PRODUCING PHILOSOPHY: TALENT, TIME, LONGEVITY Because Electric Company`s work is often large-scale we have been consciously moving to a producing model where the company creates works that are presented and / or produced with other partners involved. These partners tend to have established audiences and access to well-equipped venues. This is now a regular feature of our creation-to-production process. The model supports our large-scale artistic vision and ambition. Current partners:
ALBERTA THEATRE PROJECTS ARTS CLUB OF VANCOUVER BELFRY THEATRE VICTORIA MAGNETIC NORTH FESTIVAL CONSUL GENERAL FRANCE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE OF GREATER VANCOUVER THE ONLY ANIMAL PuSh INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL VANCOUVER 2010 CULTURAL OLYMPIAD VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE THE VIRTUAL STAGE YUKON ARTS CENTRE Electric Company is a Canadian, charitable, not-for-profit society. To discuss sponsorship or gifting opportunities, call us up.
ANNUAL REPORT 2 0 0 8
Electric Company Theatre, now in its 11th season, continues as a leading force in the Vancouver theatre community: creating original work rich in spectacle and adventurous in form, while remaining accessible to a diverse and growing audience locally, nationally, and abroad.
VERY LIVE THEATRE . 604.253.4222 . VANCOUVER CANADA WWW.ELECTRICCOMPANYTHEATRE.COM PHOTOS BY TIM MATHESON
2007/08 was an exceptional season for Electric Company: we produced a large-scale underwater theatre piece in Vancouver and Ottawa, participated in Vancouver ’s PuSh Festival, and successfully transitioned into a new organizational model with new management. We moved into the second year of development on a new work commissioned by the Arts Club Theatre, and began the creative redevelopment of a production that will play on major stages in Whitehorse, Vancouver, and Calgary in 2009. We prepared to produce two theatrical events at the Great Northern Way Campus in Spring 2008.
SHARED THEATRE PRODUCTION SPACE INITIATIVE We have been blessed to be a resident company at the Van East Cultural Centre office for the past eight years, but with the Cultch’s exciting, ongoing renovation, and Electric Company`s expansion, we have decided to secure a bigger space at a new location. Finding new space is our most exciting opportunity, and our biggest challenge. Spearheaded by Kim Collier in 2006/07, the Shared Space Initiative joins Electric Company with Vancouver’s Rumble Productions, neworldtheatre, and Boca Del Lupo in a plan for a combined administrative / rehearsal / production space. This season, Arts Now supported a collaborative management plan and consultation with Ivan Habel (General Manager, Green Thumb Theatre for Young People).
Kerry Sandomirsky in THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Next steps: selecting and securing the space, along with fundraising. Since any new facility will require outfitting and adapting to our unique needs, the group will collectively pursue $150,000 in capital funding from a variety of sources in summer 2008.
PRODUCING PHILOSOPHY: TALENT, TIME, LONGEVITY Because Electric Company`s work is often large-scale we have been consciously moving to a producing model where the company creates works that are presented and / or produced with other partners involved. These partners tend to have established audiences and access to well-equipped venues. This is now a regular feature of our creation-to-production process. The model supports our large-scale artistic vision and ambition. Current partners:
ALBERTA THEATRE PROJECTS ARTS CLUB OF VANCOUVER BELFRY THEATRE VICTORIA MAGNETIC NORTH FESTIVAL CONSUL GENERAL FRANCE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE OF GREATER VANCOUVER THE ONLY ANIMAL PuSh INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL VANCOUVER 2010 CULTURAL OLYMPIAD VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE THE VIRTUAL STAGE YUKON ARTS CENTRE Electric Company is a Canadian, charitable, not-for-profit society. To discuss sponsorship or gifting opportunities, call us up.
ANNUAL REPORT 2 0 0 8
Electric Company Theatre, now in its 11th season, continues as a leading force in the Vancouver theatre community: creating original work rich in spectacle and adventurous in form, while remaining accessible to a diverse and growing audience locally, nationally, and abroad.
