This season features feminism, unshakeable characters and noteworthy conversations.

In short, we think this season will be a lot of F.U.N.

Our Shows

(TAYLOR’S VERSION)

sEPTEMBER 21 TO 24, 2023 at bIG secret theatre, arts commons

It’s a typical Tuesday night. Josie, Callie, and a reluctant Abigail are dressing up like hipsters, making fun of their exes, and adventuring through their happy, free, confused, and lonely love stories. And by the way, they’re going out tonight.

(Taylor’s Version) joyfully indulges in the feminine to reveal that our guilty pleasures serve a more vital purpose than we give them credit. Part ode to female friendships, part Taylor Swift conspiracy theories, (Taylor’s Version) has something for non-Swifties and Swifties alike!

DRACULA: A FEMINIST REVENGE FANTASY

October 10 to 13, 2024 at BIG SECRET THEATRE, ARTS COMMONS

Seamlessly moving through humour and horror, Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy boldly reimagines Bram Stoker’s classic tale, Dracula.

Turning the table on the original tale’s unquestioned male dominance, Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy still features vampires and yet finds new monsters just beneath the skin. The gothic tropes of villains who wear evil on their sleeve and damsels in distress are replaced by all-too-human monsters and ferocious women who stab at the heart of the patriarchy itself.

Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy exposes the absurdity of gender stereotyping and confronts the sexism in Bram Stoker's original work, turning it into a feminist revenge fantasy.

“God should have made girls lethal when he made monsters of men” — Elisabeth Hewer

Nothing now, check back soon!

35//50

DEAR CALGARY ARTS COMMUNITY,

DIY Theatre recently received a letter from the 35/50 Initiative, and we would like to publicly acknowledge and commit to this initiative. We look forward to updating the community with our actionable plans as they continue to develop and take shape. In the meantime, expect that we are:

1) Reviewing our current Code of Conduct for ways that we can include and address a zero tolerance for contributing to unsafe work environments

2) Writing and implementing racial and gender harassment policies with the goal of releasing, at a minimum, a draft version prior to any future productions, and having completed versions out in late 2020/early 2021

3) Actively seeking to engage the BIPOC community by using more open and welcoming language in postings for production team and auditions beginning immediately

4) Continuing talks with other theatres in the community. We’ve been in discussions with companies on a national level by actively engaging in PACT Town Halls and seminars for the past few months. We are also engaging with our local Calgary Theatre community in discussions on how we can work together to change the culture and climate of the arts in this city; and

5) Furthering our education as individuals

We are happy to report that we have already met the 35/50 Initiative goal numbers for women/non-binary/trans representation, but will continue to do the work in engaging and creating a welcoming space for all artists moving forward. We welcome any feedback, comments or concerns from both the public, and any artists we’ve worked with in the past.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Artistic Director Shelby Reinitz at info@diytheatre.org. We are in this together.