Neworld Theatre

Neworld Theatre is a non-profit theatre company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1994 by Camyar Chai, the company describes its work as a place where social and artistic innovation meet, and it creates, produces and tours new plays, performance events and digital works. Its motto is 'plays well with others', and collaboration across perceptions of difference is central to its ethics and working method. Programming responds to the creative interests of Neworld's core artists as well as opportunities that emerge in relation to other artists and organizations. Over its history the company has produced, presented and toured multiple works annually at festivals and theatres in over 40 cities and 10 countries worldwide. Its mission is to centre stories and perspectives that seek to dismantle systems of oppression, interrogating whose stories are told and who does the telling. Neworld embraces conflict as inherent in any authentic consideration of power, privilege and access, and treats theatre's creative tools as practical modes for enacting change. Humour, vulnerability and invention are key strategies for engaging audiences. Leadership has evolved over three decades. Founder Camyar Chai led the company until 2005, when long-time collaborator Marcus Youssef became Artistic Director and Adrienne Wong joined soon after as Artistic Producer. Kirsty Munro was hired as the company's first manager in 2008, a period in which Neworld tripled its annual activities and budget and launched initiatives such as the shared performing arts production facility PL1422, mentorship support for younger companies and artists, expansion of its touring network, cultural advocacy and community programs. Adrienne Wong left her position as Artistic Producer in 2013 and Marcus Youssef became sole artistic leader. In 2015 Kirsty Munro left and Matt Moreau took over as Managing Producer, and the company began working with tour agent Dani Fecko to expand its international presence. Neworld's body of work includes early projects such as Leaky Heaven Circus, Crime and Punishment and The Adventures of Ali and Ali and the Axis of Evil; later productions including the West Coast premiere of My Name is Rachel Corrie, the collaborative creations HIVE, HIVE II and HIVE III and Everyone, and Adrift; and more recent highlights such as Peter Panties, PodPlays, Leftovers, Winners and Losers, and Eyes of the Beast: Climate Disaster Stories. The company has received numerous honours, including several Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards (including the Sydney J. Risk prize and Ray Michal prize), three Critics' Choice Innovation Awards, a Canadian Association of Journalists Award, two Arts Club Silver Commissions, the Seattle Times Footlight Award, the Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award, the Canada Council Staunch-Lynton Award and the Siminovich Prize. In 2026 its Eyes of the Beast: Climate Disaster Stories won a national PACT Green Award, and the company helped bring Vancouver's theatre community together for the first-ever Rumpus Awards.

Neworld Theatre was founded in 1994 by Camyar Chai in Vancouver, British Columbia. From the outset the company framed its work as a place where social and artistic innovation meet. Its early work fused elements of multiculturalism with performance styles derived from Euro-North American traditions. Notable projects from this era include Leaky Heaven Circus, Crime and Punishment and The Adventures of Ali and Ali and the Axis of Evil. In 2005 Camyar Chai left the company and his long-time collaborator Marcus Youssef became Artistic Director, with Adrienne Wong joining soon after as Artistic Producer. Notable projects of that period included the West Coast premiere of My Name is Rachel Corrie, the multiple company collaborative creations HIVE, HIVE II and HIVE III and Everyone, and Adrift, which won the Alcan Award and was commissioned by the Magnetic North Festival. In 2008 the company's first manager, Kirsty Munro, was hired. During this period Neworld tripled its annual activities and budget and began many initiatives that remain central today: the creation and management of the shared performing arts production facility PL1422, ongoing mentorship support to younger companies and artists, expansion of its touring network, engagement in cultural advocacy and regularly leading community programs. Production highlights from this time include Peter Panties, PodPlays, Leftovers, and Winners and Losers. In 2013 Adrienne Wong left her position as Artistic Producer and Marcus Youssef took over as sole artistic leader. In 2015 Kirsty Munro left and Matt Moreau took over as Managing Producer. With an interest in expanding its touring network, the company began working with Dani Fecko as its tour agent that year to increase its presence on the international stage. Since that time Neworld has brought its work to festivals and theatres in a dozen countries and 41 cities worldwide. Across its 31-year history, Neworld has produced, presented and toured multiple works annually at festivals and theatres in over 40 cities and 10 countries worldwide. Its mission centres stories and perspectives that seek to dismantle systems of oppression, interrogating whose stories are being told and who does the telling. The company embraces the conflict it believes is inherent in any authentic consideration of power, privilege and access, and treats the creative tools and artistic processes of theatre as powerful ways of exploring identity and lived experience and as practical modes for enacting change. Humour, vulnerability and invention are key strategies for engaging audiences. Major awards received over the company's history include several Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards, including the Sydney J. Risk prize and Ray Michal prize, as well as three Critics' Choice Innovation Awards, a Canadian Association of Journalists Award, two Arts Club Silver Commissions, the Seattle Times Footlight Award, multiple Jessie Richardson Awards, the Rio Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award, the Canada Council Staunch-Lynton Award and the Siminovich Prize. In 2026 the company announced its 2026–2027 season under the theme of awareness and affinity, continued its Yupi! Latin American Arts Family Festival and Moonweavings programming, saw its Eyes of the Beast: Climate Disaster Stories win a national PACT Green Award, and helped bring Vancouver's theatre community together for the first-ever Rumpus Awards.

• 2026

  Eyes of the Beast: Climate Disaster Stories wins a national PACT Green Award; first-ever Rumpus Awards held in Vancouver; 2026–2027 season announced.

• 2015

  Kirsty Munro leaves and Matt Moreau becomes Managing Producer; Dani Fecko begins as tour agent to expand international presence.

• 2013

  Adrienne Wong leaves as Artistic Producer; Marcus Youssef becomes sole artistic leader.

• 2008

  Kirsty Munro hired as the company's first manager; Neworld triples annual activities and budget and launches initiatives including PL1422.

• 2005

  Camyar Chai leaves; Marcus Youssef becomes Artistic Director and Adrienne Wong joins soon after as Artistic Producer.

• 1994

  Neworld Theatre founded by Camyar Chai in Vancouver, British Columbia.

A socially engaged, collaborative new-work theatre company that centres stories and perspectives seeking to dismantle systems of oppression, with a motto of 'plays well with others'.

• Leaky Heaven Circus

• Crime and Punishment

• The Adventures of Ali and Ali and the Axis of Evil

• My Name is Rachel Corrie

• HIVE, HIVE II, HIVE III

• Everyone

• Adrift

• Peter Panties

• PodPlays

• Leftovers

• Winners and Losers

• Eyes of the Beast: Climate Disaster Stories

• Yupi! Latin American Arts Family Festival

• Moonweavings

1. 1Neworld Theatreneworldtheatre.com
2. 2History – Neworld Theatreneworldtheatre.com
3. 3About – Neworld Theatreneworldtheatre.com
4. 4Values – Neworld Theatreneworldtheatre.com
5. 5Neworld Theatre – Wikidatawikidata.org