Category Archives: News

“probably the most vital social conversation happening in our city, if not the entire country.” – The Uniter’s Thomas Pashko on Reservations It was a three-year journey to bringing Reservations to the stage and along with our gratitude for such a passionate artistic team, we have many people to thank for this amazing experience. We […]

We are so pleased to welcome the very talented and accomplished Emma Tibaldo. We’re feeling pretty lucky to have snagged her from her busy schedule of theatre-making in Montreal! She co-directs Reservations alongside Winnipeg-based artist and educator, Ian Ross. Read on to learn more about Emma’s work, passion for new plays, and punk music. Your […]

Check out this sweet sound byte from an interview CBC’s Terry MacLeod did with Reservations playwright Steven Ratzlaff, co-Director Ian Ross, and Music and Sound Designer Andrew Balfour. The interview aired on CBC Radio the morning of Saturday, March 5- but you can listen to it right now! Reservations runs March 10 to 20 at […]

We are delighted to introduce the TPM audience to Andrew Balfour, the Music and Sound Designer for Reservations. His accomplishments are numerous. Of Cree descent, Balfour has written a body of more than 40 choral, instrumental and orchestral works. He is also the founder and Artistic Director of Camerata Nova ,where he specializes in creating […]

Preparations for Reservations are in full swing now that the creative team has entered the rehearsal hall. The show runs March 10 to 20th at the Rachel Browne Theatre. Tickets are available right here (or look in the sidebar to your left!) or by calling 204-989-2400. An outstanding team of Canadian artists will bring Reservations […]

For patrons who have been with TPM for a long time, Steven Ratlaff’s work will be familiar to you. For those of you who are new to TPM, you may not know that Reservations is the third of Ratzlaff’s plays we have had the pleasure of presenting. In 2010 we presented the premier of Ratlaff’s […]

On the heels of closing Encounters, we’re chomping at the bit for more new work! In the spirit of budding theatre-makers, such as Sydney Hayduk and Fraz Wiest of Encounters, we’re presenting two exciting projects at this Salon. First, we have a fascinating improv format called 50/50 from Montreal Improv brought to us by RobYn […]

We heart our intrepid Encounters performers in a serious way. Syd Hayduk of Village Ax and Fraz Wiest of FRAZ Vs. The Future have captured our hearts and imaginations with their intelligent, quirky and touching forms of expression- we can’t get enough! We picked their brains this weekend about their artistic experiences, social media and […]

Why ‘Encounters’? After some of the performances we will have what more traditional theatre calls “talk backs”. Our intrepid writer/performers are interested in doing something “with” the audience. “Talk Withs” may be a better way of describing it. Sydney, Elsa and Fraz would like to talk, laugh and share ideas with our patrons. There will […]

 “These plays have big beating hearts. Fear. Hope. Courage. Anger. But ultimately, there is love in them. And so much laughter.” We’re gearing up around here and it has nothing to do with trees, candles or wrapping paper!  TPM ENCOUNTERS: Fraz Vs. The Future and Village Ax opens January 7th and we’re starting to feel […]

PLEASE NOTE WE HAVE A NEW LOCATION FOR THIS SALON – at TIMES CHANGED HIGH & LONESOME CLUB – 234 MAIN STREET! Date: Monday November 3oth Doors open for eats and drinks at 6:00pm Program begins at 7:00pm Musical guests Omar Khan and Claire Thérèse, Michelle Boulet and Sarah Constible, and Raine Hamilton! New work […]

This week we are shining the spotlight on Heather Russell, playing Anna in Iceland. When we spoke with Heather, she shared her passion for Bouffon, fossils and the Settlers of Catan, and her thoughts on ICELAND’s monologue form. TPM:  You are also part of local buffoon/clown troupe, the Talentless Lumps? What draws you to buffoon/clown […]

This week we are shining the spotlight on Laura Olafson, playing Kassandra in Iceland. This is Laura’s first appearance with TPM, and we are sure you will agree that she is a fantastic addition to our family of artists. Laura chatted with us about her time in (the country) Iceland and why she considers herself […]

Our next featured artist is Omar Alex Khan, playing the role of Halim in Iceland. Omar has appeared with TPM in the zone41 co-production of Three Sisters, presented in 2011. We had a chance to ask Omar about his career, his passions and his experience with full frontal nudity (!). You did a show with Toronto’s […]

