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Innovation
Communication
Collaboration
The Theatre Centre is committed to developing, presenting and producing diverse, innovative live performance through the collaboration between artists, staff and community. The Theatre Centre provides artists with the space, funding and mentorship to make their art – from idea to production. The Theatre Centre is committed to new work and new ways of working.

 
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MISSION
The Theatre Centre is committed to developing, presenting and producing diverse, innovative live performance through the collaboration between artists, staff and community. The Theatre Centre provides artists with the space, funding and mentorship to make their art – from idea to production. The Theatre Centre is committed to new work and new ways of working.

WHO WE ARE
The Theatre Centre is a leading proponent for theatrical exploration in Toronto and nationally across Canada. We offer production and development opportunities for emerging and established artists to create new work. The Theatre Centre also produces and presents performances covering and crossing a range of genres including theatre, dance, music, forum discussions, installation, performance art, film, and new media.

A series of programs are offered to assist in developing new approaches to performance creation:
1. The Scratch Program: Scratch is an itch to make art. Free space – no expectations.
2. Residency Program: a two-year new work development program.
3. Production: partnering with independent companies to bring their work to larger audiences.
4. Move the Work: helping promote artists’ work at other venues in Canada and abroad while also playing host to relevant work from other communities that will inspire Toronto artists and audiences.

The Theatre Centre, located in the heart of the West Queen West art and design district, operates and manages a 150-seat flexible theatre for home programming, co-presentations, and for rental. The Theatre Centre has been an integral part of this community for over half of our thirty-one year life.
 
  



 
The B.A.A.N.N Theatre Centre was founded in 1979 by a co-operative of five independent theatre companies - Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Autumn Leaf Theatre, AKA Performance Interface, Necessary Angel and Nightwood Theatre - who wanted a space to create, rehearse and present new work. This group of artists went on to define a generation and inspire a new way of thinking about performance in Toronto.

It was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1981, with registered charitable status. By the mid-1980s the companies left, and The Theatre Centre remained to assist other emerging artists and groups. In 1984 The Theatre Centre established it’s R+D (Research and Development) program and became the leading proponent for theatrical exploration in the city.

Over the past thirty-one years, The Theatre Centre has supported an unprecedented number of companies, productions, artists and ideas and continues to cultivate an environment that assists artistic risk takers: Jennifer Tarver, Chris Leavins, Sarah Stanley, bluemouth inc., Ame Henderson, ATSA, Cathy Gordon, Independent Aunties, Juliet Palmer, Michael Rubenfeld, One Reed Theatre, Jon McCurley & Ame Lam, Susanna Hood, and Ravi Jain.

THE THEATRE CENTRE TODAY
Franco Boni has been the Artistic Director of The Theatre Centre since 2003. The Theatre Centre is currently located at 1087 Queen Street West as part of the Great Hall building. In 2013, The Theatre Centre will be moving to 1115 Queen Street West having secured a 25-year long-term lease from the City of Toronto. For more information on our 1115 Queen Street West Capital Campaign click here.

The Theatre Centre continues to support artists and new work.

In 2004 The Theatre Centre established the Residency Program – a structured two-year program in which The Theatre Centre provides 4 to 5 artists / companies with the necessary space, funding and mentorship to craft ideas still in their infancy into finish products that are both provocative and innovative.

Through the Residency Program, The Theatre Centre has assisted numerous local and national companies, individuals and ideas including Public Recordings, One Reed Theatre, Why Not Theatre, Die in Debt, Turtle Gals, urbanvessel, Independent Aunties, Sarah Stanley & Nick Carpenter. This year’s Residency Companies are Aluna Theatre, Kitchenband Productions, Project Humanity and Santa Guerilla.

The Theatre Centre presents/co-produces work, primarily work that pushes the boundaries of conventional performance and blends together a variety of disciplines.

In 2002 The Theatre Centre presented its first FREE FALL – a festival dedicated to celebrating innovative multidisciplinary work. Now in its fifth year, Free Fall continues to present a spectrum of new work by emerging and established artists from across Canada.

Over it’s 31-year history, The Theatre Centre has co-produced a number of highly successful and widely recognized productions, garnering over twenty Dora nominations and awards.

The Theatre centre also supports artists/companies by offering heavily subsidized rental rates.