Electric Company Theatre facts for kids
The Electric Company Theatre is a group of professional actors and creators. They are based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They create exciting and original plays.
History of Electric Company Theatre
The Electric Company Theatre started in 1996. It was formed by a group of friends: Kim Collier, David Hudgins, Kevin Kerr, and Jonathon Young. They all met while studying theatre at Studio 58 in Vancouver. A 'collective' means a group of people working closely together to create something.
This team has made almost 20 new plays. They have also toured their shows 13 times. They performed in Canada, the USA, and the United Kingdom. The company won the first Alcan Award for Theatre in 2001. They have also received many other awards across Canada.
In 2005, the group also wrote and directed a movie. It was for the CBC and was called The Score. The Electric Company Theatre is known for performing in unusual places. They have put on shows in industrial warehouses, a science centre, and even in two swimming pools! They also performed a show on the Pacific Ocean.
Today, Electric Company Theatre is a resident company at Progress Lab 1422. This is a large theatre space in Vancouver. They helped create this space with other theatre groups.
Notable Productions
The Electric Company Theatre has created many memorable plays. Here are some of their productions:
- Betroffenheit (2015) - made with Kidd Pivot
- FLEE (2015)
- OBSTRUCTIONS: There is No Way To Fix What Is Going Wrong (2014)
- You Are Very Star (2011, 2013)
- Initiation Trilogy (2012)
- Tear The Curtain! (2010, 2012) - made with the Arts Club Theatre Company
- Everyone (2010) - made with several other theatre groups
- Studies In Motion: The Hauntings Of Eadweard Muybridge (2006, 2009, 2010)
- No Exit (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011) - made with Virtual Stage
- Brilliant! The Blinding Enlightenment Of Nikola Tesla (1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008)
Awards and Recognition
The Electric Company Theatre and its members have won important awards for their work.
Kim Collier, one of the founders, received the Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre in 2010. This is a very big award in Canadian theatre. Part of the prize money is given to a younger artist. Kim Collier chose director Anita Rochon as her protégé.
Kevin Kerr, another founder, was awarded the 2002 Governor General's Award for Drama. This award recognizes excellent Canadian writers.
The Electric Company Theatre itself won the Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award in 2001. This award celebrates outstanding performing arts groups.
