THE COMPANY
Thou Art Here Theatre was founded in 2011 to be Alberta’s alternative Shakespeare company bringing the Bard’s plays and adaptations of his work to the most unexpected places. The company strived to create ‘site-sympathetic’ productions, which explore relevant and exciting stories that highlight notable venues. During the first ten years Thou Art Here has performed in bedrooms, playgrounds, bars, street corners and subway stations. Notable venues include: the 1886 Edmonton Cemetery, The Lougheed House National and Provincial Historic Site and Museum, the historic Garneau Theatre, River Lot 11, Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site, and the Artery.
Neil Kuefler and Andrew Ritchie founded Thou Art Here out of the desire to act and direct in their own productions of Shakespeare featuring emerging artists. The company expanded in 2013 with the addition of Alyson Dicey, Ben Stevens and Mark Vetsch and in 2015 with Melanie Bye.
In the past eleven years Thou Art Here has produced and presented 40+ theatre experiences, facilitated multiple educational workshops and classes, and collaborated with festivals and events across the province. The company has been nominated for multiple Sterling’s (annual Edmonton Theatre Awards) and Betty’s (annual Calgary Theatre Awards).
You Are Here Theatre was founded in 2016 by Andrew Ritchie to explore the audience-performance relationship and was driven to challenge its audience with the content, direction, and design of their theatre productions. You Are Here Theatre developed 2 new Canadian plays, produced an Albertan premiere, and an interview series from 2016-2020. They presented work at Theatre Passe Muraille’s Buzz series, the inaugural York Experimental Solo Festival, Dirt Buffet Cabaret, & Theatre Network’s Nextfest. They were nominated and won multiple Sterling’s for its final production of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play. For the full production history of Thou Art Here & You Are Here see below.
In 2021 Thou Art Here decided to amalgamate with You Are Here to become the Thou Art Here Theatre Guild, a non-profit society in Alberta. The company is re-committed to innovative immersive theatre practices, igniting new educational opportunities for professional and emerging artists, and growing a thriving ensemble of local theatre artists. In 2022 Thou Art Here became a registered charity and in 2023 launched the inaugural Write Here Immersive Playwrights’ Unit supporting the development of 3 new immersive plays in Edmonton plus continuing the development of the ensemble’s artistic projects.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
2023
Write Here Immersive Playwrights’ Unit 2023 (Staged Readings of Love Letter by Abhay, 10 Stop East by Candace Job, The Tales of Two Bundles by Kijo Eunice Gatama)
Cycle by Andrew Ritchie (Workshop Presentation)
Civil Blood: A Treaty Story co-created by Josh Languedoc & Neil Bye-Kuefler (Workshop Presentation at Fort Edmonton Park)
2022
PUPPET SHOWS: A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Measure for Measure adapted by Andrés Moreno
Civil Blood: A Treaty Story by Josh Languedoc & Neil Bye-Kuefler (Workshop Presentation at Rubaboo Arts Festival)
2021
Civil Blood: A Treaty Story by Josh Languedoc & Neil Bye-Kuefler (Staged Reading at Found Festival)
Hamlet in Isolation directed and adapted by Syd Campbell, Desirée Leverenz & Andrew Ritchie (Digital)
2020
The Free Willies co-created with The Free Will Shakespeare Festival
2019
Mr. Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn (Co-pro with Blarney Productions and presented at the Off Season (Fringe Theatre Adventures)
PUPPET SHOWS: Two Gentlemen Of Verona & The Winter’s Tale adapted by Alyson Dicey
Civil Blood: A Treaty Story by Josh Languedoc & Neil Bye-Kuefler (Staged Reading)
One Man’s Trash by Neil Kuefler & Ben Stevens
Joan & Talbot by Morgan Yamada (Workshop Presentation)
2018
Shakespeare’s Will by Vern Thiessen
One Man’s Trash by Neil Kuefler & Ben Stevens (Workshop Presentation)
But Hark, A Voice by Ben Stevens
PUPPET SHOWS: Hamlet & Comedy of Errors adapted by Alyson Dicey
Extempore: The Improvised Shakespeare
2017
Still Still Still by Geoffrey Simon Brown (Toronto)
Assist Ed by Andrew Ritchie (Buzz Series at Theatre Passe Muraille, Dirt Buffet Cabaret – Toronto)
Kill Shakespeare by Conor McCreery & Anthony Del Col
But Hark, A Voice by Ben Stevens (Workshop Presentation)
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
PUPPET SHOWS: The Merchant of Venice & The Merry Wives of Windsor adapted by Thou Art Here
2016
Assist Ed by Andrew Ritchie (Nextfest & YES Festival – Toronto)
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (Lougheed House – Calgary)
PUPPET SHOWS: Love Labour’s Lost & Romeo and Juliet adapted by Thou Art Here
Guerilla Theatre – Elizabethan Music created by Thou Art Here
The Mechanicals adapted by Neil Kuefler
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
2015
The Falstaff Project adapted by Andrew Ritchie
Kill Shakespeare by Connor McCreery & Anthony Del Col
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (Rutherford House)
The Mechanicals adapted by Neil Kuefler
PUPPET SHOWS: As You Like It adapted by Thou Art Here
Guerilla Theatre – As You Like It Half-Life created by Thou Art Here
2014
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (Rutherford House)
Guerilla Theatre – Taming of the Shrew Fight Show created by Thou Art Here
2013
Shake the Bar adapted by Andrew Ritchie
Shakey Love adapted by Andrew Ritchie
Spookespeare adapted by Andrew Ritchie
The Shake Down adapted by Neil Kuefler
Shake the Fringe created by Thou Art Here
2012
A Lucid Midsummer’s Dream adapted by Andrew Ritchie
Shake the Bar adapted by Andrew Ritchie
2011
The Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare