At the Fredericton Playhouse, we’re always looking for new ways to make the performing arts more accessible and to encourage our community to take a chance on new and exciting work. This season, we have SIX shows offering Pay What You Will tickets, in addition to our three Kidstage performances. There’s something new for everyone to discover. Read on for more information!
How it works
Step 1: Reserve your ticket
Just like attending any other show at the Fredericton Playhouse, you need to reserve a ticket. You can reserve them online HERE, in person or over the phone. If you’re unable to attend the show (life happens!), please let our Box Office know as soon as possible so that we can provide this opportunity to other members of the community.
Step 2: Sit back and enjoy
When you get to the theatre on show day (don’t forget your tickets!), our ushers will provide you with an empty envelope. Sit back and enjoy the performance.
Step 3: Pay What You Will
Once the show is over, you decide your price of admission based on your experience. You can pay using your envelope with cash, credit card or by cheque.
The shows
Person of Interest: Melody Johnson
Everybody knows there are good neighbours, and there are bad neighbours…This is the story of the latter. Person of Interest is the tale of a good, law-abiding citizen who hoped to volunteer in her community and so applied for a police background check. It was at that point when she discovered she had a record and was considered a Person of Interest – courtesy of some bad neighbours next door! It was their final act of retaliation.
Written and performed by Canadian comedian Melody Johnson, Person of Interest is a one-woman show based on true events (with comedic embellishments) that will have you thanking your lucky stars if you have decent neighbours!
Christine Tassan et les Imposteures
With a decade and a half of bringing their special blend of Gypsy jazz and revisited cover songs to stage, Christine Tassan et les Imposteures have made a name for themselves on the music scene. In their latest show, these four exquisitely talented musicians bring together some of the best works by Django Reinhardt, Félix Leclerc, and American swing composers.
With a singular mix of virtuosity, daring and humour, the string band draws inspiration from one artist’s poetry and the other’s swing to weave a rich new musical universe. They’ve expanded their concept to the wonderful swing music of some contemporary “friends” of Django and Félix — revisiting hit songs created by George Gershwin, Louis Prima or Charlie Chaplin and blend them nicely with Django’s beautiful melodies.
This holiday season, DuffleBag Theatre brings the classic story of Robin Hood to life, with plenty of hilarious twists along the way! DuffleBag’s fractured fairy tales are an annual favourite, full of spontaneous and amusing audience involvement. With all the humour and fun you have come to expect, DuffleBag hits the mark with this on-target tale of derring-do!
Suitable for all ages.
RUBBERBAND dance company expertly blends urban and contemporary dance, while including theatricality and highly athletic segments. Vic’s Mix is a highlight reel of artistic director/choreographer Victor Quijada’s repertoire. In this remix of his own work, Quijada goes further in his experiments defying notions of theatricality and audience expectations, orchestrating the clash between urban pop and classical composition. These dancers are sure to astound in this creative and athletic dance collection.
L’Aubergine is the oldest clowning company in Quebec to produce shows for young audiences, and has carved out a special niche by nurturing a unique artistic vision. In this clownesque fable about the strength of friendship, four artists fall asleep in a theatre waiting for their guests. To their surprise, the audience is already there when they wake up! The show begins, but things get all mixed up. Day-to-day life interferes with the performance and forces it down a new, unpredictable path.
Suitable for ages 5- 12.
The Naghash Ensemble combines the earthy spirituality of Armenian folk song, new classical music, contemporary post-minimalism and the energy of rock and jazz. Three brilliant female vocalists and some of Armenia’s finest instrumentalists on duduk, oud, dhol and piano play new music based on sacred texts by the medieval Armenian mystic poet and priest, Mkrtich Naghash. Part folk music, part classical, this show is profoundly moving.
Resonant, acoustic chamber folk with an otherworldly edge, and a lyric presence that cuts deep. Sounds like: a string quartet + Sarah Harmer + Joni Mitchell.
Raine is part prairie songstress, part story-weaver; each song has a story delivered with her signature humour and grace. A classical violinist and musicologist by training, Raine and her string trio offer a refreshing taste of chamber-folk with arrangements that push and pull, that move as they console.
Axis Theatre’s production of SOMEBODY LOVES YOU MR. HATCH
See the popular children’s book come to life on stage! Mr. Hatch leads a predictable and dreary life; he keeps to himself. One Valentine’s Day, he unexpectedly receives a heart-shaped package with an anonymous note that whispers, “somebody loves you,” and everything changes. This heartwarming puppet play examines the effect that kindness can have on a lonely existence. Join washerwomen Betsy, Edna, and Molly as they bring Mr. Hatch’s story to life and help him search for his secret admirer!
Suitable for ages 4- 10.
Beverly Glenn-Copeland with Indigo Rising
Beverly Glenn-Copeland, born into a family all of whom were very musical, essentially studied the classical piano repertoire from ‘cradlehood,’ listening to his father playing the piano four to five hours a day. He went on to study classical music at McGill, and then after a few years of concertizing – singing the European song repertoire – he suddenly felt called to write music that would weave all the different musical cultures he had come to love.
Why Pay What You Will?
We’re champions of the philosophy that the arts should be an integral part of our lives, and that the Playhouse should be accessible to everyone in the community. We’re hopeful that programs like Pay What You Will can help to reduce financial barriers and make it possible for more people in our community to experience the magic of live performance.
We believe strongly in the quality of artists we bring to our stage as part of our Spotlight and Kidstage Series and we want you to take a chance on a show that you might not be familiar with. Try something new and pay the ticket price you feel reflects the performance without extending beyond your budget.
More information
Any questions? Our Box Office staff would be happy to chat with you. You can reach them at boxoffice@theplayhouse.ca or by phone at 458-8344.