VERY LIVE THEATRE . 604.253.4222 . VANCOUVER CANADA WWW.ELECTRICCOMPANYTHEATRE.COM PHOTOS BY TIM MATHESON
2007/08 was an exceptional season for Electric Company: we produced a large-scale underwater theatre piece in Vancouver and Ottawa, participated in Vancouver ’s PuSh Festival, and successfully transitioned into a new organizational model with new management. We moved into the second year of development on a new work commissioned by the Arts Club Theatre, and began the creative redevelopment of a production that will play on major stages in Whitehorse, Vancouver, and Calgary in 2009. We prepared to produce two theatrical events at the Great Northern Way Campus in Spring 2008.
SHARED THEATRE PRODUCTION SPACE INITIATIVE We have been blessed to be a resident company at the Van East Cultural Centre office for the past eight years, but with the Cultch’s exciting, ongoing renovation, and Electric Company`s expansion, we have decided to secure a bigger space at a new location. Finding new space is our most exciting opportunity, and our biggest challenge. Spearheaded by Kim Collier in 2006/07, the Shared Space Initiative joins Electric Company with Vancouver’s Rumble Productions, neworldtheatre, and Boca Del Lupo in a plan for a combined administrative / rehearsal / production space. This season, Arts Now supported a collaborative management plan and consultation with Ivan Habel (General Manager, Green Thumb Theatre for Young People).
Kerry Sandomirsky in THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Next steps: selecting and securing the space, along with fundraising. Since any new facility will require outfitting and adapting to our unique needs, the group will collectively pursue $150,000 in capital funding from a variety of sources in summer 2008.
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY by Kendra Fanconi co-produced by Electric Company and The Only Animal Vancouver May 28 – Jun 2 2007 Ottawa, at the Magnetic North Festival Jun 9 – 14 2007
Tracey Power in THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
“More than good storytelling. It’s a stunning theatrical experience that washes over the audience like a warm bath filled with bright shiny bubbles.” – GLOBE AND MAIL Since its Vancouver premiere in 2002, Kendra’s script has gone through several new drafts with dramaturgical feedback provided by Electric Company. Kim created two stagings for the piece - one for each pool in which it played - and through an outreach grant she and Production Manager Derek Mack did advance planning for the tour to the Ottawa pool complex. We created two new lighting designs, significantly enhancing the scale of the work from the first production with designer Itai Erdal.
Jonathon Young in PALACE GRAND
PALACE GRAND By Jonathon Young at PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Jan 30 - Feb 3 2008 This play originally premiered in 2004 and was re-commissioned by Norman Armour, curator of the PuSh Festival. With Norman's support we secured additional project funding from the Vancouver Foundation and the 2010 Cultural Olympiad. “Young’s sharply redefined sub-arctic odyssey, produced with his Electric Company cohorts, has become both an astonishing piece of stagecraft and a fascinating dive into the metaphysics of artistic endeavour.” - VANCOUVER SUN We all felt (and we heard this from audiences who had seen both versions) that the changes to the script and overall structure made for greater clarity and allowed the ideas introduced to resonate more fully. We are very satisfied with what the script has achieved in terms of the formal problems of representation it set out to try and tackle. Also, we made some really beautiful improvements to set, props and sound design.
