Workshop West’s 2023-24 Season
BORDERLANDS:
ENCOUNTERS ON OUTSKIRTS
Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre announces its 45th Mainstage Season: Borderlands - a cycle of fearless contemporary theatre about boundaries between truth and illusion, secrecy and discretion, crisis and opportunity.
It was a season about journeys into the unknown, the detours that take us to unexpected places, the maps that guide us, and the signs we encounter that mark our way.
Borderlands is about rendezvous in the unchartered wilderness of modern life. There will be psychological thrillers, poetic fables, syphers hidden in plain sight, provocation, connectivity, and the possibility of transcendence. Audiences joined us at the Gateway (8529 Gateway Boulevard) for an unforgettable series of adventures - all available from the safety and comfort of their theatre seats.
NOV 2ND – Nov 12th, 2023
MOB
by Catherine-Anne Toupin
translated by Chris Campbell
WWPT’s season opened with the Western Canadian Premiere of MOB by Catherine-Anne Toupin translated by Chris Campbell. Sophie has lost her job. Confused and hurt, she heads out of town looking for a way to assuage her rage and humiliation. Arriving at a remote B&B she is welcomed by Louise and her awkwardly charming nephew Martin. As it turns out, Martin and Sophie have a lot in common and quickly develop an unlikely connection. But in the borderlands, no one is quite what they appear to be. A brilliant new psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Jan 31st - Feb 4th, 2024
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE CHILD RULED BY FEAR
by David Gagnon Walker
Workshop West is thrilled to present THIS IS THE STORY OF THE CHILD RULED BY FEAR created by Strange Victory Performance - a whimsical fable about how to live with the slowly unfolding emergencies of our world. David Gagnon Walker has written a fantastical play for himself and a gathering of friends and strangers to read together out loud. It’s the story of the rise and fall of an imaginary civilization in an imaginary land. Created by a team of award-winning artists from across Canada, this unique immersive experience invites you to help tell a story about worry and wonder, loneliness, community, and the beauty of the unknown. You can participate according to your own comfort – read for a character, join the chorus, or sit back and watch.
March 25th – 31st, 2024
SPRINGBOARDS NEW PLAY
FESTIVAL
Sneak peaks at work by an array of exciting Canadian Playwrights
SPRINGBOARDS invites audiences to get up close and personal with the creative process. This small-scale festival features staged readings of plays in development presented in a laid-back cabaret setting with just enough sound, light and staging light imaginations on fire. It’s an invitation to become part of the artistic process, and a testament to the power of a roomful of people discovering a story together.
Expect an exciting convergence of Edmonton theatre artists, readings, talk-backs, discussions, and cabarets that preview the electrifying Canadian theatre of tomorrow.
May 15th – June 2nd, 2024
DEAD LETTER
by Conni Massing
The season closes with the World Premiere of DEAD LETTER, where we meet Amy, who has noticed some disturbing occurrences in her apartment complex. Socks are missing from the dryer. Tupperware lids have disappeared. A dead letter, years old, arrives in the mail. Despite the protestations of those around her, Amy obsessively investigates the incidents, sure there’s a cosmic connection between them. Turns out she may be right – these mundane mysteries are indeed much more than happenstance. This charmingly mischievous play offers the possibility that hidden meaning is everywhere.
Special Extra Presentation
March 2nd and 3rd @ the Walterdale Theatre
THE SHOE PROJECT
Presented in partnership with
SkirtsAfire Festival
Whether selected by choice or imposed by circumstance the shoes we wear can make or break a journey, shape our experiences, and open doors to our future. The Shoe Project 2023 is Edmonton’s third live iteration of this compelling project that amplifies the voices of Canadian immigrant and refugee women through storytelling. Produced in partnership with SkirtsAfire Festival, a group of immigrant and refugee women will work with veteran Canadian playwright Conni Massing to write stories of their arrival and adaptation to Canada centred around a pair of shoes they have worn. After receiving voice and performance coaching the women share their stories in front of live audiences.
