• We promote and present puppet theatre, sculpture, and conventional theatre and to provide education in these areas.
• We facilitate collaborative production of puppet shows, sculpture, theatre and related art.
• We provide a facility that encourages varied and eclectic artistic endeavors.

Upcoming

• Fall 2023: World Premiere of a Trout version of PETER & THE WOLF, created for partnership with symphonies and orchestras, beginning with Fort Worth Texas
• Fall 2023: the Old Trout designed HANSEL & GRETEL will play at Kentucky Opera
• Fall/Winter 2023/24: 2 tours to Europe, including dates in France, Italy and Spain, of FAMOUS PUPPET DEATH SCENES

Recent Accomplishments: 2022 – 2023

• June 2023:  FAMOUS PUPPET DEATH SCENES played 4 performances in Singapore
• Jan/Feb 2023:  FAMOUS PUPPET DEATH SCENES played at the Barbican Theatre in London, UK, as part of the London Mime Festival, and then toured to 3 cities in France
• August 2022: FAMOUS PUPPET DEATH SCENES played for the SECOND time at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Pre-2020

• September 2019:  3 sold out shows of FAMOUS PUPPET DEATH SCENES at the World Puppetry Festival (Festival Mondial des Theatres de Marionettes) in Charleville-Mézières, France.
• May 2019:  World Premiere of GHOST OPERA at the Banff Centre, followed by 8 sold out shows at THE GRAND Theatre in Calgary
• August 2018: 23 performances of FAMOUS PUPPET DEATH SCENES at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest, to 3,700 patron (86% attendance) at the largest theatre festival in the world.
• May-June 2018: Tour to Malaga and Granada, Spain and Lyon, France with new show: JABBERWOCKY
• February 2018: Re-mount of TWELFTH NIGHT in partnership with Theatre Calgary and the National Arts Centre, which was honoured with 5 Betty Mitchell Awards, including Best Show, Set Design, Direction, Supporting Actor and Costume Design.

Awards:

Doug and Lois Mitchell Award for Calgary’s Outstanding Artists – 2016

Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta Distinguished Artists Medal – 2013

Calgary Mayor’s Award for Innovation in the Arts – 2008Create and Tour the World with New and Marvelous Puppet Shows

• We conceive, devise, wrangle and puzzle together a new, and hopefully inspired and entertaining puppet show every two or three years.
• When we’ve got a show ready to go, we take it out on tour; in Canada, North America and Europe, including places like France, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Romania, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

Apprenticeship Program

• We recruit, hire and train artistic apprentices to accompany us in the development of the afore-mentioned New and Marvelous Puppet Shows

Film Program

• We have made, and continue to explore, the application to puppetry art through video, television and film in an effort to help finance the theatrical efforts of the company

Education

• We partner with the Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry (CAMP) to teach the art of puppetry through programs such as Banff Centre Puppetry Intensive, New England Puppet Intensive, and various workshops to artists, teachers and the general public

The Workshop

• We operate a creation space in Southeast Calgary we affectionately call Fort Trout, which includes a woodshop/workshop, rehearsal studio, office and meeting space,  storage, and a yard. When not being used by us, this space is available at a discounted rental rate to theatre groups for rehearsals, meetings and creative endeavors.  Significant rate reductions are available for DEIA-focused groups.

The Old Trouts are ever so grateful for the support of volunteers, donors and supporters. Upcoming, we have opportunities for people to be involved with us:

• Financial support of creating and touring a new show. Sponsorship opportunities exist to be associated with developing productions and touring them in Canada and abroad. If you would like to help us and “Become a Trout”, we’d be glad to have you join us – feel free to reach out to talk about how you want to help, if you are interested in discussing something different than a straightforward donation.

• Volunteer support of fundraising. We appreciate anyone who can lend a hand as a casino volunteer, or assist us with our fund-raising events. We can offer complimentary tickets to our shows in exchange for a donation of your time. We can also make our Studio space available to volunteers for their own private events and creative endeavors. If you have any questions or would like to help by volunteering, please send us an email or give us a call: 403-508-4929.