The competition was fierce and judges, Geoff McBride and Mary Harvey had their work cut out for them but fortified with briber of chocolate, cake, and alcohol they made their difficult decisionfrom the impressive works presented.
Ottawa newcomer, Melanie Karin accepted the coveted Rubber Chicken Award on behalf of 411 dramaturgy co. for her one woman performance and with it, the bragging rights as Ottawa’s Best Theatre Company.
Other Awards went to:
High Tide Theatre, Best Use of Child Labour; Vintage Stock, Most Excellent Use Of Fart-producing Props; A Company of Fools, Best Dying For Your Art Award; Crush Improv, Most Effective Use of Raw Meat in a Family Drama.
The Plant Porno Award for the Most Suggestive Use Of The Word Phototropism And Shout Out to the LGBTP Community was awarded to Black Sheep Theatre, while the Most Generous Bribe –more specifically getting the Adults to buy us booze Award, was given by the judges to the youth theatre Suzart Productions. GRIMprov walked away with the Best Product Extension Award for their use of Girl Guide Lettuce, with honorable mention as the Most Pregnant Emcee Ever going to the lovely Teri Rata Loretto.
The net proceeds from the Ottawa Theatre Challenge will go towards the GCTC’s “Taking Care of (unfinished) Business” capital campaign. The national theatre community was recently shocked at the closing of the Vancouver Playhouse, one of Canada’s leading regional theatres. Our own flagship regional theatre is working to eliminate a debt incurred as they moved into their larger, custom-built facility. This new facility has been a boon to the local theatre community, providing much needed additional studio space and providing mentorship opportunities for our emerging and independent theatres. We thought there was no fitter way to say thank you for all the GCTC has done for the theatre community than to help ease the burden of debt.
Thanks to the performers and the audience, it was a great evening!
Photo credit: Andrew Alexander
