A WORD FROM OUR ARTISTIC PRODUCER & AUDIENCE SURVEY

We are in a time of great uncertainty. Our lives and our communities have been disrupted by forces beyond anyone’s control. We’ve found ourselves forced to live day-to-day not knowing what the next week or next month will bring.

March seems like a lifetime ago. June another eternity in the future…

Much of our city, our province, and our world finds itself on pause. In a variety of ways, we’ve all had to hit the breaks and put our plans on hold. We’ve already begun to think of the world in terms of before and after Covid-19. We find ourselves living a defining moment in human history. Certainly, a turning point, both an ending and a beginning. 

In this time of suspension, we’ve been busy at WWPT watching closely and planning for the scenarios that may play out in the weeks and months to ahead.

In these uncertain times, it has become important to take stock of what we know for certain.  

We know for certain that Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre will remain committed to developing, producing and presenting new Canadian playwrights and their plays and and providing educational opportunities to Edmonton’s diverse communities, and eventually we hope, throughout Alberta. We know for certain that in 2020-21 we will offer a series of exciting opportunities for Edmonton writers including playwrights’ groups, residencies, and classes. We know for certain that we will be developing work by Edmonton writers throughout the coming year via dramaturgical consultations, script development workshops and public readings. We know that we will open our doors, virtually if not in person, to creatives in Edmonton to access our help to develop new works cultivating innovation in our province. We know that we will reach out to connect with underserved communities and link them with Edmonton audiences. And we know that we will present a new festival that connects Edmonton writers to Edmonton audiences to beta test their scripts with audiences in attendance.

We also know the harsh truth that depending on government health regulations, we may offer public presentations beginning in October, or in January or not at all. It is simply heart-breaking reality that we do not know and that we do not know when we will. In this time of uncertainty, we are focusing on what we do know, and we are trying to lengthen that list and use it as the foundation build for the future.

We are grateful for what we know. What are you most certain about in this uncertain time?

Audience Survey

Below you’ll find a link to a survey with a few quick questions about that factors that might determine your attendance at the theatre after ‘re-opening’. Your feedback is invaluable to us.

I invite you to share your responses to 8 quick questions to help us become more certain for what 2020-21 may look like.

In the meantime WWPT’s doors are still open, virtually, so please do not hesitate to reach out call or email myself (ap@workshopwest.org) or our Operations Manager, Milane (operations@workshopwest.org), with questions and comments.

Until we meet together in person again, stay safe and healthy.

~Heather Inglis