 Carousel Theatre's administrative offices on Granville Island, Vancouver | |
| Formation | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Purpose | Children's theatre Theatre for young audiences |
| Location | |
Artistic director(s) | Not available |
| Website | http://www.carouseltheatre.ca |
Carousel Theatre (also known as Carousel Theatre For Young People) is a professional theatre company for young audiences located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[1][2][3] The company stages plays for young people,[4][5] families and educators at the Waterfront Theatre and Performance Works on Granville Island and tours to elementary schools across British Columbia and Canada.[6] It was also the first Canadian theatre company to offer signing during its performances for the hearing impaired.[6] Carousel Theatre is a member of PACT, the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres.[7]
Carousel was founded in 1974 by Elizabeth Ball, who served as Artistic Director until 2001,[3][8][9][10] when she stepped down and was replaced by Chris McGregor, who departed in 2006, and Carole Higgins until her departure from the company in July 2020.[2] Currently, the company is under significant artistic leadership changes and board reform. In its early years, Carousel garnered attention for its adaptations of Shakespeare in modern dress.[2] Later, it shifted its focus to adaptations of classical stories and new works by Canadian playwrights.[2] Carousel first mounted its productions in Vancouver playhouses such as the Arts Club Theatre Company's old Seymour Street theatre and the Vancouver East Cultural Centre.[2][3] In about 1993, it relocated to Granville Island, where it has administrative offices and three rehearsal halls.[3] Its administrative and rehearsal space is located across the street from the Waterfront Theatre, which Carousel helped to build and is where it mounts many of its productions.[2][3] When Higgins took over as Artistic Director, Carousel Theatre rebranded itself as Carousel Theatre for Young People, in order to signify its focus on children and youth.[3]
Carousel has mounted premieres of several productions, some of which it had commissioned and developed.[2] Currently, a typical mainstage season for Carousel consists of four or five productions.[3] It offers public performances on weekends and matinees, primarily for schools, during the week.[3]
Canadian plays that premiered at Carousel Theatre include A Christmas Carol - The Musical by Mavor Moore (in 1998),[11] Dying to be Thin by Linda A. Carson (in 1992), and Basically Good Kids by Mark Leiren-Young (in 1993). Carousel also mounted an original production of Pierre Berton's fable The Secret World of Og, adapted under commission by Governor General's Award-winning playwright Kevin Kerr. Other Carousel productions have included Seussical[12] and Kim Selody's adaptation of The Hobbit.[13] Many Canadian theatre artists, including Roy Surette, and Anna Cummer have worked for Carousel Theatre in the decades since it was founded.
In July 2020, following a petition alleging the theatre company had a toxic workplace, Carousel Theatre parted ways with longtime Artistic Director Carole Higgins.[14]
In addition to producing and staging theatrical performances, Carousel operates a theatre school for young people from the ages of 3 to 17 years old.[2] The company also operates a "Teen Shakespeare Program" for young people aged 13 to 17 during the months of July and August,[15] culminating in a production staged by the teen actors.[2][3]
Carousel Theatre and its artists have been honoured with a number of awards.
Over the years, Carousel theatre received numerous Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and nominations,[16][17][18][19] including:
