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Globe Theatre is a significant part of Saskatchewan’s heritage. It has been here for many years and continues to provide the city with homegrown art and entertainment. This year is the Saskatchewan Centennial so I thought that showing the importance of Globe in our city would be an appropriate topic to research. I will talk about the theater itself, the people involved in making the magic and how it has contributed to the city.
Globe Theatre was founded in 1966 by Ken and Sue Kramer, making it Saskatchewan’s first professional theatre company. Ken and Sue were an accomplished actor and actress in the theater and film industry. Globe began as a 6 actor touring company that went from school to school. By 1970 the Kramer’s were granted enough funding that they could start two separate companies; the School Tour, and the Main stage Company. The main stage productions being based out of the Saskatchewan Center of the Arts. By 1973 Globe was in desperate need of their own theater, and soon after they moved into the old bank building on 11th Ave. In 1978 Globe Theater again had to move out of their present building to accommodate the Cornwall Center. Globe Theatre then relocated temporarily to the historic Trianon Ballroom for a year while the new location was being prepared. And finally in 1980 Globe moved into the Prince Edward building, formerly known as the City Hall and Post Office, a designated Heritage Site. Today Globe still has the same location. The theatre has a 20x20 stage and can seat up to 409 people. The CEO is Ruth Smillie and it is governed by a volunteer board of directors. It is also is a not-for-profit organization. Globe offers six main stage productions a year and one season highlight that runs for six weeks during Christmas time. Other shows are also cast during a year, including the three productions featured in the Shumiatcher series. Globe Theater is acclaimed to many firsts in the history of Saskatchewan and Canada. It was Saskatchewan’s first professional theater company and to this day it is still Saskatchewan’s largest Arts organization. In Canadian history it was the first ever theatre-in-the-round, first theatre to do color blind casting and first to have a full-time playwright in residence. This man’s name was Rex Deverell and he worked there writing plays from 1975-1989. Besides putting on theatre productions Globe offers many other programs. Here are some that they offer student mentorship program. This program is one of a kind in Canada. This program provides hands on experience or observation of working professionals. With this youth gain understanding to the behind the scenes activities. They get to work in areas such as wardrobe, props and stage management. This program also offers work placements. Lanterns on the Lake has been hosted by Globe Theater every August for six years. It is an outdoor festival that celebrates the art, beauty and the community. It is located at Wascana Park. Approximately 12,000 spectators come to watch the 100’s of hand made lanterns parade around the lake. Globe Theater also provides a summer Theatre camp, which has two parts; Theater Making and Putting it All Together. The Theater Making half is dedicated to the skill development in many areas in the theater making process. Putting it all Together uses everything learnt in the previous section and is used to make a production that is preformed at a later date. In the past Globe Theatre has put on many fundraisers to pay for theatre costs. In 1998 the “$1,000,000 Imagine This!” capital campaign began to pat for renovations that provided added comfort safety and comfort the theatre and lobby. And in 2000 the theatre partnered with the Regina Palliative Care Unit leading up to, and during the performance of “Wit”. This partnership provided critical resources for the theatre and raised over $14,000 for the unit at the Pasqua Hospital. Two of the more recent fundraisers include The Globe Theatre Lottery and the “Take Your Seat Campaign”. This campaign allows people to purchase a seat in the Theatre for $300 dollars. In purchasing this seat you get a gold brass plate engraved with whatever name you choose on it. You could use your name, a business name or even a pet! This plate will be put on that seat and will remain there for up to 15 years. Globe also takes donations whenever they are offered, and any amount that you contribute entitles you to certain perks. Every Theater production needs a director, and that is the job of Ruth Smillie. Ruth has many jobs. She is a director a playwright, an actress, a theatre educator, and o mother of three. Ruth was born in 1954 in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, and since then she has earned recognition all over Canada. Ruth Smillie has taught acting at the University of Alberta, Severed on the touring advisory for Canada Council for Arts for three years. She has also won numerous awards, such as Edmonton’s Annual Professional Theatre Awards, the University of Saskatchewan Alumni Honor Award, and the Queen Golden Jubilee Medal. And so, in 1998 when Ruth Smillie was appointed artistic director of Globe the theatre was very fortunate. Her directing work on the main stage includes; Amadeus, Elizabeth Rex, Last Call, Honk, The Wizard of Oz, Wit, A Perfect Ganesh, Grace, and Two Weeks With the Queen. All of these have been great successes that the audience has enjoyed immensely. While she has been at Globe she also produced and put together Lanterns on the Lake, and initiated the Shumiatcher Sandbox series. All in all I think that the Globe Theater is a great part of our heritage in Saskatchewan. It has contributed much art and culture into the city and the province, providing enjoyable entertainment in a much-loved casual atmosphere. Globe Theatre is an amazing and unforgettable and should be experienced by all. |
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Bibliography Globe theatre web site, Feb 2005 http://www.globetheatrelive.com/ Ken & Sue
Kramer, Hall of Fame Inductees,©
2001
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| This Ken and Sue Kramer's biography that came off of a website that honored some inductees into their Hall of Fame. I used it to find information on the founders of Globe Theatre. | |
| This is the website of the Saskatchewan Arts board. Here you will find out stuff about their organization and what they do. I used this website to find out about their awards they have given out to some people who were involved with Globe. | |
| This is the Globe Theatre home page where we got most of our information from. It includes show times, reviews, background information and much more. |
