The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company ("The Playhouse") was a regional theatre company, producing plays since 1962. Its first production was '' The Hostage'' by

Brendan Behan Brendan Francis Aidan Behan (christened Francis Behan) ( ; ga, Breandán Ó Beacháin; 9 February 1923 – 20 March 1964) was an Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, playwright, and Irish Republican activist who wrote in both English an ...

, which opened on October 2, 1963. The company performed out of the Vancouver Playhouse, a civic theatre in Vancouver’s downtown core (at Hamilton and Dunsmuir), which is also home to the

Vancouver Recital Society The Vancouver Recital Society is one of Vancouver’s major presenters of classical and chamber music, offering a platform for fans to see new and established high-profile performers. Concerts have taken place in the Orpheum Theatre, the Chan Cent ...

and the Friends of Chamber Music. Citing financial difficulties, the company announced that it would cease operations on March 10, 2012

Company activities

At the time of its closure, The Playhouse was presenting a five-play "Mainstage" season that ran October through May, smaller-scale productions and play readings at alternate venues, and special productions for young audiences. Productions generally ran for three to four weeks, with some matinees for students, seniors, and the disadvantaged. Some productions were preceded by guest speakers, known as "Salon Saturdays", with others followed by moderated "talkbacks" . The Playhouse also had an education and outreach program. The company often partnered with the

Studio 58 Studio 58 is the professional Drama school, theatre training school at Langara College in Vancouver, British Columbia. The school offers a three-year diploma program for acting students and a three-year diploma program for production students. A ...

theatre and production program to apprentice students and graduates.

Funding

A major fundraiser for the company was the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, which was first produced as a single-winery event in 1979. In 2011, following ''in-camera'' deliberations by the

Vancouver City Council Vancouver City Council is the governing body of Vancouver, British Columbia. The council consists of a mayor and ten councillors elected to serve a four-year term. Monthly, a deputy mayor is appointed from among the councillors. The current may ...

, Vancouver provided the company with a complex bailout of approximately $1 million. The information regarding the bailout was the result of a leak from Vancouver city hall, following which the city posted the relevant documents on-line. In response to negative reaction, artistic director Max Reimer defended the city's action on the Playhouse's website.

Artistic Directors

The company had many prominent Canadian directors serve as Artistic Directors over the years including

Christopher Newton Christopher Newton (11 June 1936 – 20 December 2021) was a Canadian director and actor, who served as artistic director of the Shaw Festival from 1980 to 2002. Early life and education Newton was born in Deal, Kent, England and educated at ...

Joy Coghill Joy Dorothy Coghill-Thorne, CM, (May 13, 1926 – January 20, 2017) was a Canadian actress, director, and writer. Her obituary in ''The Vancouver Sun'' described her as having had "a seven-decade run at the top of the Vancouver theatre world." ...

and

Walter Learning Walter John Learning (November 16, 1938 – January 5, 2020) was a Canadian theatre director, actor, and founder of Theatre New Brunswick. Biography Walter Learning was born in 1938 in the small village of Quidi Vidi in the Dominion of Newfound ...

. The Artistic Managing Director at the time of the company's closure was Max Reimer, who joined the Playhouse in July 2008. The following individuals served as Artistic Director: *Max Reimer (2008–2012) *Glynis Leyshon (1997-2008) *Susan Cox (1993-1997) *Larry Lillo (1988-1992) *

Guy Sprung Guy Sprung is a film and theatre director born in Ottawa in 1947. He lives in the Mile End area of Montreal and was the artistic director of Infinitheatre for 22 years. He retired and was succeeded by Zach Fraser in March 2021. Career Guy Sprung ...

(1987-1988) *

(1982-1987) *

Roger Hodgman Roger Hodgman (born 1 December 1943) is an Australian stage and television director. He was educated at the Hutchins School and the University of Tasmania, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science in 1966, an ...

(1979-1981) *

(1973-1979) *

Paxton Whitehead Francis Edward Paxton Whitehead (born 17 October 1937) is an English actor, theatre director and playwright. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Acto ...

(1971-1973) *David Gardner (1969-1971) *

(1967-1969) *Malcolm Black (1964-1967) *Michael Johnston (1963-1964)

Production history

References

External links

* Playhouse Theatre Compan
official website

Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

Entry on Playhouse Theatre Company
''The Canadian Encyclopedia''

{{authority control Theatre companies in British Columbia 1962 establishments in British Columbia Theatre in Vancouver Performing groups established in 1962