Theatre culture in kw

     There are cities in Ontario that have little to no theatre companies. Kitchener-Waterloo is not one of them. We are really lucky to have a community bubbling with so much talent. Down below, I've listened as a community, our strengths, weaknesses, and how to improve.

Our strengths:

• A plenitude of theatre companies
• No shortage of talented actors
• KW is incredibly full of creative, adventurous ideas

Asphalt Jungle Shorts 2012 - the audience watching a performance in Uptown Waterloo

    If you look really really carefully, there's always art happening in KW. Asphalt Jungle Shorts is an extremely creative production that performs every fall. It involves performing short plays in different outdoor and indoor locations in KW - all in one night. They were even thinking of having people stand on the rooftops in Kitchener and singing, to create the sensation of music washing over the city. Now how more creative can you get? The theatre company running that, Flush Ink Productions, also sends writers into creepy locations overnight, and they have until morning, on their own, to write a short play that is performed a week later in a performance called Unhinged.

     Our government also has paid positions where people work to strengthen the arts community in KW.

Our weaknesses:

• Artists aren't supporting each other enough
• We aren't making the general population take us seriously
• Not enough rehearsal space
• Not enough opportunities to audition for/see Shakespeare productions

    Unfortunately, the arts are still weakening from lack of funding (what's new?). Lost and Found Theatre, the only professional theatre company in the middle of KW, is severely struggling, The Clay and Glass Gallery and KW Symphony almost went bankrupt, and we've lost Theatre & Company.
     Not to mention losing the Kaufman Arts Studio. The Kaufman Arts Studio was started by Rachel Behling and her daughter, Bronte, a few years ago. They renovated an old building right by Charles Street Terminal into a cosy theatre, with a front sitting room full of bookcases and lots of tea. This small theatre provided all types of artists with an inexpensive place to gather together, and it really helped unite the whole arts community in KW. If it weren't for the Kaufman Studio, I myself probably wouldn't have found a chance to try community theatre, and theatre wouldn't have been a part of my life like it is now. This wonderful space was closed down in December 2012.

....Which brings me to my next point. There is a severe lack of rehearsal space in KW. The Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts has a rehearsal hall that costs $800 per day to rent. That's just not feasible when that alone is your revenue from ticket sales, and you're rehearsing from 2 weeks to 4 months, depending on the how.
    
    Most theatre companies anywhere either don't charge the actor, or they even pay the actor, but not in KW. Some youth theatre groups are charging kids $400 just to be in a production. This is a problem. Youth need to be able to gain the experience without having to pay an exorbitant amount of money. 


How to improve:

• We need to increase advertising, and better promote our art to the general public
• We need to band together as one huge, supportive arts community

     Art to many people is listening to mainstream music on the radio, or turning on the tv. We need to compete better with these forms of expression.  In order to thrive, actors and artists in KW need to band together as a collective group, in order to make resources and advice available to everyone, as well as have affordable rehearsal spaces for theatre groups to collaborate and rehearse. There needs to be a give and take with both theatre companies and the general public; if you guys support us and come see our shows, we'll generate the revenue and enthusiasm to build up our arts culture. We need to convince KW that our art is worth seeing (which it is).
    

          Theatre offers inexpensive entertainment. It is a great conversation piece after going out on a date or with friends.  Build your cultured taste, and go support your local theatre companies by seeing their shows.

       Don't forget, almost all of these companies and theatres have a fan page and/or a group on Facebook that will give you updates about shows coming up.  Facebook is usually more updated than their actual websites anyway.
Where to find productions to watch or audition for:
Musical Theatre:
Believe Musical Theatre Productions: http://www.believetheatre.com/
New Hamburg Community Players: http://thecommunityplayers.com/
KW Musical Productions: http://www.kwmp.ca/
Drayton Entertainment:  https://www.draytonentertainment.com/Online/default.asp
Singer's Theatre: http://thesingerstheatre.ca

If you're new to theatre, start here:
KW Youth Theatre: http://kwyouththeatre.com/
Growing in the Arts: http://www.growinginthearts.com/
JM Drama Youth Ensemble: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JM-Drama-Youth-Ensemble/142774295769093?fref=ts


If you have experience in theatre, look at these (as well as all the other companies):
Flush Ink Productions: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlushInk/?ref=ts&fref=ts
Standard Deviation Theatre: http://standarddeviationtheatre.wordpress.com/
KW Little Theatre: http://kwlt.org/index.php
Lost and Found Theatre: https://www.facebook.com/LostAndFoundTheatre
Lightning Banjo Productions: https://www.facebook.com/lightningbanjo

Places to see theatre for an affordable price (usually $10-$15):

The MT Space: http://www.mtspace.ca/venues/courtyard-bonnie-stuart-studio-space
Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts: http://kwsymphony.ca/conradcentre/
The Registry Theatre: http://www.registrytheatre.com/

Other centers for the arts:
The Button Factory: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Button-Factory-Waterloo-Community-Arts-Centre/139968309387419?fref=ts
Clay and Glass Gallery: http://www.theclayandglass.ca/
Waterloo Potter's Workshop: http://www.waterloopotters.ca/
Homer Watson Gallery: http://www.homerwatson.on.ca/
Chrysalids Theatre: https://www.facebook.com/TheChrysalids
Multicultural Cinema Club: http://www.theworkingcentre.org/multicultural-cinema-club/171

and much more....I haven't even covered music schools.

Images: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.10150860997777231&type=1

    Thanks to Alex and Anne Marie for their insight.