Our Mission

Puente Theatre's mandate is to use theatrical experience as a bridge between cultures.

Our objective is to express the immigrant experience while striving for the highest artistic standards. We endeavour to foster respect for the cultural heritage that immigrants bring to our new homeland, and to facilitate the integration of newcomer artists into the local theatre environment.

PUENTE's goals are:

-to offer work and creative development opportunities to immigrant artists.

-to create a multi-ethnic network of immigrant artists and resources, designed to attract and engage newcomers.

-to develop Canadian audiences, and educate them about aspects of the immigrant experience.

-to expose Canadian audiences to works from other cultures.

-to expose immigrant artists to Canadian theatre.

-to build community through collaborative projects.

-to act as an information resource for other organizations and agencies regarding theatrical works from other cultures.

-to use theatre to explore social issues including, but not limited to, those relating to race and culture.

PUENTE pursues these goals through:

-the creation, production and performance of theatrical works, which explore and relate the experiences of immigrants to Canada.

-the production and performance of theatrical works from other cultures.

-the translation of theatrical works from other cultures.

the touring of locally developed projects for provincial, national and international audiences.

-the use of alternate forms of theatrical presentation, such as workshop productions, readings, and Forum performances, which facilitate dialogue on community issues.

-workshops, training courses, mentorships and other programs whose goal is to support and encourage the participation of immigrant artists in Canada.

PUENTE is a not-for-profit organization and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Our annual operating budget is between $150,000 - $180,000.

About PUENTE THEATRE SOCIETY

PUENTE projects have often incorporated the use of innovative forms of theatrical presentation, such as…

-forum theatre productions, in which the audience participates in the development of the story, intervening with new solutions to social problems presented by the players

- playback productions, in which people tell stories from their own lives, and watch them enacted on the spot by a group of performers

- community plays, created in collaboration with the members of a community, and giving expression to its history and values

-play readings.

PUENTE also offers workshops, training courses and mentorships for immigrant community organizations, women's groups, schools and universities. PUENTE has participated nationally and internationally in theatre festivals and conferences, been awarded grants by the Canada Council for the Arts, the CRD, the BC Arts Council, the BC Gaming Commission, the Vancouver Foundation, the Victoria Foundation, and other agencies.