Persephone Theatre is a regional theatre company in

Saskatoon Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway, and has served as th ...

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a province in western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dak ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. The company was founded in 1974 by director Brian Richmond and sisters

Janet Wright Janet Wright (March 8, 1945 – November 14, 2016) was an English-born Canadian actress and theatre director. She was best known for her role as Emma Leroy on the Canadian sitcom, ''Corner Gas''. She performed in many film and television shows, a ...

and Susan Wright and named after the Greek goddess Persephone. The first season performances were held at the

Mendel Art Gallery The Mendel Art Gallery was a major creative cultural centre in City Park, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Operating from 1964 to 2015, it housed a permanent collection of more than 7,500 works of art. The gallery was managed by the city-owned Saskatoon G ...

, with the second season at the

University of Saskatchewan A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, ...

's Greystone Theatre and the third season at the St. Thomas Wesley Church hall. After a number of short-term Artistic Directors, in 1982 Hungarian-born Tibor Feheregyhazi was named to the position. In 1983, the theatre moved into the vacated Westgate Alliance Church. In 2007, after a successful capital campaign, Persephone Theatre moved to its current facility, the

Remai Arts Centre Frank & Ellen Remai Arts Centre is a performing arts centre in the River Landing area of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The centre is owned by and the main venue for the Persephone Theatre. Constructed in 2007 at a cost of $11 Million Canadian, ...

River Landing River Landing is an ongoing redevelopment district in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan that will create a commercial/cultural development along the bank of the South Saskatchewan River in downtown Saskatoon. River Landing is divided into two phases. The f ...

. Shortly before the move, Tibor Feheregyhazi died after a lengthy battle with cancer. The Remai Arts Centre facility, located on the riverbank in downtown Saskatoon, includes a 421-seat proscenium Main Stage, a 150-seat black box second stage (the Backstage Stage), two classrooms, and two rehearsal halls, as well as box office, administrative offices, a scene shop, costume shop, and storage. The facility is often rented by other cultural groups, and for corporate and private events. Current artistic director Del Surjik took the helm in fall 2007. Originally from Saskatchewan, Surjik relocated from Vancouver, British Columbia, where he had been artistic director of Pi Theatre for 10 years. Persephone Theatre now runs a full season of Mainstage productions, second stage or "Deep End" productions, youth presentations, youth touring, and adult touring. The Persephone School of Theatre provides workshops and classes for children, youth, adult amateurs and theatre professionals. EH2009 Persephone Theatre

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External links

* {{authority control 1974 establishments in Saskatchewan Culture of Saskatoon Theatre companies in Saskatchewan Tourist attractions in Saskatoon