Despite the challenges faced by many first-year undertakings, Cochrane’s inaugural theatre season is being billed as a success – and organizers hope to do it all again next year and continue growing the town’s performing arts scene.
“We had a lot of good feedback, and the people that came wanted to have more performances in Cochrane,” said Daunia del Ben, artistic director of Teatro dell’Eco. “That’s great.”
Last year, Teatro dell’Eco teamed up with Laurie Stalker and Tracy Brooker, the Town of Cochrane’s manager of recreation, culture and the arts, to put together a season of performances, including a concert by the Vaughan String Quartet in February, Cochrane Vision Theatre’s Screwtape in April and Del Ben’s own dramatic contribution, Dreaming Alberta – which was commissioned to creatively share a message about the town’s new organic waste collection program.
While the first three shows were well attended, the last of the four productions, an improv play by The Grindstone Comedy Theatre, was cancelled shortly before its May 12 and 13 run due to lack of ticket sales.
“We put a lot of energy into that and especially with the last performance, we were not that happy,” Del Ben said.
Del Ben said theatre companies survive with three streams of support: tickets, sponsorships and grants. Being rookies to the scene, the organization didn’t yet qualify for most available grants, she said, adding Teatro dell’Eco worked with just one sponsor.
“This is what we’re going to do for next year: work more for the sponsorships,” she said, adding the group also plans to organize a larger-scale fundraising event and possibly sell 2018 advance tickets and full season passes at this summer’s upcoming farmers’ market.
“I hope it’s going to happen,” she said, adding she, Stalker and Brooker will meet in the next week or so to officially debrief and discuss all the options on the table for next year and she’s excited to dig into the all the new challenges a sophomoric season of theatre will bring.
“It’s just a matter of persisting, waiting – and then keep going.”
