ABOUT US

OUR VISION
To make Resurgence Theatre Company a centre of excellence for live professional theatre in Canada.

OUR MANDATE
To enrich life in our community through live professional theatre by:

• Presenting illuminating productions of Shakespeare and innovative contemporary theatre works.
• Educating and developing the artists of tomorrow.
• Fostering local partnerships and community ownership that promotes cultural growth.

RESURGENCE THEATRE COMPANY was founded in March 1999 to resurge the classics and ignite new and contemporary works within York Region and beyond with a strong focus on utilizing the surging energy of emerging professional artists. Since that time the company has made great strides amassing a repertoire of projects that have broken new ground in the Canadian theatre industry and made a substantial impact on the communities within York Region. Resurgence is about:

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  Our festival takes place at Fairy Lake in Newmarket, Ontario annually. Since 1999, the Festival has expanded from a two week single production to a six week repertory season. Successful past productions include: Twelfth Night (directed by Lee Wilson), A Midsummer Night's Dream, (directed by Dora Award winner David Ferry), Much Ado About Nothing (directed by Dora Award winner David Ferry), Love's Labour's Lost (directed by Joseph Zeigler), Measure for Measure (directed by Rosemary Dunsmore), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (directed by Gordon McCall, Artistic Director of Quebec’s premiere English theatre, Centaur Theatre Company), Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, and As You Like It (directed by multi-award winner Chris Abraham).

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  We strive to enrich our community by presenting contemporary and new plays that are suitable for the whole family and holding a series of events throughout our season. Successful past productions include: The Secret Garden (directed by Ashlie Corcoran), Talley's Folly and The Compleat Works of Wllm Shakspr (abridged) (both directed by Dora Award winner David Ferry), special performances of Love Letters, You Fancy Yourself and Hamlet {solo}, our The Sound of Christmas Concert, to name
  a few.

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  An artistic leader in their community, Resurgence Theatre continues to recognize the importance of providing apprenticeship and learning opportunities for youth interested in a career in the arts through several initiatives:
  
  • Senior Youth Theatre Conservatory: Since 2002 we hold an intense theatre training program for a minimum of twelve secondary school students (Grades 9 to 12) from across York Region during the summer. As the only youth theatre training program outside the school system to be recognized by the Ministry of Education, successful participants receive both an open Grade 11 & Grade 12 Drama in the Community credit (ADC30 & ADC40) towards their secondary school diploma
  • Junior Youth Theatre Conservatory: Since 2003 we've expanded the conservatory to include a theatre training camp for twenty students (Grades 5 to 8).
  • Theatre School Workshops: Started in 2007, these workshops are designed for high school students interested in pursuing professional theatre training at the post-secondary level. To date 100 students from across York Region have participated.
  • Elementary school tours of Beware the Falling Trees! Started in 2008, this involved performing for over 3,000 students - spreading positive messages about the importance of protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine and environmental stewardship.
  • Shakespeare Educational Outreach Program: In 2002, 2003 and 2004 we toured schools across Central Ontario with a professional production of a William Shakespeare play designed specifically for students. Each performance included a chance to meet the cast and crew and a study guide for teachers. During this time, this program has benefited over 14,000 students across York Region and beyond.
  • Drama Workshops for High Schools: In 2002-2004 we designed workshops and brought professional artists from the Canadian theatre industry into York Region schools, covering various areas such as acting, stage management, scenic/costume design and directing. Each workshop was tailored to meet the objectives of the school/students.

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  • We take pride in our ability to attract known professional actors and performers in order to provide excellent theatre close to home for the communities we serve. We have welcomed Art Hindle, Camilla Scott, Paul Eves, Irene Poole, Carly Street, Alon Nashman, Christine Horne, Juan Chioran, Raoul Bhaneja, Annie Ramos, Jennifer Fina, Brent Carver, Melissa Stylianou, Michael Burgess, to name a few.
  • Resurgence Theatre Company is a member of PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres) and produces under the terms of the CTA (Canadian Theatre Agreement) hiring members of CAEA (Canadian Actors' Equity Association).

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  Resurgence Theatre Company is a registered Canadian charity. The Charitable Business Registration Number is 867729873RR0001.

Additional highlights include:

• Co-producing the Canadian premiere of David Hare’s The Blue Room to sold-out crowds in Toronto.

• Developing new Canadian work by commissioning three new plays for young audiences that have been presented as part of the York Shakespeare Festival.

• Artistic Producer Anthony Leo and Artistic Director Lee Wilson were asked to be the Masters of Ceremonies for the first York Region Celebration of the Arts. Produced by the York Region Newspaper Group, the event showcased amateur and professional talent within York Region and awarded ten young people with arts scholarships.

• As a recipient of an operating grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Resurgence was chosen to represent all grant recipients from Halton-Peel, Simcoe-York and the Greater Toronto Area at the first annual Ontario Trillium Foundation Conference in November 2001. Resurgence was asked to share the nature of their initiative and its success to a crowd of grant review teams from across Ontario.