Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP) is hitting a point of transition as it celebrates its 50th season as an established presence in Calgary’s theatre landscape.
Throughout its history the company has been known for being a great many things and has changed and evolved a great many times. Its offerings have run the gamut from developing contemporary Canadian pieces to musicals to classics, but ATP has always been known to push the envelope.
But what is ATP at this moment of it’s 50th anniversary? And what does it want to be?
Artistic Director Haysam Kadri says that is a question the current team is looking to find an answer to.
“Ultimately, ATP does edgier work, it does what we would consider a little more challenging content. Material that might provoke more conversation.”
The new season brings dark comedies, stories of adult deception, sacrifice, triumph, but also a return of Charlotte’s Web — one of the most popular productions in ATP’s history.
ATP was started in the 70’s and performed out of the Canmore Opera House at Heritage Park. In the 1980s the company took over the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons, doubling its seat size from about 200 at the Opera House to 419.
In recent memory the company is perhaps most well known for its work with developing original works through the Enbridge Playwrights Awards and the PlayRites festival that ran from 1987 until 2014.
During that time, ATP would produce the original works in addition to its regular season. Many of those shows would go on to become theatrical phenomena.
Calgary actor and talk show host Dave Kelly was part of one such show in 1989 by then new playwright Brad Fraser.
“I did not realize that Unidentified Human Remains put him on the map…. the theatre didn’t know what to do because it was lined up, and it was this massive smash hit that they did not see coming.”
Brad Fraser’s works would go on to become some of the most widely produced shows in Canada and internationally.
The PlayRites festival productions would share set space and actors, and as time went on the limitations of that model became prohibitive leading to ATP cancelling it in 2014.
Artistic Director Haysam Kadri says at the height of PlayRites ATP was alone in programming and workshopping new Canadian works, but now that is more commonplace.
“So it is not anything we can hang our hats on anymore, but there was a time when the spotlight in the country was on Calgary,” he says.
In 2020, the man at the helm of the company died quite suddenly of cancer. Darcy Evans was both the executive and artistic director and was credited with bringing the company out of a deficit and into a surplus within just two years.
Evans died within months of discovering the cancer.
What followed for ATP, including the pandemic has been a period of flux in leadership for the company.
The first hire to replace Evans’ position, Rohit Chokhani was only in the post for about a year before abruptly vacating in 2022. ATP never publicly provided explanation for his departure beyond saying he was no longer with the organization.
Kadri took the role of artistic director in the spring of 2023. Kadri is well known for his work in Calgarian theatre as an actor and director, he comes to ATP after 11 years working with Calgary’s Shakespeare Company as its artistic director.
Peita Luiti was hired as executive director in January 2024. She comes from Quest Theatre where she helped rework the strategic plan of the company that is known for touring Alberta schools and hosting summer camps.
After holding a limited season for 2023-2024 aptly titled “Short Season, Big Drama,” the company under new leadership has big plans for the company’s 50th.
This season begins on Oct. 15 with The Seafarer, starring Canadian acting icon Paul Gross.
Luiti says there is a sense of honour taking ATP into the future because of its rich history and dedicated supporters. She says some patrons have been subscribers for more more than four decades and always heeds the call for help.
“Several times the organization has gone out and said, ‘we need to raise money to survive’ and the community has always stepped up.”
Kadri says the new season is both a tip of the hat to the past and a nod to what he wants the company to do in the future.
But what does ATP hope to be in the future? What space will it hold in Calgary’s theatre landscape for the next 50 years?
At this point, neither person has a direct answer. But look forward to finding one.
Luiti says this year is all about finding their feet and making it through the weeds- but next year they are planning to take the time and answer the big questions with a strategic session.
“I am really looking forward to a time where Haysam and I can work with our board and work with our stakeholders at that more strategic level.”
The first show of ATP’s new season, The Seafarer, opens on Oct. 15.