Space Girl marks 14th digital presentation for Prairie Theatre Exchange
iPhoto caption: Photo by Joey Senft
Winnipeg’s Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE) continues its commitment to producing digital theatre with its new filmed version of Frances Koncan’s Space Girl.
Though the comedy about an influencer born on the moon had its live premiere at PTE last March, this digital iteration of the show will make it accessible to audiences outside Winnipeg.
This is PTE’s 14th digital presentation since the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to shift operations online.
The company’s first all-digital season, 2020/2021, opened with the world premiere of Katharsis by Yvette Nolan. The commissioned film, shot on PTE’s empty mainstage, was a direct response to the pandemic’s effects on theatre artists and audiences, as well as a reflection on where those changes might lead us.
Katharsis was followed up with two digital works produced at PTE (Post-Democracy by Hannah Moscovitch and VOICE by Ismaila Alfa), plus two presentations of already filmed works (Frequencies by Aaron Collier, produced by HEIST, and 1 Hour Photo by Tetsuro Shigematsu, produced by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre).
Alongside a return to live performance, 2021/2022 brought five more online presentations to PTE, with an added focus on works by Indigenous artists, including The War Being Waged by Darla Contois (recently nominated for a Governor General’s Award), and Deer Woman by Tara Beagan, produced by ARTICLE 11 in partnership with Downstage. Each digital production employed multiple cameras and filmmakers to transform the experience in its journey from stage to screen.
In a press release, the company wrote that their commitment to providing digital experiences has “allowed the company to connect with new audiences by offering the freedom to engage with a production whenever, wherever, and however it suits them best.”
Space Girl will be available for streaming through Prairie Theatre Exchange from January 17 to 28. Tickets are available here.
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