The media sometimes paints a contradictory picture of the performing arts industry. Some organizations report growing audience numbers. Others slash budgets or close doors.
St. Albert’s own Cultural CafĂ© is partnering with the International Children’s Festival to host a panel discussion on Theatre for Young Audiences on Thursday, May 29 at the St. Albert Curling Club.
Four theatre-based panel members will hash out the pros and cons of presenting, touring, creating and producing theatre for young audiences.
“We’ve had this idea kicking around for a while. There’s a lot of demand to bring TYA into the community and with so many artists from around the world, it seemed a good time,” said Caitlin North, the Arden Theatre’ professional programming presenter.
Edmonton-based Tracy Carroll hosts this Cultural Café. Panel participants are author-playwright Marty Chan, Toronto playwright-author Emil Sher and Lenard Stanga of Vancouver-based Pangea Arts, creator of Stories on Wheels. A member of Compagnie les Voisins, creators of the French production Queen of Colors, will also present their international point of view.
“They all work toward some collective demographic, but do different work and represent a different perspective. They share a common goal with a wide array of experiences,” North said.
She added that the discussion would touch on different challenges in creating shows, new approaches to production, how changes in education are factoring into newly created works, and why fewer children’s festivals are operating.
Doors open at 4 p.m. The panel starts at 4:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. To register, contact Erica Tagert at 780-1692 or email her at [email protected].
