I've had a lot of interesting conversations over the past few weeks with my colleagues and partners in the arts community of Prince George. One of my favourite and most thought-provoking topics is about the intersection of arts and community - that is, whether we bring arts to the community, or bring community to the arts. Last week I had a long chat with Jack Grinhaus, Artistic Director of Theatre NorthWest. What a fascinating and articulate individual! It was interesting to learn that we are both from Toronto, and to also share on our individual journeys to our new home city of Prince George.
I was especially interested in finding out from Jack how it is to be leading our region's only professional theatre company, coming from a metropolitan centre like Toronto where there is hot competition for theatre-going dollars. I was interested to hear about his experience of being responsible for one of the city's largest cultural assets, and how he keeps the concept of "community" alive in an organization that has been a huge part of our cultural landscape since 1994.
Theatre NorthWest works hard to ensure that its productions are a match for the local community. First, it provides really affordable tickets, which is I think is so important for a city that promotes itself as an affordable place for families to own homes and still enjoy full and active lifestyles. That language is almost part of the DNA of Prince George, and this was something that Jack recognized in our chat by mentioning that their ticket prices for professional theatrical productions are amongst the lowest in the country.
Theatre NorthWest also has a unique perspective on programming. There is always an interesting mix of themes and stories that appeal to a broad regional audience, but yet still present an opportunity for people to be challenged and prompted to perhaps look at the world a little bit differently for a couple of hours.
Take for example their upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland. A classic tale both in literature and of the big screen, Theatre NorthWest will be taking an innovative look at the story through some really unique costume design and casting strategies, and will feature a multicultural cast. You can bet that this approach will get people talking, which really is one of theatre's primary goals, beyond that of simply entertaining audiences.
Jack and I also had a lengthy chat about the role that the performing arts have on engaging young people. We talked about ways we can create awareness for parents that theatre is ultimately about communication, in that it doesn't matter how many material advantages that one has, if you can't communicate your ideas well, success in life will come with challenges. Engaging with live theatre allows one to learn to be empathetic and to have a human experience, which is something that is becoming increasingly rare in the age of communicating predominantly through online and social media platforms. As both an artistic director and consumer of theatre himself, Jack believes that the benefit of sharing a human experience in a live environment is an opportunity that people shouldn't miss out on. That the therapeutic experience of "purging" vicariously through the action unfolding on stage is worth every penny spent on tickets.
This is one of the reasons why Theatre NorthWest offers family and flex passes, and plenty of opportunities for people to volunteer and get involved with their process. There are also amazing, and very affordable, opportunities for businesses to get involved through sponsorships - and if you look at how many people Theatre NorthWest reaches in one season, it's a no-brainer that sponsoring this company is one of the best bangs around town for your advertising dollar.
So if you have never experienced live theatre, or you have been absent from Theatre NorthWest for a while, or if you are a parent looking for a new way to introduce your children to an experience that will expand their horizons, please do check out Theatre NorthWest's current season lineup. Parents can also talk to their child's school about taking advantage of the theatre's matinee tours and talks that provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at how a play is brought to life.
For more information on Theatre NorthWest please visit www.theatrenorthwest.com or call 250-563-6969.
