Sheatre
Theatre by, for and about people.
COMMUNITY ARTS -- ARTS EDUCATION -- FORUM THEATRE
HERITAGE PLAYS -- COMMISSIONS
Sheatre is a community-based professional theatre company established in 1985 that creates grassroots community arts projects addressing social issues primarily in rural and small communities. We believe in the power of theatre and the arts to help build a compassionate and healthy society.
The organization offers activities in theatre, music and the related arts. We create events relevant to a community’s unique demographics, current curiosities, issues and history. Working on a project-to-project basis, our programs include in house workshops and productions (usually in collaboration with other community groups), cultural services contracted to other organizations, and publications.
Our mission is "to inspire creative expression, transformative learning and change through socially relevant workshops and artistic productions."
Sheatre has, under the direction of Joan Chandler, produced and co-facilitated over 75 community based plays and interactive theatre forum presentations to over 47,000 people in Canada, the US and England, produced one video documentary, an audiotape of original music, mounted the cutting-edge Womenfolk Festival (1996), and innovative alternative youth theatre programs, conducted numerous workshops in schools and for community organizations, and has provided consulting services for festivals and theatre companies.
Currently we are producing a date rape theatre forum for youth: FAR FROM THE HEART. YA CANNA THROW YOUR GRANNY OFF A BUS - a play about senior abuse is available to tour to communities across Grey Bruce, as is a touring concert featuring amazing music by David Sereda (SONGS IN THE KEY OF TOME). TOM - a new full stage production about artist Tom Thomson for family audiences - premiers in August '07. Past productions include: "The Ballad of Kennedy's" about the industrial heritage of Owen Sound, "Brush" focusing on Tom Thomson, and "Pterodactyl Delight" a play about aboriginal cultural heritage and appropriation. For details go to www.sheatre.com.
We are the only theatre and community arts company with a core program focusing on Tom Thomson. With the Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery, we have produced a comprehensive educational guide useful for most grades that includes a broad variety of activities.
Sheatre was a core partner in the designation of Owen Sound as a Cultural Capitals of Canada (2004-05). We have been presented at Group of 7 Roadshow (2005), Telling Our Stories: Community Arts Ontario conference (2005), Tom Thomson Days Festival (2002-2005), The Time of Our Lives International Festival of Reminiscence Theatre (2000, London UK), The Trillium Foundation's Caring Communities Conference (1998), the Ripple Effect International Festival (1997), Three Fires Sacred Assembly (1997), The Michigan Women's Music Festival (1994) and Bread & Butter International Popular Theatre Festival (1989).
Our video, "Shelter Me: The Power of Popular Theatre", was in the
program of the 20th anniversary International Conference of Theatre of the Oppressed in Paris, France (1991). Joan Chandler and Sheatre are featured in the book Playing Boal: Theatre and Therapy (New York: Routledge, 1994).
Sheatre (rhymes with ‘”theatre”) is incorporated in Ontario and is registered federally as a charitable organization. “Sheatre” means theatre of the she’s and he’s – s/heatre. Sheatre’s office is located in rural Ontario, near Wiarton.
