Backstage @ Mainstage

Welcome to all the wonderful things that lay behind the proscenium...

President's Reception and Opening Ceremonies: The President's Reception is held prior to the first Mainstage presentation on the opening evening of the festival. Refreshments, entertainment and a silent fundraising auction are often provided to welcome registrants and public. Opening ceremonies, which take place in the lobby of the theatre, just before the first Mainstage presentation, involve local, provincial and federal representatives as well as cultural personalities and TBC executives. Open to all ticket holders.

Coffee Critiques: Each morning an in-depth discussion about the previous day's competitive play(s) is led by the Adjudicator, with the cast and crew of the play. Open to Registrants as part of their registration package and the public by admission, these sessions are an opportunity to explore in more detail, the insights presented by the Adjudicator during the brief public adjudication following the previous evening's production(s).

Green Room Socials: Following each evening of theatre on the Mainstage, audience members, cast & crew, staff and volunteers are invited to enjoy good company, good food and a relaxing atmosphere to unwind, share friendships and ideas, and lay back after the excitement of the day. A theme for each evening's Green Room may be incorporated.

Traditional for the final Friday Night Green Room is the appearance of the "Grand Poobah", who oversees the swearing of allegiance to the "MAINSTAGE Oath" by all Festival "Virgins. The Green Rooms are open to everyone. There is a $10.00 cover charge (Green Rooms are included in Registration Packages).

Backstage Courses: A series of performing arts workshops, instructed by professionals, are scheduled throughout the week (daytime). Running in 3 hour blocks, these sessions may offer more hands-on participation to people wishing to learn more about many aspects of theatre. Topics may include acting, direction, playwriting, stage managing, musical theatre, acting for the camera, Improv, and Technical, Set and/or Costume Design. Participation is open to registrants and the public by pre-registration. Pricing is reasonable and is based on a per block fee. Student and Multiple block discounts are available.

The Annual General Meeting of Theatre BC is held on the final Saturday afternoon of the MAINSTAGE festival. Theatre BC's election of officers takes place during this General Meeting.

Silent Auction: Donations of goods and services are collected by the Host Committee (fundraising) for inclusion in a Silent Auction. The items are displayed in the theatre lobby or reception area, with bid sheets for signing or ticket receptacles for adding purchased vouchers with name and phone number. At the end of the MAINSTAGE week, the items would go to the highest bidder or the name drawn from each respective ticket receptacle. This is normally done between the final performance and the Awards Ceremony.

Final Night Awards Ceremony: The Awards Ceremony takes place on the closing Saturday evening of the festival. Thespian Trophies, Theatre BC's equivalent to the Tony Awards, are awarded, as selected by the Adjudicator, in 16 catagories from the competitive productions. Also awarded are the Eric Hamber Award (for significant and ongoing achievements in Community Theatre - Theatre BC's most prestigious award) and the Theatre BC Diamond Award (for significant annual support of Community Theatre) are presented to an individual or company that best reflects our core values. The Awards Ceremony is a separate ticketed event and is open to all.