Sunset Theatre

The Sunset Theatre is a professional theatre located in Wells, British Columbia, in the Cariboo region of Canada. It operates as a non-profit society, the Sunset Theatre Society, which was formed on March 29, 2000 to nurture, develop, create, present and produce live Canadian professional theatre in the rural community of Wells. The theatre sits on the unceded, shared traditional territory of the Lhtako Dené, Xatśūll and Secwepemc First Nations. It describes itself as the only professional theatre in the Cariboo/Chilcotin region of British Columbia, and its mission is to serve artists by providing a safe, nurturing and supportive environment for the exploration and creation of new Canadian work. The Sunset's programming is organized around three main strands. Its Presentation Series has hosted over 60 productions from professional theatre touring companies and artists. Its Production Series is home to original professional theatrical productions created by Sunset Theatre collaborators and artists, both local and far-flung. Its signature Exploration Series gives emerging and established Indigenous and settler artists a week of full access to the theatre and an adjacent suite in order to bring an artistic vision to life, fusing disciplines, cultures and styles. Beyond theatre, the Sunset also runs film festivals, workshops, cabarets, concerts and local community and regional events; its cabaret is described as a mostly monthly event running since 2006. The theatre is a small but active cultural anchor in a remote rural community. It adheres to the best practices of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and the Canadian Actors' Equity Association (CAEA). Its operations are supported by staff and a board, and it offers rentals of its facilities. The venue itself is also recorded as a former cinema in Wells, British Columbia, reflecting its earlier life before becoming a live theatre. Because the Sunset Theatre is a non-profit society rather than a commercial chain, its "brand" is its venue, its programming identity and its role as a regional professional theatre. It does not sell consumer products; its offerings are performances, artist residencies and community events. Its audience is both local and visiting, and its website serves as the main public face for its calendar, rentals and history.

The Sunset Theatre Society was formed on March 29, 2000, with a mandate to nurture, develop, create, present and produce live Canadian professional theatre in the rural community of Wells, British Columbia. Wells is a small community in the Cariboo region, and the theatre occupies a building that is recorded as a former cinema in Wells. The society established itself as the only professional theatre in the Cariboo/Chilcotin region of BC, bringing touring and original work to a remote and rural audience. Over the years the Sunset developed three core programming strands. The Presentation Series has hosted more than 60 productions from professional theatre touring companies and artists. The Production Series has mounted original professional theatrical productions created by Sunset Theatre collaborators and artists, both local and far-flung. The signature Exploration Series was created to help emerging and established Indigenous and settler artists realize their creative ideas, bringing them to life by fusing various disciplines, cultures and styles; participants receive a week of full access to the theatre and an adjacent suite. The theatre also runs a cabaret, described as a mostly monthly event since 2006, along with film festivals, workshops, concerts and local community and regional events. The Sunset operates on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Lhtako Dené Nation, shared with the Secwépemc Peoples, and also acknowledges the Xatśūll First Nation. It adheres to the best practices set out in the PACT Agreement (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres) and the Canadian Actors' Equity Association (CAEA). As a non-profit society, it is governed by a board and staff, and it offers its facilities for rentals. Its website documents its staff, board, rentals and history, and serves as the public calendar for its programming.

• 2023

  Photo of Jim Hodgkinson and Amy Newman at work on Meadows of Stone, 2023.

• 2006

  Cabaret described as a mostly monthly event since 2006.

• 2000

  Sunset Theatre Society formed on March 29, 2000.

The only professional theatre in the Cariboo/Chilcotin region of British Columbia, focused on new Canadian work and artist development in a rural setting.

• Presentation Series

  Hosts touring professional theatre productions and artists; over 60 productions hosted.

• Production Series

  Home to original professional theatrical productions by Sunset collaborators and artists.

• Exploration Series

  A week of full theatre access and adjacent suite for emerging and established Indigenous and settler artists to develop new work.

• Cabaret

  A mostly monthly cabaret event running since 2006.

1. 1Sunset Theatre official websitesunset-theatre.com
2. 2About Us — Sunset Theatresunset-theatre.com
3. 3Sunset Theatre — Wikidatawikidata.org