Meet Linda Beech and Joseph Abetria! As we approach opening night of Iceland (November 5!), we would like to introduce our audience to the talented artists handpicked to bring this production to life. Linda, our set designer, is an artist celebrated for her large scale sculpture and installations. Two of her most well-known projects are […]

New to TPM? Welcome to our monthly cabaret night, the TPM Salon! These events are popular with artists and audiences alike.  Every month, emerging and established artists come together with audiences in a cabaret setting to explore the playwrights and themes of our season.  Music, song, dance and theatre! THIS MONTH’S SALON: September 28th, 7pm […]

Artistic Director Ardith Boxall and General Manager Rea Kavanagh are pleased to announce Theatre Projects Manitoba’s 2015/16 season. Buoyed by the success of last year’s three show season, TPM proudly returns with fall, winter and spring offerings! Featuring the world premiere of a timely drama about children and land, an award winning play about greed, […]

As we continue our profiles of I Dream of Diesel artists, we are delighted to present Arne Macpherson and Justin Otto. Arne plays Frank and Justin plays his son, Joe. Arne -How did you first get involved in theatre? My life in the theatre really started in earnest when I moved to Winnipeg in the […]

“The way I work is that I always say yes and then figure out how to do it. I’m never afraid to say yes and problem-solve.” The curtain rises tonight on I Dream of Diesel! The Winnipeg Free Press printed a lovely preview article about the show that gives a great profile of Diesel director/co-creator- and […]

How did you first get involved in theatre? I was failing pre-calculus math (for the second time) and my father said, “If you can get into something else, like theatre, you can drop math class.” So I randomly auditioned for PTE’s Young Company and they took a chance on me.  I’ve avoided math ever since! What […]

We are so tickled to present One Trunk Theatre’s I Dream of Diesel, we just have to gush more about the artists! Today we introduce you to the lovely Karl Thordarson, who plays Diesel’s Danny. How did you first become involved in theatre? I’m not the only one who I’ve heard say this, but it […]

We asked local theatre artist and educator extraodinaire, Pauline Broderick, to have a chat with I Dream of Diesel director and co-creator, Andraea Sartison (pictured left). Pauline is a veteran drama educator who is delighted to get to ask questions of a new generation of experimental theatre artists. She is part of the design team […]

Join us at the TPM Salon on Monday February 23rd Doors open for drinks and food at 6:00pm. We go live at 7:00pm. A sampling of Ross McMillan’s Winnipeg plays rescued from the CBC radio vault! Never before heard by a live audience…..or seen! You will hear them first! These short plays require nimble performances […]

“Some have called him noteworthy, even acclaimed – but the smart money cites Nolan as a voice rarely heard this side of the century, a musician who shrugs away any five-dollar-cover singer-songwriter motifs before he unsnaps his guitar case. His are the songs sung for people with a past, sturdily backlit with unswerving musicianship and […]

Come celebrate 2015 and the power of the solo playwright! Having closed the fascinating and powerful White Rabbit Red Rabbit, many of the artists and audience members feel compelled to continue discussing this bold theatrical experiment. We have invited a number of the actors who performed White Rabbit to engage a panel discussion with the […]

We gathered as many rabbits as we could into a room with videographer Leif Norman and asked them two questions about White Rabbit Red Rabbit. He compiled the interviews into a short video for the show- the results are adorable and hilarious. Check out the video here, be delighted, and feel free to share the […]

White Rabbit Red Rabbit is a  unique show for many reasons, not the least of which is that a different performer takes the stage every night- for one night only! What if you want to see more than one of your favourite local performers take the stage? Recognizing that different performers at each show means […]

White Rabbit, Red Rabbit Trailer from Aurora Nova on Vimeo. Winnipeg Foundation communications officer and TPM board member, Stacy Cardigan-Smith, conducted an interview with Ardith about our upcoming production of White Rabbit Red Rabbit for the Community News Commons. Here is what they chatted about! Why did you decide to bring the White Rabbit Red […]

Come warm your icy toes and hearts with hot blasts from the past and sassy tunes! Music will be provided by the FuFu ChiChi Choir, pictured left, who brought you such hits as “Seven Ducklings and a Toad”, “Miracle (The Nun Massacre)”, “Little George” and “Hooker on My Corner”. How festive! There will be readings […]

We love inviting local photographer extraordinaire Leif Norman into the theatre before our shows open! He uses his camera wizardry to take snazzy footage and snip it all together into a sassy promo video. Check out his latest for Proud! Don’t forget to get your tickets if you haven’t already. Buy online or call us […]

