THE REMARKABLE RESILIENCE OF WESTERN GOLD THEATRE

by Sonya Kuitenbrouwer
(click images to enlarge)

In the world of local theatre, anticipation is building for the upcoming main stage production by Western Gold Theatre – A Doll's House Part 2 — a play written by Lucas Hnath and directed by Seamus Fera.

**Western Gold Theatre’s general Manager Glenn MacDonald and artistic director Tanja Dixon-Warren.** *(KDM Photo)*

As the story goes, fifteen years after Nora Helmer famously slammed the door on domestic life, a knock resounds at the same door. Nora is making her return, and this promises to be an exciting continuation of the classic Ibsen play, exploring traditional gender roles and the complexities of human relationships in a clever way.

“Sometimes a play just jumps at me,” explained artistic director and cast member Tanja Dixon-Warren, and “that's what this one did.”

“I knew within the first four pages that I wanted to program it. I loved the text, the words, the way it was written. Western Gold has always leaned into text-based work, and I love the notion of re-visiting a classic — but in a very contemporary way. I love the way it explores marriage and gender roles and power struggles. And it’s funny. That is always a bonus! Plus I quite enjoy shaking things up a bit – encouraging people to think about things differently and through new eyes,” Dixon-Warren elaborated, adding the script provide opportunites for the companies’ designers to be creative and think outside the box.

“Our budget is always super tight so innovation is always something I am looking for; ways to use the lovely, intimate PAL Theatre (the little jewel in the sky, I call it) to its best advantage,” Dixon-Warren said.

The context of this much-awaited performance is also intriguing.

Western Gold Theatre, like many others, have faced unprecedented challenges over the past few years due to the pandemic. In 2020, they were forced to cancel their in-person productions due to pandemic-related restrictions, leaving both artists and audiences yearning for the magic of live theatre.

However, instead of succumbing to the adversity, Western Gold has showed remarkable resilience and adaptability. They quickly shifted gears, introducing Virtual Gold, an online platform that allowed theatre performers to continue sharing their craft with the world. In 2020, during the inaugural year of Virtual Gold, they presented three podcast-style story readings, offering a lifeline to theatre enthusiasts and actors during a time when live performances were hard to come by.

The company also began organizing online workshops on play translation, providing a unique learning experience for artists and audiences alike. In 2021, Western Gold further expanded Virtual Gold into three sections: Listen, Learn, and Look, offering an array of online theatre experiences.

As the restrictions of the pandemic began to loosen, Virtual Gold transitioned from virtual to in-person productions, recording pieces for online viewing. This year Virtual Gold has continued to thrive, producing nine captivating pieces including a seven-episode series titled Pinch Penny Poker Players.

Understanding that COVID is not over yet, and that many theatre-goers are uncomfortable in some public situations, the November 22 performance of A Doll’s House Part 2 is a “Masks Mandatory” event.

Glenn MacDonald, production and general manager for Western Gold, reflects on these challenges, telling TWEJ that, at the height of the pandemic, their company “worked on the development of a new translation of The Ballad of Georges Boivin, and we brought that to the stage as our first show. So when we came back in 2021, it did okay, but only about 50 percent of the box office we used to get."

The unwavering dedication of the Western Gold team, combined with the loyalty of their viewers and performers, continues to keep this vital piece of local arts alive and well.

**Speak No Evil (Melissa Oei as Nora), Hear No Evil (Tom McBeath as Tovald), and See No Evil (Tebo Nzeku as Emmy) in *A Doll's House Part 2*.** *(Javier Torres Photos)*

“I’m really trying to honour the tagline Anna Hagan coined, ‘creativity has no expiry date!’,” said Dixon-Warren, speaking about Western Gold’s commitment to employing older actors.

“I’m trying to do this with all our programming, and keep as many senior artists working as possible, finding work that is super well-written and allows them to do things they don’t always get to do anymore, and by putting them in roles that people don’t always expect. There are very few roles written for people over the age of 50, and most confirm preconceived notions of old people. Did you know the median age for working actors in their prime is 37 for women and 46 for men? I’m trying to change that, for example by having all the cast in our recent production of The Importance of Being Earnest be seniors – even the young lovers! Or by producing Seventeen, where actors in their 60s played 17-year-olds.”

“I have also always loved working with young people. I like bringing people together, all ages, all walks of life So I am putting heavy focus on the mentorship part of our mandate, and not just us old folks sharing what we know with them, but equally importantly what these bright, fabulous, and creative minds and talents can teach us. And boy, oh boy, they have a lot to teach us! This is my jam! For A Doll’s House Part 2, instead of bringing on an emerging director as an assistant, and basically trying to learn by watching and listening, we gave Seamus Fera the reins and have hired a well-establish director to be his mentor. We have done the same with stage management. I think this is cool. I think one always learns best by doing,” Dixon-Warren said.

With A Doll's House Part 2 as the headline for the 2023 season, Western Gold Theatre embodies the indomitable spirit of theatre professionals and their unyielding dedication to bringing stories to the stage.

Those interested in supporting Western Gold Theatre can find more information and ticket links on their website here.