It’s the only one of its kind in the world, the only theatre company to stage an entire season of mystery plays. It’s Calgary’s own Vertigo Theatre, and it has been producing its one-of-a-kind theatrical bill for more than 40 years, ever since its inception in 1976 as Pleaides Theatre.
Unlike some theatre companies that eschew audience accessibility for esoteric art, Vertigo Artistic Director Craig Hall says Vertigo prides itself on being a “populist” theatre company. “We still do the best art possible, but our audiences come to us for escapism. Vertigo is a gateway theatre,” he explains, suggesting that Vertigo is a place where theatre newbies can condition their theatrical palates.
In years past, mystery theatre has oft been seen as “the quaint, ugly stepchild of the theatre world,” says Craig. “[But] if you do these plays with the same rigour and effort as Shakespeare and Shaw, they can be fine pieces of art. They can move and excite audiences in a way a lot of theatre can't, because audiences get involved in the mystery.”