Join us for the second Theatre Salon of the season! This month we are exploring the Michael Healey canon as we approach the opening of Proud on November 6th. Monday October 27th @ 7pm – Maw’s Eatery & Bar – 111 Princess Street (not to be confused with the Beer Hall One of Canada’s most […]

Monday, September 29th, 7pm Maw’s Eatery & Bar, 111 Princess Street Happy birthday to us! Our Season Launch is also the first of our 2014/2015 Salon Series. This year, we’ll be riffing on subjects in our regular programmed shows and tripping back as we celebrate 25 years of Theatre Projects Manitoba. We are excited about […]

Welcome to the 25th season at Theatre Projects Manitoba! It feels fantastic to reach a quarter of a century. We think that we have improved with age, like a fine wine, a sharp cheese or personal wisdom. Founded in 1990 by playwright Harry Rintoul, TPM has diligently grown a generation of theatre makers who are […]

Prairie Theatre Exchange’s Carol Shields Festival of New Works begins tonight! The annual festival happens at PTE from May 15-17, and presents new local works in development. We have been part of this important festival many times over the years and this year, we are excited to present a reading of I Dream of Diesel […]

On behalf of everyone at Theatre Projects Manitoba, we would like to thank you for your commitment to our creativity, development and dedication to Canadian theatre. As a patron of Theatre Projects Manitoba, you have already experienced the groundbreaking work we bring to our community by Manitoba playwrights such as Debbie Patterson and Carolyn Gray.  […]

Theatre Projects Manitoba will hold our Annual General Meeting on Saturday April 26th at 1PM at the Manitoba Association of Playwrights Rory Runnells Studio – 504-100 Arthur (Artspace). Our meeting is (of course!) open to the public and you are welcome to attend.  We do request that you RSVP if you plan on attending – […]

World Theatre Day was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), and is celebrated annually on March 27th by ITI Centres and the international theatre community. Various national and international theatre events are organized to mark this occasion, one of the most important being the circulation of the World Theatre Day International Message. […]

Sargent and Victor & Me is just hours away now.  For anyone who would like a taste of this show, check out our teaser video below, courtesy Leif Norman. And please don’t hesitate a moment longer for tickets – Opening Night and Students Night are sold out!  Enjoy!  

Debbie Patterson’s one-woman show examines a community on the brink By Stacy Cardigan Smith It started as a way to involve everyone in the arts, but what resulted is a play about limitations – and hopeful possibilities. Debbie Patterson’s one woman show Sargent & Victor & Me, set in and around the West End intersection […]

How can you take a masterpiece and make it your own? What are the foundations of collective collaboration? What can devised theatre look like? Using excerpts of Chekhov short stories as a launching point, participants will be led through a variety of content generating exercises based on the work of One Trunk Theatre, Ghost River […]

SO much drama is coming our way, friends! Pull yourselves from the post-holiday slump of frozen driveways and tight waistbands, and join us at the theatre! While TPM is busy preparing Sargent & Victor & Me for its February debut, many local theatre companies have been hard at work preparing for Chekhovfest, running January 22 […]

What better way to kick off the New Year than to spend it with your pals at TPM?! Join us tonight- Monday, January 6 as we continue to investigate and celebrate the work of fabulous Manitoban lady playwrights. We will be treated to readings of plays by Muriel Hogue, Sharon Bajer, Ellen Peterson, Lora Schroeder, […]

A line up so hot it will melt your snotsicles! Dear ones – the snow is falling, the tinsel is flying and the time it takes to get out your door has increased exponentially due to bundling time!  Yep…December is just around the corner.  But you can stay warm with TPM for our final Salon […]

We, along with Zone41 Theatre, want to send a huge hug, handshake and a thank you to the cast, crew and everyone who came out to see The Miser of Middlegate. What a hilarious way to start our season! We were tickled by the audience’s- as well as our own- response to the show, and […]

The Miser reviews are coming in! We just love this thoughtful and delightful piece by Chandra Mayor for The Winnipeg Review. She writes: “Inspired by Moliere’s L’Avare and structured as an homage to the stylish screwball movie comedies of the ’30s, Gray’s script is a comedy of manners with no manners at all. It’s witty, energetic, mildly […]

We invited TPM photographer favourite, Leif Norman, into the theatre last Friday to shoot some enticing footage of our upcoming production, The Miser of Middlegate by Carolyn Gray. This sexy, naughty, hilarious, mischievous show opens Thursday and previews Wednesday. JOIN US!!!

