LEGAL MANDATE
the frank theatre company / Screaming Weenie Productions is a theatre company based in Vancouver, a non-profit society in British Columbia (registration S-44774), and a federally registered charity (86172 8061 RR0001).
Our mission is to produce and promote queer and sex positive performance, facilitating a stronger Queer community by creating and encouraging the performing arts and artists. We strive to create greater positive public awareness and acceptance, through the performing arts, of individuals and groups outside of sexual and gender norms.
We are committed to the development of queer and genderqueer artists and actively inclusive of all gender identities, sexualities and ethnicities.
OPERATIONAL MANDATE
the frank envisions a world that is free of intolerance and prejudice, and where sexual and gender diversity is accepted and embraced, everywhere in every society, and by everyone.
the frank‘s mission is to explore what it means to be queer, and the place of queer individuals in society, by creating, developing, producing and presenting theatrical work that places queer issues on a global canvas. These are works wherein issues of queer marginalization intersect with other types of marginalization: i.e. economic, racial, gender, political. We are primarily a text-based theatre that trusts in the ability of the playwright to wrestle with these questions.
We champion open-mindedness, authenticity and engagement. We embrace diversity of all kinds, encourage and nurture queer youth, and strive to build bridges between all socially marginalized groups and between queer and non-queer communities.
Queer, Defined: We define Queer as “outside the perceived norm of sexual and gender roles”, including (but not limited to) those who self-identify as asexual, aromantic, bisexual, gay, intersexed, lesbian, pansexual, polyamorous, transgender, transexual, third-sex, two-spirited, queer or questioning (ABGILPPTT32QQ).
Queer Performance, Defined: the writing and production of stories that are bold, strange, curious, peculiar, innovative, unexpected, eccentric, odd, passionate, unconventional, dynamic, homosexual, inspiring, transgender, amusing and/or comical.
the frank is a Regular Member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT).
COMPANY HISTORY
As the boldest voice of queer theatre on the west coast, the frank theatre company, formerly known as Screaming Weenie Productions, has become synonymous with outrageous, sex-positive performance. The company was conceived from the sweat of founders Matthew Bennet, Ilena Lee Cramer, Dale Kohlmetz and Kären Matthews. From its inception in 1996 until 2008, the company was helmed by Ilena Lee Cramer and became a major voice in the city’s artistic community and a creative beacon in Queer Canada.
In 2008, Seán Cummings was recruited as the company’s next Artistic Director. The company soon gained national recognition as Western Canada’s professional queer performance company with the adoption of such ventures as the Clean Sheets development series, film and video projects, and a more text-based approach to theatre creation. Seán also invited C.E. Gatchalian to collaborate on various projects including the All The World’s A Stage program. Together they grew the company ten-fold before Seán’s departure in 2012.
Artistic Producer C.E. Gatchalian’s (2011 – 2017), leadership in community outreach, production of new works, and commitment to excellence further solidified the frank as an artistic force on the West Coast. New projects included collaborations with companies in other provinces to further the company’s impact on queer theatre while remembering our audience at home in Vancouver.
Some of our guest artists, collaborators & company members over the years:
| Hamza Adam Lawrence Aronovitch Siobhan Barker T. Berto Lauren Burrows Petrice Brett Morgan Brayton Nadine Carew Sydney Cavanagh Pedro Chamale Evelyn Chew Sean Conner Seán Cummings Ilena Lee Cramer Crema Amber Dawn Dave Deveau Mylene Dinh-Robic Noah Drew Tracey Draper Robert L. Duncan Lesley Ewen Drew Facey Emelia Symington Fedy Rachel Flood Tim Furness Charlie Gallant C.E. Gatchalian Glenn Garinther Christopher Casillan Dean Paul Gibson Kirk Gummow Jen Hall Hanno Manami Hara |
Gwen Haworth Ryan Hesp Shelley Hobbs Nicole Holas Shaira Holman Marci T House Liza Huget Troy Jackson Jack Jenkins David C. Jones Daryl King Shane L. Koyczan Jarrett Knowles Kevin Kraussler Jason Leane Kerry Leeper Heather Lindsay Amanda Lockitch Cameron Mackenzie Amitai Marmorstein Tanya Marquardt Kären Mathews Dawn Wendy McLeod Dawn Milman Allan Morgan Esta Mun Kirsty Munro Kris Nelson Marilyn Norry Sheila Nyman Maggie Blue O’Hara Jergus Oprasal Colin Ormiston George Pan |
Jillian Perry Luvia Petersen Thrasso Petras Elda Pinkney John Popkin Kate Price Amal Rana Antonette Rea Brad Reed Michael Rinaldi Damian Rumph Christina Schild Naomi Sider Trevor Skelton Emma Slip Joel Stephano Christine Stoddard Ryan Swanson Symone Marina Szijarto James Fagan Tait Heidi Taylor Sheryl Thompson Michelle Tolosa Samantha Tucker Drea Uzans Hazel Venzon Deidre Walton Vera Way Nathan Whitford Amy Lucille Wilding Adrienne Wong Nelson Wong Carolyn Yu Allan Zinyk |
