Homeless on the Range—Theatre without a Home

Abstract

Small theatre has to be adaptable and creative in order to thrive, but constantly moving homes can tax even the hardiest theatre company, let alone their audience. How does homelessness impact a small company? What’s the key to building a loyal audience that will follow a company from venue to venue? Does the tall shadow of a regional theatre in a smaller urban prairie community impact the creative life of new, struggling companies? This article explores the creative choices, challenges, and successes of several Regina-based companies that began homeless. How did lack of permanency affect these companies, and how did things change once they found a home? This article examines these questions, and explores the adaptability, creativity, and artistic choices formed by “homelessness on the range.”