Gender balance, cultural diversity, local issues and opportunities for local actors; these among other bullet points are the long list of requirements Del Surjik has posted in his office as reminders of what a theatre season should have.

It’s a daunting task to program a season that has something for everyone, young and old. “I don’t try to find a theme for the season,” says Surjik. “I try to mark milestones and it’s important that each year we continue the conversation with our audience, that it has both meaning and entertainment.” The milestones Surjik is talking about is Canada’s 150th birthday, the 10th anniversary of Persephone being in its current location and the soon to be open Remai Modern Art Gallery of Saskatchewan.

“I try to mark milestones and it’s important that each year we continue the conversation with our audience…”

If there is one constant in Surjik’s 10th season, it’s one of collaboration with other arts groups both on a local and international scale. Persephone’s working with Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre and La Troupe Du Jour to bring Gabriel Dumont’s Wild West Show to the stage. This is a world premiere and Saskatoon is one of the five cities that get to see it first.

This year marks the return of the Deep End. The second stage was put on ice for a year in 2016 for financial reasons. “I was determined the hiatus on the Deep End would only last one season,” explains Surjik. “We needed to look at sustainability for that stage. We now have our legs under us, it’s not a subscription series anymore so it’s more agile. We are now able to be more flexible and more creative.”

The Deep End will feature collaborations with Toronto’s Nightswimming Theatre and its production of Fish Eyes. Using Bollywood dance and traditional storytelling, it’s the story of two teenaged girls of South Asian descent trying to fit in in small town Canada. Surjik says this show is a way Persephone Theatre is trying to bridge the gap between 15 and 30 year olds. There will be matinee and evening performances.

The Deep End will also bring Saskatoon playwright Joel Bernbaum’s  Home is a Beautiful Word to the stage, that show will be at the Broadway Theatre. Another surprise in the Deep End is The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht. This will be a staged reading held on the main stage at Persephone. It’s sure to be a new experience for theatre goers as they will experience a stripped down reading of the play. “It’s very timely,” says Surjik. “It’s a tale of when powerful people are greedy and weak. In the era of Donald Trump, it’s a warning that this can happen again.”

Speaking of the main stage, there’s plenty to delight audiences looking for more conventional pieces. A Canadian adaptation of Treasure Island is a pirate tale full of adventure that should appeal to all generations looking for entertainment before the Christmas season. If you’re a fan of the strange and dark musicals like Vigilante that extended its run in 2017, then the national tour of Onegin should be right up your alley. Of course those of us looking for romance will flock to Pride and Prejudice, the adaptation of Jane Austen’s famous novel.

If it’s a challenge you’re looking for then Butcher is it. It’s a dark play that explores the line between revenge and justice. “This piece is going to be the roughest ride of the season!” Surjik explains, “This piece has vivid violence. It’s definitely a strong cup of coffee.”

“This piece is going to be the roughest ride of the season!”

The Youth Series is also back with shows for children and teens. Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny is a great pick for your children ages two to seven years old. Tetris brings a story from the Netherlands over to Saskatoon stages with the help of  the Arch8 theatre company. The dance quartet will explore the world of the beloved video game and show how we can connect with each other.

Above all Surjik hopes this season pushes Persephone to another level. “When you look at our season, I don’t want you to say ‘Oh that looks like a theatre festival!'” He continues, “We are trying to offer stories that mean something to our audience. We want to have that conversation with you.”

Here’s the 2017 – 2018 season at a glance:

Main Stage

Art – By Yasmina Resa September 13 – 27, 2017

Quick Bright Things – By Christopher Cook Oct. 18 – Nov. 3, 2017

Treasure Island – By Ken Ludwig Nov. 22 – Dec. 6, 2017

Butcher – By Nicolas Billon Jan. 31 – Feb. 14, 2018

Onegin – By Veda Hille & Amiel Gladstone Mar. 21 – Apr. 8, 2018

Pride & Prejudice – Adaptation By Janet Munsil May 2 – 16, 2018

Main Stage Bonus Shows:

BOOM – By Rick Miller Aug. 8 – 20, 2017

Gabriel Dumont’s Wild West Show – By Jean Marc Dalpé, David Granger, Laura Lussier, Alexis Martin, Andrea Ménard, Yvette Nolan, Gilles Poulin-Denis, Paula-Jean Prudat, Mansel Robinson, Kenneth T. Williams   Feb. 27 – Mar. 4, 2018

Deep End 

Fish Eyes – By Anita Majumdar  Nov. 1 – 12, 2017

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui – By Bertolt Brecht  Jan. 12-14, 2018

Home is a Beautiful Word – By Joel Bernbaum  Apr. 12 – 21, 2018

Youth Series

Old Man and the River – By Lynda Hill & Thomas Morgan Jones  Dec. 5 – 9, 2017

Tetris – By Arch8  Mar. 15 – 17, 2018

Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny – By Margaret Wise Brown  May 3 – 5, 2018

Persephone Youth Tour

Beneath The Ice – By Eva Colmers  Winter/Spring 2018