Persephone Theatre

Persephone Theatre is a regional theatre company based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Established in 1974 by director Brian Richmond and sisters Janet Wright and Susan Wright, the company takes its name from Persephone, the Greek mythological figure associated with seasonal change and the underworld. From its beginnings, Persephone Theatre developed as a professional performing-arts organization serving Saskatoon and the wider Saskatchewan community. The company’s early years were marked by movement between temporary venues. Its inaugural season was presented at the Mendel Art Gallery, followed by a season at the University of Saskatchewan’s Greystone Theatre and a third season in the hall of St. Thomas Wesley Church. These arrangements reflected the practical challenges faced by a young regional theatre company while it established an audience, artistic identity, and operating base. In 1982, Hungarian-born theatre artist Tibor Feheregyhazi became Artistic Director. His appointment provided a period of sustained artistic leadership, and the following year Persephone Theatre moved into a former Westgate Alliance Church. The church conversion gave the company a more consistent home and supported its continuing development as a central professional theatre organization in Saskatoon. Feheregyhazi remained an important figure in the company’s history until his death, after a lengthy illness, shortly before Persephone moved to its present facility. A successful capital campaign enabled Persephone Theatre to relocate in 2007 to the Remai Arts Centre at River Landing on the downtown Saskatoon riverbank. The purpose-built arts facility expanded the company’s capacity for production, education, administration, and community use. Its principal spaces include a 421-seat proscenium Main Stage and a 150-seat black-box venue known as the Backstage Stage. The centre also contains classrooms, rehearsal halls, box-office and administrative areas, production workshops, costume facilities, and storage. In addition to hosting Persephone productions, the building can be rented by other cultural organizations and used for corporate or private events. From 2007 through 2020, Del Surjik served as Artistic Director. A Saskatchewan native, Surjik returned to the province after spending a decade as Artistic Director of Pi Theatre in Vancouver. Heather Cant, also Saskatchewan-born, assumed the Artistic Director role in 2021. In 2022, Breanne Harmon joined the organization as Executive Director after serving as General Manager of Green Thumb Theatre in Vancouver. Persephone Theatre’s current activities extend beyond a conventional subscription or repertory season. It presents a Mainstage season of professional productions, operates a second-stage program that supports youth theatre and community programming, and takes youth productions on tour throughout Saskatchewan. The Persephone School of Theatre provides classes and workshops for children, young people, adult amateurs, and theatre professionals. Through its performance venues, touring work, education programs, and facility partnerships, the company functions as both a producing theatre and a broader cultural resource for Saskatoon and the province.

Persephone Theatre was founded in Saskatoon in 1974 by director Brian Richmond and sisters Janet Wright and Susan Wright. The founders named the company after Persephone, the Greek goddess whose myth is associated with the changing seasons. The company’s first season took place at the Mendel Art Gallery. During its second season it used the University of Saskatchewan’s Greystone Theatre, and during its third season it performed in the hall of St. Thomas Wesley Church. These early venue changes were part of the company’s development before it secured a more stable operating base. In 1982, Tibor Feheregyhazi became Artistic Director. Born in Hungary, Feheregyhazi brought a sustained period of artistic leadership to the organization. In 1983, Persephone Theatre moved into the former Westgate Alliance Church. The building served as the company’s home for many years and supported the expansion of its professional producing activities in Saskatoon. Feheregyhazi died after a lengthy battle with cancer shortly before the organization’s later move to a new arts complex. Persephone’s next major transition was enabled by a successful capital campaign. In 2007, the company moved to the Remai Arts Centre at River Landing, a downtown Saskatoon facility situated beside the river. The centre was designed to accommodate the operational needs of a producing theatre. It includes a 421-seat proscenium Main Stage, a 150-seat black-box venue called the Backstage Stage, classrooms, two rehearsal halls, administrative offices, a box office, a scene shop, costume facilities, and storage. The building also serves the broader cultural community because its spaces may be rented by other arts organizations and used for private or corporate events. Del Surjik served as Artistic Director from 2007 to 2020. Originally from Saskatchewan, he returned from Vancouver, where he had been Artistic Director of Pi Theatre for ten years. In 2021, Saskatchewan-born Heather Cant became Artistic Director. The organization added another senior leadership change in 2022 when Breanne Harmon became Executive Director after working as General Manager of Green Thumb Theatre in Vancouver. The company’s present model combines a regular Mainstage season with programming in the smaller second-stage venue. The Backstage Stage is used for youth productions and community-oriented work, while youth tours extend Persephone’s reach across Saskatchewan. The Persephone School of Theatre offers workshops and classes for children, youth, adult amateur participants, and theatre professionals. The organization therefore operates not only as a theatre producer but also as an educator, touring presenter, community-programming provider, and manager of a multi-purpose performing-arts facility.

