Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company facts for kids
| Formation | 1962 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Location | |
|
Artistic director(s)
|
Max Reimer |
| Website | vancouverplayhouse.com |
The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, often called "The Playhouse", was a theatre group in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This company created and performed plays for many years, starting in 1962. Their very first play was The Hostage by Brendan Behan, which opened on October 2, 1963.
The Playhouse company performed at the Vancouver Playhouse building. This is a public theatre located in downtown Vancouver. Other groups like the Vancouver Recital Society also use this building. Sadly, the company announced on March 10, 2012, that it would close down because it was having money problems.
Contents
What The Playhouse Did
The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company was busy with many activities before it closed.
Mainstage Plays
The company put on a "Mainstage" season each year. This usually involved five different plays. These shows ran from October through May.
Other Shows and Programs
Besides the main plays, The Playhouse also had smaller shows. They would do play readings in other locations. They also created special plays just for young audiences. Most plays ran for about three to four weeks. Some shows had special daytime performances for students, seniors, and people who might not usually get to see plays.
The company also had special events for the audience. Sometimes, guest speakers would talk about the plays. After some shows, there were "talkbacks" where people could discuss the play. The Playhouse also had programs to teach people about theatre. They often worked with Studio 58, a theatre school, to help students learn about acting and production.
How The Playhouse Got Money
Like many theatre groups, The Playhouse needed money to put on its shows.
Wine Festival Fundraiser
A big way the company raised money was through the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival. This event started in 1979 as a small gathering. It grew into a large festival that helped support the theatre company.
City Support
In 2011, the Vancouver City Council helped the company with about $1 million. This money was given to help The Playhouse continue its work. The city later shared information about this support online. Max Reimer, who was the artistic director at the time, explained why the company needed this help on their website.
Leaders of The Playhouse
Many talented people led The Playhouse as Artistic Directors over the years. These directors helped decide which plays to perform and guided the creative vision of the company. Some famous Canadian directors, like Christopher Newton and Joy Coghill, were among them.
Max Reimer was the Artistic Managing Director when the company closed. He started working with The Playhouse in July 2008.
Here is a list of the people who served as Artistic Director:
- Max Reimer (2008–2012)
- Glynis Leyshon (1997-2008)
- Susan Cox (1993-1997)
- Larry Lillo (1988-1992)
- Guy Sprung (1987-1988)
- Walter Learning (1982-1987)
- Roger Hodgman (1979-1981)
- Christopher Newton (1973-1979)
- Paxton Whitehead (1971-1973)
- David Gardner (1969-1971)
- Joy Coghill (1967-1969)
- Malcolm Black (1964-1967)
- Michael Johnston (1963-1964)
