By Blake William Turner April 12 -29, 2012 La Cite Francophone 8627 91 Street
Photos by Russ Hewitt
Click here for some behind the scenes mayhem

7:30 pm April 24 - 28 (performances on April 24 is pay-what-you-can)

2:00 pm April 29

It’s the dark-ages. Grendel, a terrifying demon, is ravaging Hrothgar’s kingdom. With his army dwindling and his state’s moral plummeting, all seems lost for the once-great king…until the arrival of Beowulf, the most famous warrior in the north. He boasts the strength of 30 men and having killed trolls, sea-monsters, and warlords. Now he’ll face Grendel, and Grendel's secret: the curse that protects him.

Beowulf conquered monsters, wons wars, gold and fame. But once crowned king, he sheathed his sword for 50 years, until that dragon ...

Inspired by the oldest surviving literature written in English and contemporary video gaming culture, Turner’s adaptation of the 7^th century epic poem is action/ adventure theatre. Beowulf the King will be a fun, literate, romp through a world of swords and dragons, sea-monsters and demons with a contemporary sensibility. With hand-to-hand combat, sword fights, shield wall sieges, giant, monster puppets and dragon slaying, Beowulf will show off the design work by Daniela Masellis and Sheena Haug, music by Joel Crichton, and fight choreography by Ryan Ash. The cast includes actors Amber Borotsik, Sheldon Elter, David Ley, Darren Paul, Bryan D. Webb, and Frank Zotter. It will be directed by Michael Clark and Blake William Turner

Tickets: $25 

Students and Seniors: $20

Workshop West Theatre is seeking a General Manager

One of Edmonton’s oldest professional theatres is seeking a General Manager. Workshop West Theatre develops, produces and presents new plays and playwrights and theatre in Edmonton. Currently in planning for our 34^th Season, Workshop West’s annual budget is 350,00 – 400,000.

The GM works collaboratively with the Artistic Director on project, annual and long range planning. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the GM is responsible for overall management of the company, including:

• financial management, administration, development of season and project budgets

1. (we employ a book-keeper who has been with the company for 33 years)

• overseeing the production of a 3-5 event season with plays, a festival, and other events
• fund development, grant writing and liaising with funding agencies and sponsors
• overseeing marketing and promotion of the company, shows, festivals and events
• human resources - contracting artists, production and administrative personnel
• Board and community liaison

Excellent written and oral communication skills, passion for theatre, background in arts administration and management, and the ability to work independently and in a team situation would be assets.

The position is full time. Salary is $35,000 - $40,000 dependent on qualifications and experience, with strong support for professional development.

Please send your resume, three references plus a letter outlining your qualifications and your interest in small theatre, by April 13, 2012 to: “GM Search” at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please be advised that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

The biggest, possibly the most fun and expensive production in the company’s history, and experiments in extended play development are at the centre of Workshop West's 2011/12 season. Following our busiest season in decades, which was capped by winning the 2011 Sterling Award for Outstanding New Play, we will produce a large cast, Canadian adaptation of Beowulf, the Canoe Theatre Festival, our alternative theatre showcase, the  Loud & Queer Cabaret, and a year full of play development.

Join us for the landmark 20th Anniversary of Loud & Queer, where we will launch Queering the Way: The Loud & Queer Anthology. Revisit old favourites from the past and hear new Queer voices from Edmonton and beyond on Saturday November 5 & Sunday November 6.

For the Canoe Theatre Festival, we bring you theatre that rocks the boat will from the other side of the World and right here at home.  As always, you can trust Canoe for the challenging, the remarkable and the unexpected. Check back in October for the full festival line-up!

We’re excited as start season long preparation for Beowulf the King by Blake William Turner. Creative teams have already begun to workshop fight choreography, design concepts and the text to prep for an April production that will be good old fashioned theatre fun.

See you in the Theatre,

Michael, Keltie and the Workshop West Team