Touchstone Theatre is a professional theatre company in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1976 by a group of University of British Columbia theatre graduates. Touchstone's focus is on the development and production of Canadian works. The current Artistic Director is Katrina Dunn, who has served in that position since 1997. Former Artistic Directors are Ian Fenwick, Gordon McCall, John Cooper and Roy Surette.
Touchstone Theatre's stated mandate is that it "develops and presents professional theatrical productions. We explore the contemporary Canadian play through content and form. We stimulate public interest in Canadian cultural perspectives."
In fulfillment of its mandate, much of Touchstone's activities have fallen into one of three categories: it mounts premiere productions of plays by British Columbian playwrights; it mounts second productions of important plays that premiered in other areas of Canada; and it produces works developed within the company. Touchstone has helped launch and develop the careers of numerous playwrights and actors. Touchstone, with the Playwrights Theatre Centre, also fosters the creation of new works through its "Flying Start" initiative (previously the "Playwright in Residence" program). Under the program, Touchstone spends two years working with a playwright to develop a play through workshops and dramaturgy to production.
Since 2011, in partnership with the Arts Club Theatre Company, Touchstone produces the "In Tune Conference", which supports new Canadian musicals in a national event which takes place every two years.
As of its 40th anniversary in the 2015-2016 season, Touchstone will have produced 36 World Premiers and works by 42 Canadian playwrights. Touchstone has helped launch and develop the careers of numerous playwrights and actors.
At the start of the 1997-1998 season, Katrina Dunn succeeded Roy Surette as Artistic Director. Dunn created the "Playwright in Residence" program, which has resulted in many plays, including Kevin Kerr's Governor General's Awards-winning Unity (1918). In 2010, the Touchstone program focussed on female Canadian playwrights.
In 2003, Touchstone partnered with Rumble Productions to found the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, a performing arts festival held every January in Vancouver, BC.
Touchstone's body of work has garnered many awards and nominations, including numerous Jessie Awards. By the end of Touchstone's 38th season in 2014, Touchstone had earned 106 Jessie nominations and won 57 Jessie Awards.
In 2010, Artistic Director Katrina Dunn was recognized by the Women’s Caucus of the Playwrights Guild of Canada, who awarded Dunn with its "Bra D'Or" for supporting and promoting the work of Canadian female playwrights.
Touchstone Theatre had produced the following plays, some in partnership with other theatre companies.
1976/1977The Exception & the Rule by Bertolt BrechtThe Farce of Pierre Patelin by AnonymousKing Stag by Carlo Gozzi1977/1978Faces in the Fast Lane A collective creationBroken Dolls A collective creationGullband by Susan Musgrave1978/1979The Unseen Hand by Sam ShepardHot Rods & Heavy Water by Michael PuttonenAngel City by Sam Shepard1979/1980HIGHBALL! by Ronald Weihs1980/1981Revenge by Howard BrentonGames by Ivan Klima1981/1982The Man Himself by Alan DruryThe Crackwalker by Judith Thompson1982/1983The Wolf Boy by Brad FraserClay by Lawrence Jeffery1983/1984Children of the Night by Paul LedouxCheckin’ Out by Kelly Rebar1984/1985Sex Tips for Modern Girls A collective creationWhite Biting Dog by Judith Thompson1985/1986Going Down for the Count by Peter Eliot WeissEl Crocodor A collective creationNancy Prew: Clue in the Fast Lane by Beverley Cooper1986/1987Life Skills by David KingFarther West by John Murrell1987/1988Red Channels by Jennifer Martin & Leslie MildinerZaydok by Dennis FoonThree Penny Opera by Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill1988/1989Bones by Peter AndersonToronto, Mississippi by Joan MacLeodJewel by Joan MacleodLost Souls & Missing Persons by Sally Clark1989/1990Where is Kabuki? by Don DruikHomework & Curtains by John LazarusLocal Colour by David King1990/1991The Invisible Detective by Peter Eliot Weiss with song by Ken MacDonald and Morris PanychUnidentified Human Remains & The True Nature of Love by Brad Fraser1991/1992Lion in the Streets by Judith ThompsonA Map of Senses by Gordon Armstrong1992/1993The Number 14 A collective creationThe Hope Slide by Joan MacLeodIceberg Lettuce by Katherine Schlemmer1993/1994Whale Riding Weather by Bryden MacDonaldLilies by Michel Marc BouchardWAK! by Sheri-D Wilson and Savannah Walling1994/1995The Visit by Friedrich DürrenmattThe Erotic Art Show by Kathryn Allison1995/1996When We Were Singing by Dorothy DittrichThe Orphan Muses by Michel Marc Bouchard1996/1997Sex in Heaven by Gordon ArmstrongSled by Judith ThompsonBoy Wonder (In partnership with Ballet British Columbia and Vancouver New Music)1997/1998The Weekend Healer by Bryden MacDonaldGrace by Michael Lewis MacLennan1998/1999The Good Person of Setzuan by Bertolt Brecht, Marguerite Steffin and Ruth BerlauPassion by Conrad AlexandrowiczCherry Docs by David Gow1999/2000It’s All True by Jason ShermanJe me souviens by Lorena Gale15 Seconds by François Archambault2000/2001Kilt by Jonathan WilsonKicked by Michael HealeyUnity(1918) by Kevin Kerr2001/2002Sucker Falls by Drew Hayden TaylorEmphysema by Janet MunsilHosanna by Michel Tremblay2002/2003Lisa Lisa by Rick DobranApple by Vern ThiessenThe Family Way by Kathleen Oliver2003/2004Unity(1918) by Kevin KerrThe League of Nathans by Jason Sherman2004/2005Strawberries in January by Evelyne de la ChenelièreThe Trigger by Carmen Aguirre2005/2006Little Mercy’s First Murder Book & lyrics by Morwyn Brebner, music by Jay Turvey and Paul SportelliProdigal Son by Shawn Macdonald2006/2007Life After God by Michael Lewis MacLennanHippies and Bolsheviks by Amiel Gladstone2007/2008How It Works by Daniel MacIvorThe Dissemblers by Jason BrydenTideline by Wajdi Mouawad, translated by Shelley Tepperman2008/2009Age of Arousal by Linda GriffithsEast of Berlin by Hannah MoscovitchInfluence by Janet MunsilPalace of the End by Judith Thompson2009/2010Any Night by Daniel Arnold, Medina Hahn and Ron JenkinsDemon Night by Shawn MacdonaldHerr Beckmann's People by Sally Stubbs2010/2011Mimi (Or A Prisoner's Comedy Lyrics and music by Allen Cole, book and lyrics by Melody A. Johnson and Rick RobertsHard Core Logo: Live Adaptation by Michael Scholar, Jr., based on the book by Michael Turner, film by Bruce McDonald, and screenplay by Noel S. Baker. Original Music by Joe Keithley, lyrics by Michael TurnerLove Songs By Ana Sokolovic2011/2012Almighty Voice and His Wife by Daniel David MosesGoodness by Michael RedhillShelter from the Storm by Peter BoychukTrue Love Lies by Brad Fraser2012/2013Dancing With Rage by Mary WalshEternal Hydra by Anton PiatigorskyHaunted by Daniel KarasikIn Tune Conference2013/2014Hirsh Created by Alon Nashman and Paul ThompsonNight by Christopher MorrisThe Concessions by Briana BrownThe Romeo Initiative by Trina Davies2014/2015In Tune 2015Late Company by Jordan TannahillThe Road Forward Created by Marie Clements