Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company
Encyclopedia
The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company
("The Playhouse") is a regional theatre company, producing plays since 1962. Its first production was The Hostage
by Brendan Behan
, which opened on October 2, 1963. The company performs out of the Vancouver Playhouse
, a civic theatre in Vancouver’s downtown core (at Hamilton and Dunsmuir), which is also home to the Vancouver Recital Society
and the Friends of Chamber Music.
theatre and production program to apprentice students and graduates.
In 2011, following in-camera deliberations by the Vancouver City Council
, Vancouver provided the company with a complex bailout of approximately $1 million. The information regarding the bailout was the result of a leak from Vancouver city hall, following which the city posted the relevant documents on-line. In response to negative reaction, artistic director Max Reimer defended the city's action on the Playhouse's website.
, Joy Coghill
and Walter Learning
. The current Artistic Managing Director is Max Reimer, who joined the Playhouse in July 2008. The following individuals have served as artistic director:
Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company
The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company is a regional theatre company, producing plays since 1962. Its first production was The Hostage by Brendan Behan, which opened on October 2, 1963...
("The Playhouse") is a regional theatre company, producing plays since 1962. Its first production was The Hostage
The Hostage (play)
The Hostage is a loose 1958 English version, with songs, adapted in a much longer text from a one-act Irish language play An Giall, by its author, Brendan Behan.-Plot:...
by Brendan Behan
Brendan Behan
Brendan Francis Behan was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English. He was also an Irish republican and a volunteer in the Irish Republican Army.-Early life:...
, which opened on October 2, 1963. The company performs out of the Vancouver Playhouse
Vancouver Playhouse (theatre venue)
The Vancouver Playhouse is a civic theatre venue in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by the City of Vancouver and overseen by its Civic Theatres Board, the venue is situated at the corner of Hamilton and Dunsmuir and seats 668...
, a civic theatre in Vancouver’s downtown core (at Hamilton and Dunsmuir), which is also home to the Vancouver Recital Society
Vancouver Recital Society
The Vancouver Recital Society is one of Vancouver’s major presenters of classical and chamber music, offering a platform for fans to see both new and established, high profile talent perform in the best venues in Vancouver....
and the Friends of Chamber Music.
Company activities
The Playhouse presents a five-play "Mainstage" season that runs October through May, smaller-scale productions and play readings at alternate venues, and special productions for young audiences. Productions generally run for three to four weeks, with some matinees for students, seniors, and the disadvantaged. Some productions are preceded by guest speakers, known as "Salon Saturdays", with others followed by moderated "talkbacks" . The Playhouse also has an education and outreach program. The Playhouse often partners with the Studio 58Studio 58
Studio 58 is an intensive theatre school located in Vancouver, British Columbia. A part of Langara College's Theatre Arts Program, the school offers professional theatre training for actors and production personnel. It is the only conservatory-style theatre training program in Western Canada...
theatre and production program to apprentice students and graduates.
Funding
A major fundraiser for the company is the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, which was first produced as a single-winery event in 1979.In 2011, following in-camera deliberations by the Vancouver City Council
Vancouver City Council
Vancouver City Council is the governing body of the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.The city is governed by the Vancouver Charter, not the Community Charter and the Local Government Act which are used for other municipal governments...
, Vancouver provided the company with a complex bailout of approximately $1 million. The information regarding the bailout was the result of a leak from Vancouver city hall, following which the city posted the relevant documents on-line. In response to negative reaction, artistic director Max Reimer defended the city's action on the Playhouse's website.
Artistic Directors
The company has had many prominent Canadian directors serve as artistic directors over the years including Christopher NewtonChristopher Newton
Christopher Newton is a Canadian director and actor and served as Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival from 1980-2002.Newton was born in England and educated at Sir Roger Manwood's School in Kent, the University of Leeds, Purdue University in Indiana and the University of Illinois, where he...
, Joy Coghill
Joy Coghill
Joy Coghill, O.C., is a Canadian actor, director, and writer.She and Myra Benson founded Canada's first children's theatre company, Holiday Theatre. In 1994, Coghill founded Western Gold, a theatre company for older professional actors. She holds honorary degrees from SFU and UBC...
and Walter Learning
Walter Learning
Walter John Learning is a Canadian theatre director, actor, and founder of Theatre New Brunswick.-Biography:Walter Learning was born in 1938 in the small village of Quidi Vidi in Newfoundland. Learning attended Bishop Feild College in St. John's and the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton,...
. The current Artistic Managing Director is Max Reimer, who joined the Playhouse in July 2008. The following individuals have served as artistic director:
- Max Reimer (2008-present)
- Glynis Leyshon (1997-2008)
- Susan Cox (1993-1997)
- Larry Lillo (1988-1992)
- Guy SprungGuy SprungGuy Sprung is a director of film and theatre born in Ottawa in 1947. Having worked all over the world, he now lives in the Mile End area of Montreal and is the Artistic Director of Infinitheatre....
(1987-1988) - Walter LearningWalter LearningWalter John Learning is a Canadian theatre director, actor, and founder of Theatre New Brunswick.-Biography:Walter Learning was born in 1938 in the small village of Quidi Vidi in Newfoundland. Learning attended Bishop Feild College in St. John's and the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton,...
(1982-1987) - Roger Hodgman (1979-1981)
- Christopher NewtonChristopher NewtonChristopher Newton is a Canadian director and actor and served as Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival from 1980-2002.Newton was born in England and educated at Sir Roger Manwood's School in Kent, the University of Leeds, Purdue University in Indiana and the University of Illinois, where he...
(1973-1979) - Paxton WhiteheadPaxton WhiteheadPaxton Whitehead is a British actor who made his professional debut in 1956. Whitehead is best known to American movie audiences as Professor Phillip Barbay in the 1986 comedy film Back to School.-Early years:...
(1971-1973) - David GardnerDavid GardnerDavid Gardner is one of the three founders of The Motley Fool, established in 1993.He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Morehead-Cain Scholarship, graduating in 1988. He was a writer for Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street newsletter before joining the Motley Fool...
(1969-1971) - Joy CoghillJoy CoghillJoy Coghill, O.C., is a Canadian actor, director, and writer.She and Myra Benson founded Canada's first children's theatre company, Holiday Theatre. In 1994, Coghill founded Western Gold, a theatre company for older professional actors. She holds honorary degrees from SFU and UBC...
(1967-1969) - Malcolm Black (1964-1967)
- Michael JohnstonMichael JohnstonMichael Johnston may refer to:* Michael Johnston , Colorado State Senator* Michael Johnston , Welsh footballer who used to play for Tranmere Rovers* Mike Johnston baseball player...
(1963-1964)
External links
- Playhouse Theatre Company official website
- Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival
- Entry on Playhouse Theatre Company at The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Vancouver Playhouse (civic theatre venue)