Carousel Theatre facts for kids
Carousel Theatre's administrative offices on Granville Island, Vancouver
|
|
| Formation | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Purpose | Children's theatre Theatre for young audiences |
| Location | |
|
Artistic director(s)
|
Not available |
| Website | http://www.carouseltheatre.ca |
Carousel Theatre (also known as Carousel Theatre For Young People) is a professional theatre company. It creates plays especially for young people. This theatre is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Carousel Theatre performs plays for kids, families, and teachers. They perform at the Waterfront Theatre and Performance Works. Both are on Granville Island. They also travel to elementary schools across British Columbia and Canada. Carousel Theatre was the first Canadian theatre company to offer sign language during its shows. This helped people who are deaf or hard of hearing enjoy the plays. Carousel Theatre is part of PACT. This is the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres.
Contents
History of Carousel Theatre
Carousel Theatre was started in 1974 by Elizabeth Ball. She was the Artistic Director until 2001. After her, Chris McGregor took over until 2006. Then Carole Higgins led the company until July 2020. The company has had some changes in its artistic leadership since then.
Early Years and Focus
In its early years, Carousel Theatre became known for its Shakespeare plays. These plays were set in modern times. Later, the theatre started focusing on adapting classic stories. They also performed new plays by Canadian writers.
Carousel first put on its shows in Vancouver. They used places like the Arts Club Theatre and the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Around 1993, they moved to Granville Island. Here, they have offices and three rehearsal rooms. Their main office is across from the Waterfront Theatre. Carousel Theatre helped build this theatre. Many of their shows are performed there.
When Carole Higgins became Artistic Director, the company changed its name. It became "Carousel Theatre for Young People." This showed their main focus on children and youth.
Plays and Productions
Carousel Theatre has put on many new plays for the first time. Some of these plays were specially asked for and developed by the theatre. A typical season for Carousel Theatre usually has four or five main shows. They have public shows on weekends. During the week, they often have special shows for schools.
Many Canadian plays have premiered at Carousel Theatre. These include A Christmas Carol - The Musical by Mavor Moore in 1998. Also, Dying to be Thin by Linda A. Carson in 1992. And Basically Good Kids by Mark Leiren-Young in 1993.
Carousel also created an original play based on Pierre Berton's story The Secret World of Og. This play was adapted by Kevin Kerr. He won a Governor General's Award. Other plays by Carousel include Seussical and The Hobbit. Many Canadian theatre artists have worked with Carousel Theatre. These include Roy Surette and Anna Cummer.
In July 2020, there were some changes in the theatre's leadership. Carole Higgins, the Artistic Director for a long time, left the company.
Other Activities
Besides putting on plays, Carousel Theatre also runs a theatre school. This school is for young people from 3 to 17 years old. The company also has a "Teen Shakespeare Program." This program is for young people aged 13 to 17. It runs during July and August. It ends with a play performed by the teen actors.
Awards and Recognition
Carousel Theatre and its artists have won many awards.
Jessie Awards
Carousel Theatre has received many Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and nominations. These awards celebrate great theatre in Vancouver.
- 2011
- Outstanding Design, Theatre for Young Audiences - Heidi Wilkinson, for Bird Brain
- Outstanding Artistic Creation, Theatre for Young Audiences – Carole Higgins, for Bird Brain
- Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences, for Bird Brain
- Significant Artistic Achievement, Theatre for Young Audiences, Design Team, for Pharaoh Serket & The Lost Stone of Fire
- 2010
- Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences, for A Year with Frog & Toad
- Outstanding Performance, Theatre for Young Audiences, for A Year with Frog & Toad
- Outstanding Design, Theatre for Young Audiences - Heidi Wilkinson
- Outstanding Artistic Creation, Theatre for Young Audiences - Gordon Roberts (Musical Direction), for A Year with Frog & Toad
- 2008
- Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences, for Seussical (also won the Canada Council Prize)
- Outstanding Artistic Creation, Theatre for Young Audiences - Steven Greenfield, Musical Direction, for Seussical
- Outstanding Performance, Theatre for Young Audiences - Allan Zinyk, for Seussical
- 2007
- Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences, for The Odyssey (also won the Canada Council Prize)
- 2006
- Carole Higgins, Outstanding Artistic Creation (direction), for The Big League
- Alexa Dubreuil, Josh Dickson, Nathan Schwartz, Chris Van Hyfte, Significant Artistic Achievement (acting ensemble), for The Big League
