Persephone Theatre facts for kids
| Non-profit | |
| Industry | Theatre |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Remai Arts Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
|
Key people
|
Heather Cant (Artistic Director) Breanne Harmon (Executive Director) |
Persephone Theatre is a super cool theatre company in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It's a place where amazing stories come to life on stage! This theatre was started way back in 1974. It was named after Persephone, a goddess from ancient Greek myths.
Contents
Discovering Persephone Theatre
How It All Began
Persephone Theatre began its journey in 1974. It was founded by a director named Brian Richmond. Two sisters, Janet Wright and Susan Wright, also helped start it. Their goal was to create a special place for theatre in Saskatoon.
In its very first season, plays were performed at the Mendel Art Gallery. For the second season, the theatre moved to the University of Saskatchewan's Greystone Theatre. The third season found its home at the St. Thomas Wesley Church hall.
Finding a Home
After a few years with different Artistic Directors, a talented person named Tibor Feheregyhazi joined in 1982. He was born in Hungary. Tibor became the Artistic Director and stayed for a long time.
In 1983, the theatre moved into a building that used to be the Westgate Alliance Church. This was a big step for them. Then, in 2007, after a lot of hard work and fundraising, Persephone Theatre moved again. This time, it moved to its current, modern home: the Remai Arts Centre. This new building is located at River Landing. Sadly, Tibor Feheregyhazi passed away shortly before this big move.
The Remai Arts Centre: A Creative Hub
The Remai Arts Centre is a fantastic facility. It sits right on the riverbank in downtown Saskatoon. This building is a true hub for creativity!
It has a large Main Stage with 421 seats. This stage is perfect for big productions. There's also a smaller, flexible stage called the Backstage Stage. It can seat up to 150 people. The centre also has two classrooms. These are great for workshops and learning. Two rehearsal halls provide space for actors to practice. Plus, there's a box office, offices for staff, and shops to build sets and costumes. Other groups often rent out this amazing space too.
Who Leads the Show Now?
From 2007 to 2020, Del Surjik was the Artistic Director. He was originally from Saskatchewan. Before joining Persephone, he led another theatre company in Vancouver for 10 years.
In 2021, Heather Cant became the new Artistic Director. She was also born in Saskatchewan. Then, in 2022, Breanne Harmon joined as the Executive Director. She used to work at another theatre in Vancouver.
Today, Persephone Theatre puts on a full season of plays on its Main Stage. It also has a Youth Series on the second stage. They even take their youth tours all around the province! The Persephone School of Theatre offers classes and workshops. These are for kids, teens, adults who love theatre, and even professional actors.