• 2022

  Breanne Harmon becomes Executive Director

  [1]Persephone Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Breanne Harmon joins the company as Executive Director.

• 2021

  Heather Cant assumes artistic leadership

  [1]Persephone Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Heather Cant becomes Artistic Director.

• 2020

  End of Del Surjik’s Artistic Director tenure

  [1]Persephone Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Del Surjik concludes a thirteen-year period as Artistic Director.

• 2007

  Relocation to the Remai Arts Centre

  [1]Persephone Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A capital campaign supports the move to the new River Landing facility, with expanded performance and production infrastructure.

• 1983

  Move to the former Westgate Alliance Church

  [1]Persephone Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Persephone Theatre establishes a longer-term home in the vacated Westgate Alliance Church.

• 1982

  Tibor Feheregyhazi becomes Artistic Director

  [1]Persephone Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Feheregyhazi takes over artistic leadership after a succession of shorter-term Artistic Directors.

• 1974

  Persephone Theatre is founded

  [1]Persephone Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Brian Richmond, Janet Wright, and Susan Wright establish the theatre company in Saskatoon.

A Saskatchewan-based regional theatre institution combining professional Mainstage productions with youth theatre, community programming, education, touring, and multi-use arts-facility operations.

• Professional theatre

  Mainstage season

  Persephone Theatre’s principal producing program presents a full season of professional theatrical productions in the 421-seat Main Stage at the Remai Arts Centre. The Mainstage is the company’s largest public-facing performance platform and anchors its role as a regional theatre serving Saskatoon and Saskatchewan.

• Youth and community theatre · 2007

  Backstage Stage programming

  The 150-seat Backstage Stage is a black-box venue used for youth productions, second-stage work, and community programming. Its smaller and more flexible format complements the larger Main Stage and allows the organization to support projects with different audience sizes and production requirements.

• Touring theatre

  Youth touring productions

  Persephone Theatre develops youth-oriented productions that tour throughout Saskatchewan. Touring extends the company’s educational and cultural reach beyond its Saskatoon base and brings live theatre to young audiences in communities across the province.

• Theatre education

  Persephone School of Theatre

  The Persephone School of Theatre provides workshops and classes for children, youth, adult amateur participants, and theatre professionals. Its educational offer supports participation, skills development, and contact with theatrical practice across multiple experience levels.

• Venue rental and events · 2007

  Remai Arts Centre venue services

  The Remai Arts Centre includes performance, rehearsal, production, administrative, and event facilities. In addition to housing Persephone Theatre, portions of the centre are made available to other cultural groups and for corporate or private events.

• 2007Remai Arts Centre capital campaign

  Saskatoon · Saskatchewan

  Persephone Theatre conducted a successful capital campaign to support the development and occupation of a new facility at River Landing.

  Outcome. The campaign enabled the company’s 2007 move to the Remai Arts Centre, expanding its performance, education, rehearsal, and production capacity.

  Source

• 2007

  Relocation to a purpose-built arts centreStrategy

  Background

  After years in temporary or converted premises, the company needed a facility that could support multiple stages, education, rehearsal, administrative, and production functions.

  Action taken

  Following a successful capital campaign, Persephone Theatre moved to the Remai Arts Centre at River Landing.

  Aftermath

  The move provided a 421-seat Main Stage, a 150-seat black-box second stage, classrooms, rehearsal halls, production shops, and spaces usable by other organizations and event clients.

  Source

1. 1Persephone Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Persephone Theatre official websitepersephonetheatre.org