Curtain Call: Farewell Bash for Theatre Iconoclast Martin Kinch
/Playwrights Theatre Centre (PTC) invites you to a farewell party for its outgoing literary manager and executive director, Martin Kinch, on November 19.
Throughout his impressive career, spanning four decades and multiple Canadian cities, Martin has been at the vanguard of modern Canadian theatrical expression. He forged the movement toward the development of original Canadian plays in the early 1970s and spearheaded the creation of alternative theatres in Canada as founder of Toronto Free Theatre in 1972. He was a drama producer at CBC Radio (1980-86) and artistic director of Theatre Calgary from the late 80s to early 90s. He moved to Vancouver in 1993. Martin is also a writer, editor, director, dramaturg and UBC creative writing instructor and has written for television, film, radio and the stage.
Dubbed by many as “the original hipster”, Martin has shared his diverse tastes, vast knowledge and penetrating curiosity to galvanize a new generation of theatremakers.
Over his trailblazing 10-year tenure (2002-12) at PTC, Martin transformed the organization from primarily a new play reading centre to a dramaturgically focused company that fosters Canadian playwrights. He is responsible for creating several playwright-centred programs at PTC including Flying Start, The Dramaturgical Reading Program, The Associates, The Writers Colony and The News. He also pioneered, with Adrienne Wong, the notion of the pod play through PTC’s PodPlays – The Quartet, a collaboration with Neworld Theatre, the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival 2011 and CBC Radio One.
"PTC has been transformed by Martin's incredible artistry and generosity," says incoming artistic and executive Director, Heidi Taylor. "It's a legacy I am inspired to continue."
A great believer in gender equality and parity, Martin leaves a great legacy to PTC: when he exits, the organization will be run entirely by women. "Martin is one of the best feminists I know," says Heidi. "He has such a commitment to promoting women leaders in the arts, and he created real opportunities for me to take risks, fail, and try again."
As Martin prepares to hand over the script to Heidi on December 1, PTC is staging a farewell bash for him at The Waldorf on November 19, 2012. Come, raise a glass and share/hear stories as we applaud Martin Kinch's incredible odyssey as a fountainhead of modern Canadian theatre and his new status as PTC's first Dramaturg Emeritus.
Date: Monday, November 19th, 2012. Doors 7:30 p.m., music 8 p.m., last call 11 p.m.
Venue: The Cabaret, Waldorf Hotel (1489 East Hastings Street, Vancouver)
RSVP: Appreciated; stop by regardless: party@playwrightstheatre.com
FREE
Featuring Kris Elgstrand’s Songs of the Sad Sack, music from Carol Sawyer and Joel DeStefano and tunes from Martin’s personal playlist.