HOW WE OPERATE: REVENUES PUBLIC: GRANTS EARNED: BOX OFFICE & SALES PRIVATE: DONATIONS & FOUNDATIONS 2007/08 EXPENSES
2008/09 Projected $335,118
$644,000
2007/08
2008/09 Projected
ARTISTIC FEES ADMINISTRATION PRODUCTION PUBLICITY
FINANCIAL HEALTH Electric Company continues to operate debt-free, with sound fiscal planning, a well-diversified revenue base, and a strong internal system of financial management. Jennifer Swan will take the lead from Nathan Medd to manage the company finances when she officially arrives in May 2008. This will coincide with a consultative process that will include Board Treasurer Nancy Vibert, outgoing Bookkeeper Boyd Norman, and Financial Advisor Linda Gorrie. We will be moving the company bookkeeping in-house on a Simply Accounting system. This year we secured important gains in our public sector funding. The Canada Council confirmed an increase in our annual operating funding by 75%, and the BC Arts Council confirmed an increase of 72%. More than one committee member at the provincial adjudication called Electric Company “unbelievably collaborative”. These increases will provide a stable base from which to expand our reach to audiences over the next few years.
THE 2007/2008 COMPANY: BC`s BRIGHTEST
UP NEXT
PERFORMERS Ryan Beil, Courtenay Dobbie, Tracey Power, Nicola Lipman, Eric Rhys Miller, Richard Newman, Kerry Sandomirsky, Jon Lachlan Stewart WRITERS Kendra Fanconi, Jonathon Young DIRECTORS Kim Collier, Kevin Kerr DRAMATURG Rachel Ditor STAGE MANAGER Jan Hodgson ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS Erin Harris SET DESIGNERS Yvan Morissette LIGHTING DESIGNERS Itai Erdal, John Webber COSTUME DESIGNERS Marina Szijarto, Kirsten McGhie MUSICAL DIRECTOR / COMPOSITION Wendy Stuart MUSICIANS / SOUND DESIGNERS Bessie Wapp, AJ Juliani, Meg Roe PROPS DESIGNERS Marianne Wyatt, Rick Holloway, Stephane Bircher MULTIMEDIA DESIGNERS The Only Animal, David Hudgins, Jamie Nesbitt SCENIC PAINTER Marianne Otterstrom SET DECORATOR Naomi Sider CARPENTER Keith Smith MOVEMENT Serge Bennathan TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Harry Van Der Schee PRODUCTION MANAGER Derek Mack COMPANY / FINANCIAL MANAGER Jennifer Swan PRODUCING / TOURING MANAGERS Cynthia Reid, Nathan Medd BACKSTAGE OPERATORS Jeremy Johnston, Yvonne Yip, Sebastian Kroon, Megan Gray, Ella Simon, Stanley Ma, Lindsey Angell
NO EXIT May 1 - 10, 2008 Vancouver HIVE2 Jun 5 - 14, 2008 Vancouver CARRALL STREET PERFORMANCE Sept 30, 2008 Vancouver BRILLIANT! Nov 11 - Dec 14, 2008 Victoria ReACT READING: NEW SCRIPT IN DEVELOPMENT Feb, 2009 Vancouver STUDIES IN MOTION Mar 23 - 27, 2009 - Whitehorse Apr 1 - 18 - Vancouver Apr 21 - May 10 - Calgary
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY by Kendra Fanconi co-produced by Electric Company and The Only Animal Vancouver May 28 – Jun 2 2007 Ottawa, at the Magnetic North Festival Jun 9 – 14 2007
Tracey Power in THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
“More than good storytelling. It’s a stunning theatrical experience that washes over the audience like a warm bath filled with bright shiny bubbles.” – GLOBE AND MAIL Since its Vancouver premiere in 2002, Kendra’s script has gone through several new drafts with dramaturgical feedback provided by Electric Company. Kim created two stagings for the piece - one for each pool in which it played - and through an outreach grant she and Production Manager Derek Mack did advance planning for the tour to the Ottawa pool complex. We created two new lighting designs, significantly enhancing the scale of the work from the first production with designer Itai Erdal.
