Lunchbox Theatre is full of activity lately. They announced their 2011-2012 season, started the Soapbox Speaker Series featuring Mayor Nenshi as the first speaker and the Suncor Energy Stage One Festival of New Work runs from June 10-25, 2011. Luckily, Pamela Halstead, the artistic director for Lunchbox Theatre, was able to get away long enough to answer my 5 Questions plus a BONUS question.
Lunchbox Theatre is the world’s longest running lunchtime theatre, what makes a Lunchbox play?
The key to the most successful shows at Lunchbox Theatre have been local playwrights that have been through the Suncor Energy Stage One Festival so the audience is invested in the development of the play itself and has had input into the content and creation.
Have there ever been any repeats?
There have been a number of repeats though most noteworthy is The Life History of the African Elephant by Clem Martini which then was also made into a film. A number of shows have gone on to production in other places across the country.
Why did Lunchbox Theatre add the new Soapbox Speaker Series and invite Mayor Nenshi as your first speaker?
The Lunchbox Soapbox Series was created to engage the audience in a different sort of dialogue and to bring people into the theatre who may not be aware of who we are and what we are doing. THe Lunchbox Soapbox will also help raise funds for Lunchbox Theatre. Nenshi is a great first speaker because of his public profile and popularity.
If time and space were no object, who would you like to see on the Soapbox next?
A fascinating speaker would be Richard Florida, the author of The Rise of the Creative Class, which looks at why smart communities and smart investors are looking to the arts as the fastest growing new economy.
Is there a play you’re particularly looking forward to for the 2011-2012 season?
I am particularly fond of The Whimsy State or The Principality of Outer Baldonia by AJ Demers which chronicles the real life story of an eccentric Washington lawyer and some fishermen from Yarmouth who declared and island off the coast of NS a sovereign nation in 1948 and ended up declaring war on Russia. Fact is sometimes stranger than fiction!
BONUS: What’s next for Lunchbox Theatre: sandbox, black box, boombox or Xbox?
We are already a black box and if the speaker system is on full it is a boom box of sorts! So perhaps we could be all of the above!!
If you haven’t been to Lunchbox Theatre yet you should try it (there are a few evening show on Fridays and Saturdays). Who would you like to answer 5 Questions next?
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I find it fascinating that this story still captivates the attention of people. I like reading about the Principality of Outer Baldonia and I’m happy to be related to someone in this story.