Touchstone Theatre

Mandate & History

Mandate

Touchstone Theatre exists to develop and present professional Canadian theatrical productions. It encourages explorations in content and form, and introduces new works to the public. Touchstone stimulates and develops public interest in an evolving Canadian cultural perspective.

Company History

For over 30 years Touchstone Theatre has been a mainstay of theatrical innovation and excellence on the West Coast. The company's all-Canadian mandate has helped launch and develop some of the country's most important playwrights and actors, and its substantial body of work has garnered over 50 local and national awards.

Most of Touchstone's activities have fallen into one of the following three categories: premiere productions of plays by local playwrights, second productions of important plays premiered in other regions of Canada, and innovative collective creations developed within the company. Within each category Touchstone has explored a wide variety of styles and always stayed true to the exploratory and celebratory spirit of the company. Former Artistic Directors have included Gordon McCall, John Cooper and Roy Surette.

At the start of the 1997/1998 season, Katrina Dunn succeeded Roy Surette as Artistic Director, infusing Touchstone's mandate with her unique vision. Since then, the level of activity at the company has increased and several new programs have been implemented. A Playwright in Residence program has stepped up the company's commitment to developing new work and given rise to plays such as Kevin Kerr's Governor General's Award-Winning Unity (1918). In 2003 she made Touchstone a co-founder, with Norman Armour and Rumble Productions, of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, which has gone on to become one of the city's most important cultural events.

Now in its fourth decade of production Touchstone remains lightning rod of theatrical activity. Its purely Canadian focus makes it unique in its region, and its reputation for excellence has earned the respect of audience, critics and colleagues.

Details of our Previous Seasons.

Affiliations

Touchstone is a member of the following organisations: