Alberta Playwrights’ Network and Third Street Theatre are proud to present the second annual YOUth Riot Showcase. Over the course of 12 weeks, Third Street Theatre and Alberta Playwrights’ Network (APN) have been facilitating an educational playwriting program for queer youth, teaching them skills and artistic techniques in order to tell their own unique stories through theatre. By tapping into the Calgary professional arts community, we hope to raise our city’s consciousness of queer youth, and give much needed credence to the stories and experiences that these teens have lived within our city and province. The work created through the YOUth Riot program will culminate in a public performance showcase featuring professional actors and directors from the Calgary professional arts community, and presented at Lunchbox Theatre on May 11th, 2016 at 7:00 pm. Third Street Theatre and APN invites the public to attend the YOUth Riot showcase at a suggested donation of $15.
YOUth Riot is a workshop-based program where industry professionals lead various sessions on subjects ranging from playwriting to spoken word throughout the course of the program. The program’s goal is to mentoring participants, fostering their creativity and most importantly, providing valuable tools to nurture confidence, acceptance, and positive self-image. The experience of growing up within the queer spectrum continues to be marginalizing and even dangerous at times and allowing queer youth to have a platform that gives them ownership and agency is paramount.
"We're not driving the narrative of the stories heard on the stage. The work that these queer teens are creating is their own; their unfiltered voices. APN is thrilled to be a part of this program supporting these incredible voices in telling their stories." Trevor Rueger, Executive Director of Alberta Playwright’s Network
"We're giving queer teens a voice by equipping them with the means to use it powerfully. And instead of us telling their stories for them, they get to do it themselves while in the mean time learning from expert storytellers and hopefully falling in love with theatre." Jonathan Brower, Third Street Theatre Artistic Director
YOUth Riot is supported through the community via crowd sourcing and private donations, making the program free of charge for participants. Each of these contributions support excellence in arts education and represent a local and national desire for queer youth programming.
QUICK FACTS
WHEN: Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 at 7:00 pm
WHERE: Lunchbox Theatre, the base of the Calgary Tower (160, 115 9 Avenue SE)
WHO: Co-Produced by APN & Third Street Theatre
Third Street Theatre Artistic Director, Jonathan Brower
Alberta Playwrights’ Network Executive Director, Trevor Rueger
Program Facilitators: Natalie Meisner, Samantha MacDonald, Neil Fleming
TICKETS: Minimum Suggested Donation $15.00
BOX OFFICE: Cash or Credit at the door only
Third Street Theatre is a not-for-profit theatre company dedicated to the positive promotion of queer culture, stories, and voices, with a focus on production, mentorship, and the artistic development of queer and queer-minded talent. We are committed to work that engages and educates the community on relevant social issues pertaining to the often-marginalized queer community. Find us at www.thirdstreet.ca
Alberta Playwrights' Network, developing Alberta playwrights at all stages, for all stages.
Find us at www.albertaplaywrights.squarespace.com
