COMPANY HISTORY

Scott Bellis in Vern Thiessen's Back to Berlin, photo by Aaron Bushkowsky.

Solo Collective began life as the Solo Co-op in 1999 with "Two By Two," written by Aaron Bushkowsky and Shawn Macdonald. Since that time, the company has been exploring that very challenging and intimate theatrical form, the dramatic monologue. Our critically-acclaimed solo shows bring together three playwrights, three directors and three actors to create a unique evening of theatre.

To date, Solo Collective productions have earned 23 Jessie Richardson Theatre nominations for writing, directing and performance, with five awarded.

In 2006 Solo Collective branched out to the development and premiere of full-length, multi-character plays with "Landscapes of the Dead." Since then, we have alternated annually between monologues projects and full-length scripts.

In 2004 Solo Collective began its Annual Emerging Writers Competition. Held each spring (for the past two years in cooperation with the Playhouse Theatre Company) this competition reaches out to emerging writers from across Canada. All applicants receive feedback on their work from two dramaturges, with the top five monologues being selected for ongoing dramaturgical assistance and a public staged reading at our SOLO FLIGHTS showcase evening.

In 2004 Solo Collective also initiated a Dramaturge Intern program to assist in the development of emerging dramaturges. The programs first two participants were Kris Nelson and Xanthe Faulkner, who have continued on into successful theatrical careers, and Solo Collective is currently working with the talented Nicole Gordon.

Solo Collective is a professional company that operates under the Canadian Actor's Equity Association ITA agreement, a registered charity, a Member of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance (GVPTA), and an affiliate of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT).

Since 2000 Solo Collective has been part of Vancouver's independent theatre initiative See Seven, which offers people the chance to see seven shows for $97.

See Seven has become an integral part of Vancouver's independent theatre scene - one of the hottest theatre tickets in town.


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