Rylie Perry, Contributor |
In celebration of its 50th anniversary season, Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP) is putting on the classic tale of Charlotte’s Web.
Presenting a nostalgic bedtime story with a new face, the team at ATP hopes to inspire wonder and connection in their audiences.
Based on the novel written by E.B. White in 1952, Charlotte’s Web tells the story of Wilbur, a scrawny livestock piglet. When his life is put at risk, Wilbur leans on his unexpected spider friend, Charlotte, who is determined to prove that he is worth saving.
Returning to the Martha Cohen Theatre for a third time, the play has been reworked by Joseph Robinette. Unlike previous productions, however, this adaptation is paying homage to the history of ATP while still moving in a new, fresh direction.
“It is going to be a brand new version of Charlotte’s Web,” says Haysam Kadri, ATP’s artistic director.
“Those who have seen it before are going to come to a completely different show, with a different design, a different topography, and a different way of communicating the same story.”
Kadri is a Mount Royal University alumni with a vivid passion for injecting arts into society. He is responsible for hiring artists, designers, directors, and also connects directly with the community.
Above all, however, Kadri is in charge of curating the theme of their yearly productions to guide viewers through a season of different experiences and life lessons. This year’s season is humanity and the human condition in all its forms.
The opening production, The Seafarer, not only garnered them more subscribers than any in the past 15 years, but it also broke every ticket record in the history of Alberta Theatre Projects.
“The Seafarer is an amazing, poetic play,” Kadri says. “It really navigates the tumultuous ease of human frailty and redemption.”
The third production of the season, King James, is an exploration of the role sports and fandom play in relationships, while the fourth production, Liars at a Funeral, is a comedy piece that delves into humour and heartache.
By highlighting the human experience, ATP aims to touch audience members this anniversary season. Kadri said what they love to see is audience members identify with a voice they never thought they would before.
“We want the audience to transform. We want them to learn something new and we want them to be shocked or surprised. When they live vicariously through our storytelling, they are accessing different emotions that they might not have access to regularly,” he says.
It is the talented team behind these productions that enables ATP to be a trailblazer in terms of developing plays and playwrights, which helps them produce quality, contemporary theatre.
“You need to have faith in the team that you’re hiring, and I have such faith in every single human that is a part of this entire 50th anniversary season,” says Kadri.
Rebecca Northan, the director of ATP’s Charlotte’s Web, connects with audience members by infusing energy and excitement into all of her projects. Kadri notes that it is her leadership that has truly guided the production and breathed life into the story.
“The playwright is the first character of every play because a play does not exist without pen to paper,” he says. “[But] it is for the audience. They’re the final character of every play. We could be rehearsing the show for years, but if no one’s there to witness it, it doesn’t exist.”
Northan’s innovative techniques for engaging and understanding audiences align seamlessly with the theme of community in Charlotte’s Web, making the production accessible and appealing to viewers of all ages.
“It is one of those plays that is about connection and community. It is all about invoking nostalgia for older generations, but also excitement for the younger generations coming in,” Kadri says.
The play will feature elaborate costumes and designs unlike those from previous adaptations, with many of the main characters outfitted in full animal regalia, while others are brought to life through puppetry.
“It’s really a dynamic kind of platform to work with,” Kadri exclaims.
The play is set to run from Nov. 26 to Dec. 29. Showtimes are at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., varying from Tuesday through to Sunday. Tickets start at $35 and are available for purchase on the Alberta Theatre Projects website.
ATP is weaving a web to remind Calgarians that while the cold winter nears, nothing warms the heart like community and bedtime stories.
“They’re gonna spin some magic,” Kadri says.
Rylie Perry is a Contributor for The Reflector 2024-2025.
