2020 Annual Report
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2020 Annual Report The artists and staff of Soulpepper and the Young Centre for the Performing Arts acknowledge the original caretakers and storytellers of this land – the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and Wendat First Nation, and The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation who are part of the Anishinaabe Nation. We commit to honouring and celebrating their past, present and future. Table of Contents 01 A Message from the Artistic + Executive Directors 02 Message from the Chair of the Board 03 2020 Artistic Activity 08 2020 Media Coverage 13 2020 By The Numbers 15 Education: Youth Programming + Community Engagement 17 Summarized Financial Statements 20 Donor Recognition 1 A Message from the Artistic + Executive Directors It is difficult to write an introduction to an annual report that reflects on 2020. This was not the year we had planned. Nor the one we had hoped for, or dreamed of. We sprang into January with confidence and energy. Our first season, lovingly curated during our first year at Soulpepper, was about to begin, and our Strategic Plan, committing the company to a bold new policy of Radical Inclusion, had been enthusiastically endorsed The season was cancelled, and our hearts broke as artist by our board the preceding November. after artist lost work on projects that we were unable to deliver. Our education programs were suspended, It couldn’t have started better. Mother’s Daughter our staff pivoted to working from home, and our sector and Jesus Hopped the A Train filled our theatres with entered a phase of profound, existential uncertainty. an audience who were not only inspired to see great art, but keen to dig deeper, joining our new series of But, somewhere amidst the fire-fighting, something beau- Community Conversations with passion and involve- tiful began to emerge. A powerful network of industry ment. Our Toronto Climate Gathering was a landmark peers with whom to share the uncertainty, the resounding event, convening our theatre making community for support of board members, donors and patrons who a day of discussion on how we can positively impact pledged to back us come what may, and wonderful the climate crisis, distinguishing Soulpepper as a lead- wonderful creativity, from artists who simply saw how ing voice on the issue. And, after months of effort, much they were needed, and refused to give up hope. we finally delivered the funding needed to bring back the Soulpepper Academy. And so, we are proud to present this Annual Report to you. It details a year where our company’s resilience Then, the world changed. Our doors closed. came into full effect, where we laid the foundations Everything stopped. of artist development and partnership working that will define our program for years to come, and where our community significantly manifested its commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism in real and lasting ways. It was not the year we wished for, but we emerge with strength and resolve, confident of a bright future. Emma Stenning Weyni Mengesha Executive Director Artistic Director 2 Message from the Chair of the Board We started 2020 with great anticipation for what we felt was a very exciting season, the first full season programmed by Weyni. The two shows that opened the season had successful, well received runs and our third show was about to hit the stage when the pandemic hit and everything changed. But our fantastic staff, led by our terrific senior man- agement team, showed their creativity, made sacrifices and adapted to the ‘new reality’. On behalf of the Board I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire team. While there is no question that the pandemic-induced lockdowns and ever-changing rules have been extremely hard on artists and arts workers, moving all program- ming online has made it more accessible for many people, with geography, and in many cases, price, no longer a barrier, thus allowing the company a broader reach. We developed a Board policy on Equity, Diversity, In addition, we were able to respond more quickly Inclusion and Anti-Racism which was formally endorsed as long-simmering social injustices came to the fore early in 2021. It is based on the values and foundational during the year. documents that guide the company’s strategies, actions and artistic representations including the Strategic Plan, Statement of Promises and Code of Conduct. It is designed to strengthen the Board’s capacity to carry out its responsibilities and advance the company’s vision, and ensure the Board holds itself, and its committees, accountable. While we yearn for the time when we can all gather together in the theatre, we continue to seek ways to tell stories that reflect the cultural make-up of our city while reaching well beyond our borders. Vanessa Morgan Board Chair 2020 