Welcome and thanks for visiting our website.
Here is a bit of information about who we are and what we do!
MANDATE:
The Sunset Theatre Society was formed on March 29, 2000 to nurture, develop, create, present, and produce live Canadian Professional Theatre in the rural community of Wells, located on the shared, unceded, traditional territory of the Lhtako Dené, Xatśūll, and Secwepemc First Nations, in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia.
This goal is achieved through the Sunset Theatre's Presentation Series, Production Series and its signature Exploration Series. The Exploration Series was created to help emerging and established Indigenous and settler artists realize their creative ideas and brings them to life fusing various disciplines, cultures and styles. The Sunset nurtures artists at all levels of their career taking their work from page to stage. We seek to support each artist through their own unique and individual creative process in a safe and culturally sensitive environment. In addition, the Sunset also runs a host of events from film festivals, workshops, cabarets, concerts and local community and regional events.
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Sunset Theatre exists for the artist. It provides a safe, nurturing and supportive environment to promote the exploration and creation of new Canadian work by supporting the individual needs of each artist and their unique creative process. As the only professional theatre in the Cariboo/Chilcotin region of BC we strive to bring inspiring programming to our remote and rural community.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
The Sunset Theatre Society adheres to the best practices set out in the PACT Agreement (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres) and CAEA (Canadian Actors’ Equity Association). The STS conducts its operations around these practices for rehearsals, payscales, safety and technical standards. It pays SOCAN fees and has hired members of Canadian Actors' Equity Association. The Sunset is a member of the Wells Chamber of Commerce and the BC Touring Council.
FUNDING:
The Sunset Theatre Society is a not for profit Society. We are grateful for funding we have received from the BC Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Department of Canadian Heritage, Northern Development Initiatives Trust, The District of Wells and individual patron donors.
ABOUT WELLS & THE SUNSET:
The community of Wells was born out of a hard rock gold mining find in the 1930s. While gold mining still continues, today the main draw of people to this area is for cultural events and tourism. Wells is 8 kilometres from the national Barkerville Historic Site, which (in non-pandemic times) draws 65,000 visitors each year from around the world. It is 30 km from the famous Bowron Lake Chain, a bucket list destination for avid canoe enthusiasts from around the world.
Originally built in 1934 as a movie theatre the historic Sunset Theatre was purchased in 1999 by Executive Artistic Director, Karen Jeffery. Between 1999 and 2006, the Sunset was lovingly restored and turned into a more intimate live performance venue with the goal of bringing professional independent theatre to the Cariboo Region of British Columbia. The Sunset Theatre Society's inaugural season was in 2006. Over its 88 years, The Sunset has been a gambling house, town hall, and even a temporary morgue after a tragic mine explosion in the 1940s.
Now in its 16th season of programming, the Sunset Theatre Society has produced, presented, nurtured and developed dozens of professional theatre productions from across the country and right here at home. What began as a mission to bring new Canadian plays to life against the remote and beautiful backdrop of the Cariboo Mountains has burgeoned into a year-round company. Since opening its doors in 2006, the Sunset Theatre Society has presented over 65 professional theatre productions, has had over 100 new plays come through its Exploration Series, produced 12 in house new plays, hosted dozens of concerts, film screenings, rentals and much more. The Sunset has grown from offering a short summer season of programming into a sustainable year-round company producing and presenting world-class theatre in the heart of the Cariboo.
