Six short plays, written by local playwrights and performed in locations all over Saskatoon, form the heart of 25th Street Theatre’s newest theatre project.
Behind Closed Doors is a playwriting development program bringing a series of new and unique plays to life. The twist? Each play has its own special on-location performance venue, from a Saskatoon hotel to a pub to on a bus.
Anita Smith, the artistic and executive director of 25th Street Theatre, said they wanted to think outside the box when it came to stories and storytellers and give a peek behind the closed doors and into people’s lives that you don’t normally get to see.
“Storytelling can happen anywhere, it doesn’t have to be traditional theatre,” she said. “We wanted to push the boundaries of theatre and these performances will really stand out. This is theatre for the brave, nobody will forget a play they see on the bus.”
The series of six, roughly 20-minute-long plays will run at venues across Saskatoon from April 30 to May 10.
Each of the six playwrights were given the prompt of “what happens in those private spaces that aren’t for public consumption” — and the result is an eclectic series of plays that explore topics across different spaces and time periods.
The playwriting development program has been ongoing since December 2024, with the upcoming slate of shows each demonstrating a unique final product.
Mitchell Larsen, one of the playwrights involved in Behind Closed Doors, wrote the play Hiring about a group of theatre producers meeting in a coffee shop to talk about an actor with a less-than-stellar reputation.
“I really like how much the location can inspire you and get you out of your comfort zone as an artist,” says Larsen.“You have to think creatively about how the place affects the story. I hope the audience sees this show and puts themselves in the characters’ shoes.”
Tickets to Behind Closed Doors can be purchased online at 25thstreettheatre.org.