Artistic Activity “Modern and dazzling... one of the best plays of the decade.” – NOW Magazine on Mother's Daughter “Gorgeously acted… definitely worth the ride.” – NOW Magazine on Jesus Hopped the A-Train 2020 ARTISTIC ACTIVITY 4 THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL PRODUCTION Shannon Taylor Fiona Byrne MOTHER’S Photo: Dhalia Katz DAUGHTER KATE HENNIG “Vibrant, crackling, and relentless” – Broadway World 2020 ARTISTIC ACTIVITY 5 JESUS HOPPED THE ‘A’ TRAIN STEPHEN ADLY GUIRGIS “A barn-burning performance by Daren A. Herbert” – Toronto Star Daren A. Herbert Photo: Dhalia Katz 2020 ARTISTIC ACTIVITY 6 Mainstage Productions MOTHER'S DAUGHTER A Stratford Festival Production Playwright: Kate Hennig Director: Alan Dilworth Cast: Beryl Bain, Fiona Byrne, Jessica B. Hill, Andrea Rankin, Shannon Taylor, Maria Vacratsis, Gordon Patrick White Designers: Lorenzo Savoini, Kimberly Purtell, Debashis Sinha FRESH INK JESUS HOPPED THE A-TRAIN Directors: Frank Cox-O'Connell, Guillermo Verdecchia, Weyni Mengesha Cast: Anton Piatigorsky, Ngọc Hân Trần, Kat Sandler, Rosamund Small, Lisa Berry Playwright: Stephen Adly Guirgis Haley McGee, Jordan Tannahill, Ngozi Paul, Sarah Treem, Marcus Youssef, Liisa Repo- Director: Weyni Mengesha Martell, Erin Shields , Guillermo Verdecchia, Tara Beagan, Nicolas Billon, Susanna Cast: Diana Donnelly, Daren A. Herbert, Xavier Lopez, Fournier, Carmen Aguirre, Leah-Simone Bowen, Beverley Cooper, Judith Thompson, Tony Nappo, Gregory Prest Carole Fréchette, Damien Atkins, Rose Napoli, Martín Zimmerman, Diane Flacks, Adam Designers: Ken MacKenzie, Shannon Lea Doyle, Kevin Lamotte, Lazarus, Jill Connell, Lisa Codrington, Keith Barker, Fiona Sauder, Landon Doak, John Gzowski, Simon Fon, Alicia Richardson Bronwyn Carradine, Tony Perpuse, Christol Bryan, Lisa Marie DiLiberto, Augusto Bitter, David Yee, Kanika Ambrose, Hannah Moscovitch, Andrew Moodie, Daniel MacIvor, Media & Digital Offerings Anosh Irani, Shauntay Grant THE SEAGULL CELEBRATION FRESH INK: ART & ACTIVISM Director: Daniel Brooks Directors: Frank Cox-O'Connell, Guillermo Verdecchia, Weyni Mengesha Cast: Ghazal Azarbad, Oliver Dennis, Raquel Duffy, Hailey Gillis, Presenters: Idris Goodwin, Motion, Kevin Loring, Kim Senklip Harvey, Andrea Men- Daren A. Herbert, Stuart Hughes, Alex McCooeye, Michelle Monteith, ard, Andrea Scott, Hiro Kanagawa, Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu Dan Mousseau, Paolo Santalucia, Sugith Varughese THE TRAINING ROOM A CHRISTMAS CAROL CELEBRATION Presenters: Philip Akin, Nina Lee Aquino, Esie Mensah, Director: Michael Shamata Weyni Mengesha, Daniel Brooks Cast: Derek Boyes, Michael Shamata, Joseph Ziegler, Kaden Boland-Trowbridge, Kevin Bundy, Daniel Chapman-Smith, Oliver Dennis, Deborah Drakeford, Lucien THE SHOW THAT CHANGED MY LIFE Duncan-Reid, Matthew Edison, Kaia Esnard, Stephen Guy-McGrath, Margaret Hucu- Director: Frank Cox-O'Connell, Guillermo Verdecchia lak, John Jarvis, Tangara Jones, Eponine Lee, Ellora Patnaik, Krystin Pellerin, Jordan Presenters: Akosua Amo-Adem; Daniel Brooks, Jani Lauzon, Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu, Pettle, Henry Ziegler. Diego Matamoros, Courtney Ch'ng Lancaster, Lorenzo Savoini, Peter Fernandes, Nancy Palk, Lisa Nighswander, Guillermo Verdecchia, Weyni Mengesha A SOULPEPPER CHRISTMAS CONCERT Cast: Emily Schultz, Mike Ross, Fiona Sauder, Landon Doak, Alana Bridgewater, COFFEE CONCERTS Jacob Gorzhaltsan, Donavon LeNabat, Ryan Spratt, Joseph Ziegler, Jani Lauzon, Director: Mike Ross Meher Pavri, Nicole Bellamy, Andrew Downing, Travis Knights, Andrew Penner Cast: Oliver Dennis, Deborah Drakeford,SATE, Mike Ross, Frank Cox-O'Connell, Hailey Gillis, Raha Javanfar, Travis Knights, Nancy Palk, Sophie Ross AWAKENINGS: REVOLUTION OF LOVE Creators: Esie Mensah, Assata Shakur, d'bi.young anitafrika Director: Weyni Mengesha, Lucius Dechausay QUEER YOUTH CABARET Cast: Kemi King, Jay Northcott, Isi-Bhakomen, Erum Khan, Sofia Rodriguez, Liz Der, Augusto Bitter, Monica Garrido, Robbie Ahmed, Shaharah Gaznabbi COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS (RECORDINGS) 10 MINUTES OF JOY Cast: Daren A. Herbert, Pulga Muchochoma, Walter MacLean, Lisa Nighswander, Gloria Mok, Fiona Sauder, Landon Doak CURTAIN UP YOUTH WORKSHOPS 2020 ARTISTIC ACTIVITY 7 Community Conversations ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU Author / Creator: Raquel Duffy, Gregory Prest, Ken MacKenzie HOW SHE LEADS - 2020 Presenters: Andrea Vagianos, Monica Esteves, Nancy Webster, GUILLAUME CÔTÉ PROJECT Régine Cadet, Emma Stenning Author / Creator: Guillaume Côté THE ESSENTIALS ALICE IN WONDERLAND (WORKSHOP) Presenters: Philip Akin, DJ L'Oqenz, Amanda Parris, SATE, Weyni Mengesha Author / Creator: Fiona Sauder, Bad Hats Theatre WHEN SHE LEADS KITCHENER WATERLOO Presenters: Denise Donlon, Jill Andrew, Sarah Bay-Cheng, Samantha Nutt Author / Creator: Hailey McGee STAGING JUSTICE GUILLAUME