| What is MAINSTAGE ? MAINSTAGE is the Annual Provincial Theatre Festival for community
theatre groups throughout BC. Sponsored by Theatre BC, it is one of the longest-running
theatre traditions in Canada.
This exciting event is the culmination of winning plays from Theatre BC Zone Festivals involving up to 10 Zones throughout the Province of BC.
More than 60 community theatre clubs participate in Zone Festivals held from March through
May, with hopes riding on the chance to take their winning play to MAINSTAGE for friendly
competition with the province's best.
Your participation and support of this event is vital to the success of the Festival.
Any contribution, large or small, will be gratefully accepted. Besides corporate and
individual sponsorship of the event, there are 13 bronze trophies known as "Thespians"
(original artworks created by world-famous Kelowna sculptor Gert Maas) available for sponsorship, plus donation
of merchandise/services required for the "silent auction" fundraising event.
Corporate partners can provide support by becoming an event or performance sponsor.
There are a variety of registration packages. Full week passes will include tickets to
all Mainstage plays, Workshop plays, Green Room Parties (after evening performance
socials), and morning Coffee Critiques. 3 Day passes and individual night tickets are also
available.
WHAT MAINSTAGE OFFERS
From year to year over its history, MAINSTAGE has adopted many and varied
theatre activities that developed into regular festival components. Combined, these set a
unique atmosphere that provides for educational as well as entertainment opportunities
that registrants and audience members simply do not have access to elsewhere.
Key Mainstage Presentations
- MAINSTAGE Performances
: The invigorating competition of plays selected from
the Zone Festivals held in the ten TBC Zones around the province is the centrepiece of
MAINSTAGE. Each evening performance is followed by a brief public adjudication by the
professional festival adjudicator. The following morning, each Mainstage presentation is
discussed in-depth by cast, crew, adjudicator and registrants in a "Coffee
Critique". Open to registrants and public.
- Workshop Plays: Selected through a application process from non-winning
zone entries, these two to three productions work closely with a professional instructor
who reviews an initial performance, workshops specific aspects of the production, and
prepares the play for a second performance. The Workshop Play Instructor also serves as
Instructor for the "Directors' Lab" workshop component of the Workshop Plays
series. The Workshop Plays performances are open to registrants and public, on a first
come, first served basis. The re-working sessions are open to registrants.
- "Backstage At Mainstage" Special Course Workshops
: A series of
performing arts workshops, instructed by professionals, are scheduled throughout the week
(daytime). Running in 3-6 hour blocks, these sessions may offer more hands-on
participation to people wishing to learn more about many aspects of theatre. Topics may
include acting, direction, playwriting, stage managing, musical theatre, acting for the
camera, Improv, and Technical, Set and/or Costume Design. Participation is open to
registrants and the public by pre-registration. A very reasonable fee is charged.
- Final Night Awards Ceremony
: The Awards Ceremony takes place on the closing
Saturday evening of the festival, as part of the Final Night Awards Banquet. Thespian Trophies,
Theatre BC's equivalent to the Oscars, are awarded, as selected by the Adjudicator, to
category-winners from the competitive productions. Annual awards & certificates for
special accomplishments are also awarded. Open to all ticket holders.
Social Events
- President's Reception and Opening Ceremonies
: The President's Reception is
held prior to the first Mainstage presentation on the opening evening of the festival.
Refreshments, entertainment and a silent fundraising auction are often provided to welcome
registrants and public. Opening ceremonies, which take place in the theatre, just before
the first Mainstage presentation, involve local, provincial and federal representatives as
well as cultural personalities and TBC executives. Open to all ticket holders.
- Green Room Socials
: Following each evening of theatre on
the Mainstage, audience members, cast & crew, staff and volunteers are invited to
enjoy good company, good food and a relaxing atmosphere to unwind, share friendships and
ideas, and lay back after the excitement of the day. A theme for each evening's Green Room
may be incorporated. Traditional for the final Friday Night Green Room is the appearance
of the "Grand Poobah", who oversees the swearing of allegiance to the
"MAINSTAGE Oath" by all Festival "Virgins". The Green Rooms are open
to everyone, cover charge.
- Final Night Awards Banquet
: To wind up the nine-day festival, a Final Night
Banquet & Dance, including the Awards Ceremony takes place on the closing Saturday
Night. A full dinner, no-host bar, dancing, prizes, and award presentations are included
in the fun, marking the end of the community theatre year, and a last chance to visit with
friends old and new before heading back home.
Other Mainstage Activities
- The Annual General Meeting of Theatre BC
is held on the final Saturday
afternoon of the MAINSTAGE festival. Theatre BC's election of officers takes place during
this General Meeting.
- Silent Auction
: Donations of goods and services are collected by the Host
Committee (fundraising) for inclusion in a Silent Auction. The items are displayed in the
theatre lobby or reception area, with bid sheets for signing or ticket receptacles for
adding purchased vouchers with name and phone number. At the end of the MAINSTAGE week,
the items would go to the highest bidder or the name drawn from each respective ticket
receptacle. This is normally done between the final performance and the Awards Ceremony.
- Recreational Activities (optional)
: Occasionally, time permitting, the Host
Committee may choose to add an extracurricular activity, such as softball game or golf
tournament to the list of activities for the week.
WHAT MAINSTAGE AIMS TO ACHIEVE
Theatre BC's annual provincial theatre festival, MAINSTAGE, is one of the
longest running theatre traditions in Canada. The objectives of the provincial festival
are:
- To promote the role of community theatre in B.C. by showcasing productions that
represent all regions of the province;
- To determine and honour the best efforts in community theatre in all phases of
theatrical production;
- To provide a diverse educational experience to TBC members, participants and
audience members through professional adjudication and instruction;
- To meet as a professional body and encourage the interaction of representatives
of different backgrounds and regions in the province who share a common cultural
involvement;
- To involve as many TBC members as possible and continue a growing understanding
of the association of community theatre clubs through TBC;
- To focus public attention on ongoing theatre activity in the host community and
the region, in order to support or initiate its development;
- To develop and demonstrate the significance and scope of TBC's provincial
festival by incorporating the participation and support of local concerns, which may
include the municipal government, tourism, business associations and cultural, non-profit
or other community service organizations;
- To generate revenue in order to perpetuate the development of TBC and its member
clubs.
For Sponsorship or registration information,please contact Theatre BC via email at info@theatrebc.org |
