WJT’s purpose and mandate:
- To present plays on themes of Jewish interest and/or plays by Jewish playwrights.
- To reach across communities through the presentation of universal and socially relevant plays and engage our audience in dialogue.
- To provide a vehicle for neophyte actors, playwrights, directors, technicians to participate in professional theatre.
- To encourage the development and presentation of new Canadian plays of Jewish interest and/or by Jewish playwrights
Winnipeg Jewish Theatre was established in 1987 and is a non-profit, Canadian, professional theatre company. WJT began its life as a community theatre producing two plays a year. In 1992, WJT became a professional theatre company and a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres. WJT operates under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Theatre Agreement negotiated with Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.
- WJT opened in 1987 with an audience of 700 people.
- In February 2011, The Globe and Mail chose to recognize WJT as “one of the gutsier theatre companies in Canada.”
- At the inaugural Winnipeg Theatre Awards in 2017, WJT’s production of The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez received awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play (Ray Strachan) and Outstanding Design (Brian Perchaluk, Set; Scott Henderson, Lighting; Paul De Gurse, Sound). The production was also nominated for Outstanding Production.
- WJT celebrated its 30th anniversary during the 2017/2018 season.