The Company.
The Chop is a company that brings together artists to create new Canadian theatre. It was founded in 2006 in Vancouver, BC by Emelia Symington Fedy and Anita Rochon. The Chop is recognized for work that is sophisticatedly “simple” – that is, the artistic propositions are spare and clear so that complexities come from the depth of the investigation. Productions are characterized by an intentionally live and direct connection with the audience. Now led by Emelia Symington Fedy, The Chop has moved our creation hub to the Shuswap BC. The touring of new works starts from our office space in Vancouver, but all creation, mentorship, residencies and community involvement happens rurally. With 19 new works toured nationally and a strong international profile for our “carbon lite” programming, we’re enjoying this additional role as rural artistic support system.
Mandate
The Chop strives to explore the landscape of personal connection in theatre. It aims to foster artistic growth by facilitating education around contemporary approaches to making new work, by producing workshops and providing opportunities for dialogue and development. The Chop endeavors to work with innovative and incredible individuals of various artistic backgrounds with a long-term goal of artistic growth and continued collaboration.
Artistic Objectives
- To explore new methods of creation that are relevant to the content of the work,
- To create work that is relevant to an audience,
- To develop a diverse audience at home and abroad through touring locally, nationally and internationally,
- To nurture an audience and performer relationship that is passionate, compassionate, challenging and vital,
- To foster a company infrastructure and environment that allows work to reach its potential at home and on tour.
The Chop Theatre gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of our funders: Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council and the City of Vancouver Office of Cultural Affairs.
We acknowledge that The Chop Theatre’s main operations take place on unceded Indigenous land belonging to the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish),Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