Portrait of the Artist as a Dog Lover Recently, Ellen Peterson and Carolyn Gray took their respective dogs (Sunny Monday and Minnie Gray) for a walk in St. John’s Park. Afterward Sunny had to be shut in the house for being too neurotic, which gave Ellen a chance to hang out in the back garden […]

TPM’s Company in Residence, One Trunk Theatre presents the first annual One Trunk Festival West End Cultural Centre on Sunday September 8th, 2013 at 2:00pm. The One Trunk Festival features performances by three local companies Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers, Grant Guy (Adhere & Deny) & Jaymez (projectionist) and a collective of independent artists including Ardith Boxall […]

In the spirit of supporting art and community, Theatre Projects Manitoba Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Ardith Boxall, Artistic Director, has embarked on a short leave to pursue professional, personal and artistic development. Interim artistic director duties will be shared by local theatre professionals Chris Johnson and Ellen Peterson. Chris Johnson, professor […]

PLAYING AT THE CROSSROADS: BOLD AND ORIGINAL STORIES FROM HOME Winnipeg June 11th, 2013 – Artistic Director Ardith Boxall and General Manager Rea Kavanagh are thrilled to announce Theatre Projects Manitoba’s 2013-14 season. Two premieres of two new plays written by two local playwrights. Our 24th season features new work from Carolyn Gray (The Elmwood […]

What a wonderful way to wrap up our season! The closing weekend of Bashir Lazhar brought sold-out houses to a poignant piece put on by fantastic artists. Bravo to our team, and thankyou to our patrons and sponsors.   We would like to extend a special thanks to our season sponsors: The Winnipeg Foundation, Assiniboine […]

Theatre Projects Manitoba (TPM) is pleased to host a forum to discuss the refugee experience in Manitoba as part of its current production, Bashir Lazhar by Evelyne de la Chenelière. Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 6:30 pm Winnipeg Free Press News Café – 237 McDermot Avenue Moderated by Sean Kavanagh, CBC Manitoba Panelists: Abdikheir Ahmed– […]

Joff Schmidt, CBC Manitoba There’s something sadly, terrifyingly beautiful in the set the greets the audience entering Theatre Projects Manitoba’s production of Bashir Lazhar. A twisted wreck of school desks, bright orange plastic chairs, and the remnants of window frames, it’s a scene that implies something unthinkable has happened – and yet also suggests the […]

The Winnipeg Free Press review is in: Four & a half stars!  “Deceptively simple but deeply affecting” “David Adam’s delivers an exceptional understated performance!” At first glance at the spectacular set of the stage drama Bashir Lazhar, it looks like a bomb has gone off in the classroom of a French-langauge school in Montreal. For […]

Do you wonder what the experience of Refugees in our province is like?  We do!  Bashir Lazhar gives us the story of a political refugee seeking asylum in Canada – in his case, Montreal, Quebec.  We see it isn’t easy going, but it’s somewhat familiar to the audience – we are, after all, a nation […]

We are so pleased with our preview video for Bashir Lazhar, you’d think it was everyone’s birthday around here! Leif Norman put together the following cinescape of scenes from Bashir Lazhar along with a short interview with director, Ann Hodges. Check it out!  

We are delighted to have imported David Adams all the way from Vancouver, BC to take the starring role of Bashir Lazhar. David is a jolly, gregarious, kind and talented fellow, and we are so lucky to be working with him! We managed to grab David for quick e-chat earlier this winter, while he was […]

This week we kicked off rehearsal’s for Bashir Lazhar at the Crescent Fort Rouge United Church!  On Monday, February 18th, the full Artistic Team gathered in the warm & sunny 2nd floor space that will be witness to the delicate process of building this new production of Evelyne de la Chenelière’s acclaimed play.  Our intrepid […]

Award-winning Actor, Director, Playwright, Magician, Author and Illustrator, Greg’s credits cover more than 30 years and well over 140 productions across the country, from a warehouse in Vancouver to the Festival Stage at Stratford. He is currently adapting the sixty Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for the Segal Theatre in Montreal. Previous works include Lies […]

Feeling disappointed after the inevitable near-life sentence of snow post Groundhog Day? Warm the cockles of your heart and soul by joining us for a night of fantastic theatre! This month, we will be exploring what Anglo writers are up to in Quebec. Krista Jackson and Daina Leitold will direct scenes from Greg Kramer’s ISADORA […]