic producer of Twenty-Something Theatre, a new, energetic Vancouver company that is already notable for its excellent taste in established material. Their next production is Wallace Shawn's The Fever, opening January 29th… Continue reading This One Goes to Eleven: Sabrina Evertt
Simon Ogden 