Once upon a time, there was a boy named Stuart and a girl named Nicole. Stuart lived in an average sized house in a reasonable neighbourhood, and Nicole lived in a reasonable neighbourhood in an average sized house. Together, Stuart and Nicole wrote a play called The Boy and Girl Next Door. They called their play this despite the fact that they do not live next door to each other, but in fact, live in thevery same house. Does this make them liars? No. Well, maybe.

One day, the Canoe Festival heard that Stuart and Nicole had written a play and asked them if they would like to do a reading of their play in the lobby of the Timms Center. Stuart and Nicole said yes. They did all of the things you have to do to have a reading of a play (got some actors, printed some copies of the script, made a Facebook event), and on the evening of, people after people gathered at the specified time and location.

Some laughed.
Some cried.
Some were touched deeply.
But none of them paid anything.

"Wait. What?" you say. "There are free events at the Canoe Festival?"
Oh, yes. Yes, there are.
"Are there any more?" you say.

At the time I write this, yes! At the time someone else publishes this, probably! At the time you read this...only you and the Canoe Festival schedule have the answer to that.

Jake Prins is a local playwright and actor. Catch a reading of his new play "The Meaning of Life, or Lemmings" on Friday January 20 at 4:30pm in the lobby of Timms Centre for the Arts as part of The REALTORS Canoe Theatre Festival. Also check out the fundraising campaign for his next production, "Horace Porridge Goes to Work".

An Open Letter to Edmonton’s Independent Arts Scene

I love your work. I’ve been admiring it for a long time. You’re doing some really breathtaking things, things which encourage the longevity of our creative community, things which make Edmonton a better place to live, things which force me to become better at what I do.

It may not mean much coming from me, but I really respect what you’re doing.

Whatever you do, please don’t stop.

But, if there’s advice I might share with you, it would be this: we are in this together, and we are stronger together.

The struggle of producing independent art can be a lonely one. The path, no matter how trodden by countless artists before you, oftentimes is dark, unforgiving, scary even – reminiscent of the explicitly moral tales of childhood years reminding you to, at all costs, avoid the ominously overgrown trail leading through the foreboding forest.

You’re sure to meet certain danger in there, you’re sure to meet monsters in there, you are.

And you will.

Producing independent art is a battle, and monsters take many forms.

But, there’s something magical, frightening, mysterious and fun about the untrodden path; something a bit forbidden, alluring, daring.

After all, monsters are for fighting and art, producing.

Maybe all you need is a light to guide the way, or a warm meal on a cold night, or a press release template or a friend who knows her way around a contract.

Or maybe all you need to hear is a gentle whisper: c’mon into the forest already, shy ogre. Oh, please, won’t you come out and play?

Or maybe all you need is for me to tell you: I love your work. I really love your work.

Whatever your need, I guarantee there’s someone or thing in the forest to help you. The forest is, after all, home to many a mythical creature each equipped with her or his own magical power or special incantation or secret stash of fortifications.

We can help each other, we can.

xoxo,

M. Dart

Megan Dart is the co-artistic producer for Catch the Keys Productions, a playwright and a media and communications specialist. Follow her company on Twitter: @CatchtheKeys

Wow! We had a great turn out for the 4th annual Edmonton Small Theatre Symposium. It was great to see artists and producers from our vibrant community chat about the struggles and rewards of small and independent producing in our great city. A big thanks to our guest artists for bringing an outside perspective and to Hudson's on Campus for hosting us. 

If you are an Edmonton based small theatre producer and would like to be on the mailing list for future gatherings, please send your contact information to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Here are the artists and companies that attended. Make sure to check out their future work! 

Keltie Brown, Workshop West Theatre
Michael Peng, Wishbone Theatre 
Megan & Beth Dart, Catch the Keys Productions
Sheiny Satanove, Julie Ferguson & Elliot James, Punctuate! Theatre
Jon Lachlan Stewart, Surreal SoReal Theatre
Tara Brodin, Jolleen Ballendine & Jessie McPhee, Break the Wall Productions
Alex Forsyth, K.I.A. Productions
Kevin Green, Catalyst Theatre
Kevin Jesuino, New City Collective
Tristan MacKinlay, Inner Fish Performance Company
Ainsley Hillyard & Alida Nyquist-Schultz, Good Women Dance Collective
Majdi Bou-Matar & The MT Space collective
Amy Shostak, Rapid Fire Theatre
Maggie Baird, Student

Beth Dart is the Festival Coordinator of The REALTORS Canoe Theatre Festival, the co-artistic producer of Catch the Keys Productions and a freelance director, administrator, production manager, and stage manager. Follow her company on Twitter: @CatchtheKeys