Realwheels Theatre Explained

Realwheels Theatre
Genre:Disability theatre
Location:Vancouver, British Columbia
Artisticdirector:Tomas Mureika

Realwheels Theatre is a Canadian disability theatre company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Realwheels was founded in 2003 by James Sanders and has since received multiple Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and nominations.

History

In 2000, James Sanders — an actor who became quadriplegic in 1990 — and Trevor Found created the Realwheels Ad Hoc Collective, which would eventually break out into Realwheels Theatre.[1] They began by producing plays without a disability centred story.

After the success of these productions, Sanders, in 2003, founded and incorporated Realwheels Theatre as a registered non-profit. Sanders has described Realwheels' mandate as being to promote "a deeper understanding of the disability experience."[2] James Sanders held the Artistic Director position until 2014 when Managing Director, Rena Cohen, assumed both roles.[3] In 2021, Realwheels, welcomed Tomas Mureika into the Artistic Director role.

Realwheels' first major production since its founding was Skydive in 2007, which Sanders commissioned from playwright Kevin Kerr and starred in alongside actor Bob Frazer. It won the 2007 CITT/ICTS Award of Technical Merit.[4] In 2010, Realwheels worked with Kerr again, co-producing Spine, a play commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.[5]

In 2019, Realwheels announced that Kirsten Kirsch would be its inaugural playwright-in-residence, with her residency beginning in 2020.[6] In 2020 and 2021, Realwheels adapted their in-person theatre approach to include virtual community performances. In May 2021 Wheel Voices: Tune In! premiered with a virtual cast.[7]

The Realwheels Acting Academy was established in 2021, inviting its first cohort of students for September 2021.[8] The program is designed for people with disabilities. Supported and created in part by disability community members, the Realwheels Acting Academy aims to increase the direct participation of people with disabilities in the cultural landscape and make systemic change.[9]

In 2023, Realwheels celebrated their 20th anniversary. The 20th anniversary season included Saturday Night At Axles, a piece commissioned from the company's new artistic associate Adam Grant Warren, Faye’s Room by Alex Masse, Vascular Necrosis by Jordyn Wood, and the radio play Disability Tour Bus.[10] [11]

Production history

Community productions

Realwheels community performances include any artist that self identifies as living with disability who wants to be involved.[12]

Professional productions

Awards and nominations

!Year!Award!Category!Work!Results!Notes!Ref.
2007Jessie Richardson Theatre AwardsOutstanding Direction - Large TheatreSkydivefor Roy Surette and Stephen Drover[23]
Outstanding Choreography - Large Theatrefor Sven Johansson
Outstanding Sound Design - Large Theatrefor Alessandro Juliani and Meg Roe
2014Outstanding Performance by Actor in a Lead Role - Small TheatreWhose Life is it Anyway?for Bob Frazer[24]
Outstanding Production - Small Theatre[25]
Outstanding Lighting Design - Small Theatrefor Adrian Muir
Outstanding Direction - Small Theatrefor John Cooper
2017Outstanding Costume Design - Small TheatreCreepsfor Christopher David Gauthier[26]
Outstanding Set Design - Small Theatrefor Lauchlin Johnston[27]
Outstanding Direction - Small Theatrefor Brian Cochrane
Outstanding Production of a Play - Small Theatre
Significant Artistic Achievement - Small Theatrefor Outstanding Ensemble Performance

