In conversation with Wayne Ayling – GPLT General Manager
What’s one thing that audiences should know about Grande Prairie Live Theatre?
GPLT has many different services to offer our patrons and our community. In addition to the 7 plays produced and performed by our nearly 300 volunteers, we help many community groups and individuals by providing them with access to the two theatre venues that we manage, our costumes, props, set pieces, event ticketing, and anything else they might need for their events. We also offer live theatre camps for youth and produce a season of roots, blues, folk and indie concerts.
What’s one thing theatre practitioners should know about GPLT?
The volunteers of GPLT produce brand new plays or scripts from Canadian playwrights such as this season’s production of The Swearing Jar by Kate Hewlett. They don’t shy scripts that deal with tough, edgy topics. Some examples of shows with difficult themes that we’ve tackled include our 2017 production of The White Rose by Lillian Garrett-Groag and our recent production of The Hours That Remain by Keith Barker.
What makes GPLT unique?
We provide a huge variety of theatre, events, and other services to people in our community and in our region.
What’s your company philosophy?
GPLT’s goal is to be a community resource for adults and youth who want to participate in theatre, for the regional audience looking for entertainment, and for other groups looking for help with their creative projects.
What is GPLT working on right now?
We are currently putting the finishing touches on our next production, the world premiere of Bureaucrazy by Kate Danley. It will run from November 28 to December 14.
Our Play Selection Committee has started the search for plays for our 58th season. They read many plays, ask for suggestions from the theatre community and ask for directors to submit their play proposals. The 2020-2021 season will be announced in May, 2020.
What are some upcoming projects the GPLT team is excited about?
We are in our second year of managing Grande Prairie’s newest live theatre, the 304 seat Performing Arts Theatre attached to the St. John Paul II Catholic School. Running this new venue as a community resource has added greatly to our entertainment landscape. Community bookings have doubled in our second year of providing this service.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GRANDE PRAIRIE LIVE THEATRE
