Red Deer Theatres

Costs kill Bard on Bower

The high cost of using the outdoor stage at Bower Ponds has killed plans for this summer’s Bard on Bower Shakespearean festival, says the organizer.

Prime Stock Theatre’s artistic director, Thomas Usher, announced “with sad regret” on Tuesday that the company will not be staging Taming of the Shrew and MacBeth at Bower Ponds this year.

Although all 23 actors and production teams were in place for the two plays to go ahead this July and August, Usher said he had to cancel the 2011 Bard on Bower season due to the “unfortunate” cost of more than $7,000 for use of the outdoor civic stage at Bower Ponds over three weeks.

“While appreciating that city managers made allowances to support the event, it was not enough to encourage continued progress towards mounting the annual festival,” said Usher in a press release.

The cost of the using the stage, which was reconstructed after flooding several years ago, he added, “remains out of reach.”

This means Bower Ponds will not see the return of live summer theatre until the summer of 2012, said Usher.

That’s when Prime Stock plans to proceed, after more fundraising, with the same Shakespearean comedy and tragedy that was planned for this summer.

Usher added the cost of mounting live arts in Red Deer “remains a daunting challenge for groups large and small.”

While he appreciates the support of local businesses, other theatre groups, volunteers and local schools, he said he hopes “in the future that the city can make a larger effort to match the contribution made by its citizens.”

This is the second time in a couple of months that a local arts leader has suggested the city should be doing more to help cultivate local arts and culture.

Ignition Theatre’s artistic director Matt Grue previously questioned why the City of Red Deer, which celebrated the city’s Culture Capital designation a few years ago, didn’t do more to support The Matchbox theatre before its closure.

While the owners of The Matchbox received some provincial grants, none came directly from the city.

City officials could not be reached for comment late on Tuesday.

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Red Deer College: Summer School of the Arts

Series Summer School of the Arts at Red Deer College

RDC invites you to participate in a fabulous art experience this summer. With some of the best facilities in the country and incredible instructors from across the globe, Series is an experience like no other. And it’s not just about classes! We’ve got plenty of other events planned, including demos, dinners, receptions, evening model sessions and more. So take a week for yourself and let your creative juices flow – you deserve it! Our program includes classes in glassblowing, ceramics, painting, drawing, animation, flameworking, welding, bronze casting, mold making, polymer clay, jewellery, felting, calligraphy, photography, and more. New this year: cooking classes! We’ve recently opened the doors on a new, state-of-the-art professional cooking facility and are offering themed weekend workshops in July.

Theatre design and technology

Expanding The New Audience for Theatre, Vol. II

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Discovering a New Audience for Theatre

Cumberland's British theatre, with remarks, biographical & critical. Printed from the acting copies, as performed at the Theatres royal, London...