Intrepid Theatre Company

Intrepid Theatre is a registered non-profit organization that was established in 1986 to produce performances for the Victoria Fringe Festival centered downtown. Since then, its mandate has considerably expanded and evolved to include producing the best alternative theatre work for the city such as;

• The Victoria Fringe Festival – an unajudicated and uncensored open festival that showcases fringe theatre both local and international
• The Uno Festival – an unajudicated open festival of one-person shows
• International Presenting Series –  a series showcasing live theatre from other countries

As Intrepid Theatre has such an expansive (and expanding) list of programs and productions, the Victoria Foundation grant goes towards many aspects and needs of their productions depending on their size and scope. 

For example, three years ago the Victoria Foundation grant assisted in the purchase of theatrical curtains for a space leased from the Conservatory of Music. While curtains may seem to be a lesser accessory of the theatre, they actually must meet exacting standards with respect to their size, shape, appeal, and retardancy to fire. “The space is also used by others wishing to use the Conservatory of Music so the purchase of the theatrical curtains benefits everyone in the community,” says Ian Case, General Manager of Intrepid Theatre. In the case of the International Presenting Series, the Victoria Foundation grant was able to assist in providing the artist’s fees and thus facilitate the presentation of groups from other parts of Canada as well as from other countries overseas such as Africa, Australia, New Zealand,  and Japan.

The financial assistance provided by the Victoria Foundation has also enabled Intrepid Theatre to draw in new audiences and widen the demographic appeal to encompass many of the diverse communities in Victoria.  A tangible example being when Intrepid brought a performance from Japan to Victoria and noticed that a large share of the audience was comprised of people from the Asia Pacific region. Some of these audience members have been “captured” by Intrepid’s impressive array of productions and remain as consistent patrons of the theatre.

Ian Case and Intrepid Theatre regard The Victoria Foundation’s grant with a strategic mien and not as an ongoing and continual operating fund. The grant is instead put to work for Intrepid Theatre by way of facilitating special projects, creating and developing new work, and as part of their growth and stabilization planning.  Intrepid is really pleased with this arrangement and really appreciates the extra boost the theatre receives from The Victoria Foundation, whom they regard as a partner in their endeavors as opposed to some monolithic bureaucracy they must approach on an annual basis as bureaucracy-weary applicants with hat in hand.

The real praise is saved for this aspect of their working relationship that they have established with The Victoria Foundation and Ian Case is quick to point out the importance and benefits of a great personal relationship as a provider of funds for Intrepid Theatre. “The funding process is simple and elegant and we only need call and the people at the Foundation understand exactly who we are and what we need.”