The vision
of the Shenkman Arts Centre as a place where the arts
will thrive is abundantly clear with the benefits
it has brought to the Orléans-based Rag & Bone
Puppet Theatre.
Established
in 1978 by Kathy MacLellan and John Nolan, before the Shenkman
Arts Centre opened in 2009, Rag & Bone was primarily
a touring childrens puppet theatre company, performing
at venues and events organized by others, such as childrens
festivals, theatres and schools.
When
we saw the Shenkman being built in our own neighbourhood,
we were inspired to create our own series of performances,
explains MacLellan. Wed be able to work closer
to home, build our own audiences and develop more projects
with other artists.
Now incorporated
as a non-profit organization, Rag & Bone took full advantage
of having an artistic hub within their community.
With
the expertise of the Shenkman Arts Centre staff and the
support of AOE Arts Council, we successfully applied for
municipal and provincial funding to strengthen our organization
and its capacity, she says. We learned how to
book a venue, publicize a show, run a box office and develop
audience-building collaborations.
From its
first self-presented performances in a small Shenkman studio,
Rag & Bone is now able to hire support staff and present
its programming in the 150-seat Richcraft Theatre. It has
also expanded to perform in venues across the city, including
the GCTC, Centrepointe and the Nepean Creative Arts Centre.
For the
first time, Rag & Bone performed at the 2017 Ottawa
Fringe Festival.
MacLellan also gave back to the arts community by serving
for seven years on the board of directors of AOE Arts Council,
three of them as president.
Other
opportunities for growth became available with the closure
of Salamander Theatre, a Theatre for Young Audiences company,
including the administration of the long-running three-week
Shakespeare Camp at Billings Estates.
John and
Kathys daughter, Rosemary, first attended the camp
when she was 10.
It
was a perfect fit for her, recalls MacLellan. She
was a shy, bright, imaginative child who loved language
and theatre. At Shakespeare Camp she found a place where
she felt she belonged and she loved spending time each summer
with a group of fantastic, like-minded peers.
Now a
university graduate, Rosemary was mentored by the camps
founding director Eleanor Crowder, and is returning for
her third summer as camp director. The camp, for 10 to 18
year olds, runs from July 4 to July 21, and will conclude
with three performances of Two Gentlemen of Verona.
We
were really happy to take over the camp because it is such
a fantastic experience for young people, says Kathy.
Unless
bad weather forces them to work under a tent, camp participants
rehearse and perform outdoors, as was done in Shakespeares
time. It is a great way to escape technology and be
outside screen free for three weeks,
adds Rosemary.
For more
information about the camp, or to register, visit www.ragandbone.ca/Pages/shakespeare_camp.html
or call them at 613-824-5972.
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)