It is very easy to dismiss professional artists as self-indulgents, suckling from the taxpayer’s teat through public funding programs at all levels of government.  We’ve all been at parties where the actor in the room has monopolized the conversation with ‘hilarious’ tales from the stage.  (I know that my friends and family have. ahem.)  But, these people, working in a wide array of disciplines, go to work each day and dissect themselves – their heart, their history, their dreams – in order to study and illuminate the human condition.  They do this so that the rest of us can know ourselves better.  Without these people, these self-surgeons, I believe that life would be pretty meaningless for the rest of us.

This month, go to Writersfest and engage an author in a discussion about their process, or travel the gallery circuit for Art After Dark and talk to the artists about their work.  I can promise you, much like a professional performance is not about ‘learning lines’, painting a piece of art is not just about paint and a brush.  On that canvas lies painful memories, deepest desires, and hopes for the future. Celebrate these people, they are the protectors of our collective soul.
-Brett.

Now, comes the fun part – and that’s your job.  Try us out.  Buy a Pass, bring your friends, talk about the shows you’ve seen.  If you are already a believer in great theatre, find someone who isn’t and make them one.  This season  has something for everyone in this community:  music, comedy, danger, romance, and candy canes. If this company is going to create and sustain strong homegrown professional work here in Kingston, we’ll all need to play a role.

The future holds great promise:  more opportunities, high-calibre youth training in all aspects of production, and a nationally-envied environment of collaboration between the people making plays in this city. This is the beginning of something very exciting and very big.  I urge you to hop on board and enjoy the ride!
-BC

BC