For the over 40 years, Lunchbox Theatre has played a unique and important role within the Calgary arts community by creating, producing and disseminating original one-act plays, with a focus on new Canadian works. We want to take our audiences to new places by exploring socially relevant issues in a contemporary context.
The culture in Calgary is growing and we are happy to contribute by providing a place for people to experience professional live theatre. At Lunchbox we believe that theatre has the ability to energize the city, while reinforcing a sense of strong cultural appreciation and community. Lunchbox Theatre is a part of Calgary’s past, and with your help we can ensure its success in the future.Core Season
Six professional productions, with evening and noontime performances, in the downtown core. Our programming includes comedies, musicals, dramas, and everything in between. Recent commercial and critical hits include Inner Elder by Michelle Thrush, The Santaland Diairies by David Sedaris, and Ai Yah! Sweet and Sour Secrets by Dale Lee Kwong.
RBC Emerging Director Showcase
Lunchbox offers one of two season-long professional training programs in Canada. With the generous support of the RBC Emerging Artist Project, the Emerging Director assists on 3-4 productions, and directs their own full professional show at the end of the season. Emerging Director alumni include Valerie Planche, Simon Mallett, Jenna Rodgers, Valmai Goggin, Paul Welch, and Aaron Coates.
Lunchbox To Go
This unique and vital initiative was developed to provide high quality, professional theatre experiences to Calgarians who have difficult attending shows in the downtown core. We tour one of our core season shows annually, and we focus on reaching seniors care communities and community centres across Calgary. By removing barriers and simplifying accessibility, we are able to engage with a highly under serviced section of our community.
Stage One Festival of New Canadian Work
For more than 30 years Lunchbox Theatre has been dedicated to the creation, development and production of new Canadian one-act plays, many of which have gone on to great acclaim after their premiere on our stage. Every year, we accept 6-9 plays for a week of workshopping with professional dramaturges and actors. Each week culminates in a free public reading where our artists and audiences can engage with each other and discuss the work in development.There are a variety of ways you can support and engage with Lunchbox Theatre:
Get closer to the work we put on stage by Adopting an Artist! Through this program, you will have the chance to individually support once of the many professional artists in our season for the length of one production run. For your contribution of $1000, you will have exclusive access to observe the rehearsal process, lunch with your adopted artist, invitations to exclusive events, and much more!
Individual donations can be made in person or over the phone with our Box Office Manager. Online donations can be made on our website through ATB Cares, and will be matched by 15% thanks to ATB Financial.
If you feel the work Lunchbox is doing aligns well with your company, we offer a variety of ways for businesses to get involved, including corporate donations, adopting an artist, or sponsoring a production. Please contact Artistic Producer Samantha MacDonald at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more.