Theatre NorthWest is a regional theatre dedicated to bringing our audience a wide range of plays drawn from the contemporary Canadian and International repertoire. Actors and other theatre professionals are contracted for each production from across Canada to work with our resident staff in order to bring together a four-play season which runs from September to May. Theatre NorthWest is the largest arts organization in the northern two-thirds of British Columbia. It boasts the most paid attendance, most annual performances, and one of the highest subscription rates in Canada.

Research Questions

TNW is looking at starting a theatre program in the prison in Prince George. This is a provincial institution, and therefore, inmate sentences are of a short duration. Research should be done with this in mind. Some time should be spent investigating this prison’s population from a statistical and demographic perspective before external research is done.

• What, if any, theatre programs have been run in similar institutions?
• What have been the successes and failures of these programs?
• What might a successful TNW-run theatre program look like in Prince George's prison?

In the context of this research, success can mean longevity of program, but should not be limited to this metric. Success is also measured in terms of impact on the artistic process of the facilitator, and on the inmates.

Why should I do this?

• Sharpen your research skills on a project that really matters!
• You will gain insights into not-for profit and public sectors
• Gain experience working directly with a professional arts organization
• We will gift students a pair of season passes for the 2021-2022 season

Tell me about the project scope

The project may include (key deliverables):

• A summary of the successes from other comparable programs
• Direct references to similar programs, provide contact information if available
• Potential obstacles and risks experienced by other programs
• The final product of this applied research project will be:
• A written report (up to 20 pages) with a 1 or 2 page executive summery

What resources are available to do this project?

• Industry connections
• Preliminary research
• Access to our printer and office supplies as needed

Would I be a good fit?

Potential programs of study: including, but not limited to Social Work, Psychology, Anthropology, Indigenous Studies

Relevant experience or skills:

• Basic research skills already developed
• Able to work independently/self motivated

We will meet during the following key milestones:

• On-boarding and orientation
• Regular check in meetings
• These will be scheduled as a group
• Final presentation
• This will be more of a discussion, we would like to read the report and ask questions.
• Follow up conversation as needed

How will we communicate?

• Phone
• Email
• Zoom
• In person meetings