Suitcase In Point (SIP) is a nine-member multidisciplinary theatre company with a home base in downtown St. Catharines. SIP was founded in 2001 with the desire to engage and excite Niagara and the larger global community through innovation in the performance arts. To date, SIP has created and produced fifteen new Canadian plays, and presented over twenty-five cabaret variety shows and special events, including a multi-disciplinary arts festival, “In The Soil” that showcases over 200 artists. Our work has toured throughout Niagara, Hamilton, Guelph and Toronto. SIP performs in a variety of venues from the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre to bars, empty storefronts and even street alleys. The result is an incredibly diverse and continually growing spectrum of work that is unique to the Niagara region.
SIP Co-Founder, Cole Lewis says; “We are thrilled to be getting a centre that will provide a cultural hub for us, and the local community. Community is integral to all of SIP’s work. We work hard to represent the community and the community’s interests in each of our productions and through various youth programs. The performing arts centre will be the heart of our community. It will provide us with a meeting place where we can interact with artists, students, entrepreneurs, arts lovers and the average-joe walking down the street.”
“The dance/theatre venue will be more versatile and better equipped than any other theatre space available to SIP. It means we can dream, and dream big. The layout of the space will provide us with more ways to interact with our audience, and this fact alone, means that we can immediately start dreaming of new ways to engage our community. The performing arts centre can only help increase our already thriving arts scene and lively downtown.”
Known for our innovation in challenging assumptions, promoting dialogue and engaging broad and diverse communities, SIP has participated in numerous Fringe Festivals, two Toronto SummerWorks Festivals, Hatch Festival at the Harbourfront Centre, Guelph’s Hillside Festival, and numerous other self-presented tours. Notable accomplishments include awards from Local View magazine readers (‘Best Theatre Company’ 05-09, ‘Best Comedy Troupe’ and ‘Best Musician’), and City of St. Catharines’ Trillium Arts Award for ‘Innovation in the Arts’ (2008). Most recently, SIP was featured in the Fall 2010 Canadian Theatre Review, Improvisation. All of our projects have given us a strong presence in and beyond the Niagara community.
Suitcase In Point
SIP Co-Founder, Cole Lewis says; “We are thrilled to be getting a centre that will provide a cultural hub for us, and the local community. Community is integral to all of SIP’s work. We work hard to represent the community and the community’s interests in each of our productions and through various youth programs. The performing arts centre will be the heart of our community. It will provide us with a meeting place where we can interact with artists, students, entrepreneurs, arts lovers and the average-joe walking down the street.”
“The dance/theatre venue will be more versatile and better equipped than any other theatre space available to SIP. It means we can dream, and dream big. The layout of the space will provide us with more ways to interact with our audience, and this fact alone, means that we can immediately start dreaming of new ways to engage our community. The performing arts centre can only help increase our already thriving arts scene and lively downtown.”
Known for our innovation in challenging assumptions, promoting dialogue and engaging broad and diverse communities, SIP has participated in numerous Fringe Festivals, two Toronto SummerWorks Festivals, Hatch Festival at the Harbourfront Centre, Guelph’s Hillside Festival, and numerous other self-presented tours. Notable accomplishments include awards from Local View magazine readers (‘Best Theatre Company’ 05-09, ‘Best Comedy Troupe’ and ‘Best Musician’), and City of St. Catharines’ Trillium Arts Award for ‘Innovation in the Arts’ (2008). Most recently, SIP was featured in the Fall 2010 Canadian Theatre Review, Improvisation. All of our projects have given us a strong presence in and beyond the Niagara community.
To find out more about Suitcase In Point visit www.suitcaseinpoint.com
Photo by Ernest Harris Jr.