Our story
A group of University of Saskatchewan students established 25th Street Theatre as an artist collective in 1972.
They would go on to officially incorporate in 1974 becoming the first professional theatre company in Saskatoon. As a producing theatre company, 25th Street Theatre became known for creating thought-provoking, new, Canadian plays that reflected the Saskatchewan experience. Among their most acclaimed plays were Jessica, Wolfboy, and Paper Wheat.
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Fringe Festival
In 1989, 25th Street Theatre expanded its program offerings to include the Saskatoon Fringe Festival.
For over 30 years, the Saskatoon Fringe has been a cultural landmark of Saskatoon supporting the creation of new work and artists who seek to work outside the traditional Canadian regional theatre model. As a member of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF), the Saskatoon Fringe is a part of an international network of Fringe Festivals which provides a platform for artists from around the world to travel across the country sharing their stories.
In 1999, due to financial constraints, 25th Street Theatre made the difficult decision to no longer produce their own shows. The organization chose to focus their efforts on the thriving Saskatoon Fringe Festival instead. Things carried on this way for 25th Street Theatre for over ten years, but then things changed.
Photography credit Nicole Stevenson
In 2020, 25th Street Theatre experienced two things for the first time:
1) the COVID-19 pandemic forced the first ever cancelation of the Saskatoon Fringe Festival
2) 25th Street Theatre received the largest financial gift in the organization’s history from Robert Steane.
The Festival was a combination of digital theatrical offerings, recorded panel discussions, small in person performances, children’s mini day camps, and community building projects. There were over 90 artists who participated in the Festival, and in a difficult time, received compensation for their work regardless of the viewership.
As a result of these two occurrences, 25th Street Theatre created This is NOT That (TINT) Festival in the summer of 2020.
While the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions continue to complicate the traditional way of making theatre, 25th Street Theatre has repeatedly proven for nearly fifty years that the organization is adaptable and resourceful. 25th Street Theatre is a vital part of Saskatoon’s vibrant cultural landscape.
Our Values
25th Street Theatre aims to think critically about what we do and how we do it in order to be an equitable and inclusive organization.
25th Street Theatre exercises good governance and manages our finances with due diligence. We make tough decisions if needed in order to stay financially viable.
25th Street Theatre has documented processes to maintain health and safety for our staff, artists, and community members. We create safe spaces for the community to engage in theatre.
25th Street Theatre fosters connection amongst the community, artists, and aspiring artists by bringing them together in unique, shared experiences.
25th Street Theatre makes decisions on procurement and program delivery with environmental stewardship as our guide.