References

  1. Book: Johnston, Kirsty. Stage Turns: Canadian Disability Theatre. McGill-Queen's University press. 2012. 9780773539945. 37–38.
  2. Book: Johnston, Kirsty. Stage Turns: Canadian Disability Theatre. McGill-Queen's University press. 2012. 9780773539945. 167.
  3. Web site: Criscitiello. Alexa. May 18, 2021. Realwheels Theatre Announces New Artistic Director Tomas Mureika. August 3, 2021. BroadwayWorld.
  4. Web site: List of CITT/ICTS Awards. August 3, 2021. Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology.
  5. Chui. Jane Wong Yeang. 2011. Idealizing and Unraveling the Possibilities of Virtual Realities in Kevin Kerr's "SPINE". TDR. 55. 3. 173–177. 10.1162/DRAM_a_00115. 23017942. 57558747. 1054-2043. JSTOR.
  6. Web site: Smith. Janet. 2019-12-04. Realwheels Theatre names Toronto's Kirsten Kirsch as its new playwright in residence. 2021-03-11. The Georgia Straight. en.
  7. Web site: Smith. Charlie. May 5, 2021. Realwheels Theatre tunes in to the power of music with its newest show. August 10, 2021. Georgia Straight.
  8. Web site: Smith. Janet. May 10, 2021. Realwheels Theatre's Wheel Voices: Tune In! marks festive farewell for artistic director Rena Cohen. August 10, 2021. Create a Stir.
  9. Web site: Hirose. Alyssa. April 30, 2021. Realwheels Theatre Launches Free Acting Academy for Persons with Disabilities. August 10, 2021. Vancouver Magazine.
  10. Web site: Harowitz . Sara . 2023-09-15 . Realwheels Theatre is turning 20, baby! . 2024-01-15 . The Georgia Straight . en.
  11. Web site: Lyth . Emily . 2023-09-17 . Realwheels Theatre announces 20th-anniversary season, welcomes artistic associate Adam Grant Warren . 2024-01-15 . Stir . en-US.
  12. Web site: July 2021. Realwheels. August 10, 2021. Melange: Accessibility for all.
  13. Web site: Siebert. Amanda. 2015-06-11. Super Voices features the stories and talents of the disability community. 2021-03-11. The Georgia Straight. en.
  14. Web site: Duggan. Brittany. 2016-05-11. Disability and sex meet on-stage in SexyVoices. 2021-03-11. The Georgia Straight. en.
  15. News: 2017-05-12. Comedian Tanyalee Davis: 'I have the right to be able to say the word midget if I want to'. CBC Radio. 2021-03-11.
  16. Web site: Thomas. Colin. 2007-01-31. Skydive. 2021-03-11. The Georgia Straight. en.
  17. Web site: Jay. Alexandre. 2020. The Show Must Go On. 2021-03-11. Pacific Rim Magazine. en.
  18. Web site: Usinger. Mike. 2015-01-21. Drummer Dave Symington finds new rhythm in Re-calculating. 2021-03-11. The Georgia Straight. en.
  19. News: 2016-12-04. Creeps play presents 1970s look at life with disability. en-US. CBC. 2021-03-11.
  20. Web site: Smith. Janet. 2019-04-10. True story of sudden healing spurred the hard questions behind Realwheels Theatre's Act of Faith. 2021-03-11. The Georgia Straight. en.
  21. Web site: Zillich . Tom . 2022-04-07 . 'Peter Pan' comedy, 'Sound of Music,' Carole King musical, more coming to Arts Club stages - Surrey Now-Leader . 2022-08-18 . Surrey Now Leader . en-US.
  22. Web site: Wild . Stephi . 2022-08-09 . Realwheels Theatre Presents IN CAMERA Next Month . 2022-08-18 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
  23. News: Birne. Peter. 2007-06-19. Smaller companies come up big at the Jessie Awards. Vancouver Sun. 2021-03-11. PressReader.
  24. News: 2014-06-24. Jessies celebrate local theatre; Deep Talent pool: With 70 eligible productions, judges had lots of people to reward. C2. The Vancouver Province.
  25. News: Morton. Brian. 2014-05-21. Bard on the Beach festival grabs 15 Jessie nods. C1. Vancouver Sun.
  26. News: Smith. Janet. 2017-05-23. Arts Club and its Angels in America, Part One lead Jessie Richardson Theatre Award Nominations. The Georgia Straight. 2021-03-11.
  27. News: Lederman. Marsha. 2017-06-27. Canadian play Creeps a big winner at Jessie Awards in Vancouver. The Globe and Mail. 2021-03-11.

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