Jonathon Young in PALACE GRAND
PALACE GRAND By Jonathon Young at PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Jan 30 - Feb 3 2008 This play originally premiered in 2004 and was re-commissioned by Norman Armour, curator of the PuSh Festival. With Norman's support we secured additional project funding from the Vancouver Foundation and the 2010 Cultural Olympiad. “Young’s sharply redefined sub-arctic odyssey, produced with his Electric Company cohorts, has become both an astonishing piece of stagecraft and a fascinating dive into the metaphysics of artistic endeavour.” - VANCOUVER SUN We all felt (and we heard this from audiences who had seen both versions) that the changes to the script and overall structure made for greater clarity and allowed the ideas introduced to resonate more fully. We are very satisfied with what the script has achieved in terms of the formal problems of representation it set out to try and tackle. Also, we made some really beautiful improvements to set, props and sound design.
HOW WE OPERATE: REVENUES PUBLIC: GRANTS EARNED: BOX OFFICE & SALES PRIVATE: DONATIONS & FOUNDATIONS 2007/08 EXPENSES
2008/09 Projected $335,118
$644,000
2007/08
2008/09 Projected
ARTISTIC FEES ADMINISTRATION PRODUCTION PUBLICITY
FINANCIAL HEALTH Electric Company continues to operate debt-free, with sound fiscal planning, a well-diversified revenue base, and a strong internal system of financial management. Jennifer Swan will take the lead from Nathan Medd to manage the company finances when she officially arrives in May 2008. This will coincide with a consultative process that will include Board Treasurer Nancy Vibert, outgoing Bookkeeper Boyd Norman, and Financial Advisor Linda Gorrie. We will be moving the company bookkeeping in-house on a Simply Accounting system. This year we secured important gains in our public sector funding. The Canada Council confirmed an increase in our annual operating funding by 75%, and the BC Arts Council confirmed an increase of 72%. More than one committee member at the provincial adjudication called Electric Company “unbelievably collaborative”. These increases will provide a stable base from which to expand our reach to audiences over the next few years.
THE 2007/2008 COMPANY: BC`s BRIGHTEST
UP NEXT
PERFORMERS Ryan Beil, Courtenay Dobbie, Tracey Power, Nicola Lipman, Eric Rhys Miller, Richard Newman, Kerry Sandomirsky, Jon Lachlan Stewart WRITERS Kendra Fanconi, Jonathon Young DIRECTORS Kim Collier, Kevin Kerr DRAMATURG Rachel Ditor STAGE MANAGER Jan Hodgson ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS Erin Harris SET DESIGNERS Yvan Morissette LIGHTING DESIGNERS Itai Erdal, John Webber COSTUME DESIGNERS Marina Szijarto, Kirsten McGhie MUSICAL DIRECTOR / COMPOSITION Wendy Stuart MUSICIANS / SOUND DESIGNERS Bessie Wapp, AJ Juliani, Meg Roe PROPS DESIGNERS Marianne Wyatt, Rick Holloway, Stephane Bircher MULTIMEDIA DESIGNERS The Only Animal, David Hudgins, Jamie Nesbitt SCENIC PAINTER Marianne Otterstrom SET DECORATOR Naomi Sider CARPENTER Keith Smith MOVEMENT Serge Bennathan TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Harry Van Der Schee PRODUCTION MANAGER Derek Mack COMPANY / FINANCIAL MANAGER Jennifer Swan PRODUCING / TOURING MANAGERS Cynthia Reid, Nathan Medd BACKSTAGE OPERATORS Jeremy Johnston, Yvonne Yip, Sebastian Kroon, Megan Gray, Ella Simon, Stanley Ma, Lindsey Angell
NO EXIT May 1 - 10, 2008 Vancouver HIVE2 Jun 5 - 14, 2008 Vancouver CARRALL STREET PERFORMANCE Sept 30, 2008 Vancouver BRILLIANT! Nov 11 - Dec 14, 2008 Victoria ReACT READING: NEW SCRIPT IN DEVELOPMENT Feb, 2009 Vancouver STUDIES IN MOTION Mar 23 - 27, 2009 - Whitehorse Apr 1 - 18 - Vancouver Apr 21 - May 10 - Calgary