Soulpepper Theatre proudly announces its transformative three-year strategic vision, Stories for a Stronger City. Through this plan, Soulpepper will throw open its doors to more artists, partner companies, audiences, and the broader community, ensuring that everyone has access to theatre’s unique power to build a sense of belonging and social cohesion.

In a trailblazing reimagining of theatre’s essential civic role, over the next three years, Soulpepper will bring even more extraordinary productions to its stages and greatly expand its offerings to audiences through innovative partnerships with some of the city’s most exciting theatre companies. Alongside the work on stage, new and expanded free community programming will transform the company into a buzzing hub of artistic activity that will play a key role in making Toronto a more connected, less lonely city.

This new strategic vision is a direct response to the evolving challenges in both the arts sector and the broader community. While arts organizations struggle to manage changes in audience behavior and skyrocketing costs, Torontonians are struggling with their well-being. The Toronto Foundation’s 2023 Vital Signs Report affirmed that Toronto’s social isolation crisis is reaching a critical point - reporting that a lack of community life is driving a mental health crisis that had 50% of adults indicating they feel depressed at least once a week, and 37% (925,000 people) feeling lonely at least three days a week. By expanding its artistic programming and providing Torontonians with a myriad of free community events, Soulpepper is meeting this crisis head-on, and in so doing, finding new pathways to sustainability.

“We know that our most powerful tool for social cohesion are the stories we share, both on and off our stages” says Weyni Mengesha, Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre. “Our vision for Soulpepper has always been to create a space of belonging. Where everyone that walks through our doors has access to a shared social experience where thinking and feeling collectively brings a deeper connection to the people around us, and a new understanding of the world we live in. Soulpepper today is a place of congregation and discovery. With this new strategic vision, we are committed to realizing our full potential as an arts institution in today’s city and finding new ways of bringing the connective experience of theatre to even more Torontonians.”

“Our goal is simple: we want to take the loneliness epidemic head on by using our space, talent, and creativity to create an abundance of opportunities for Torontonians to gather at Soulpepper” added Gideon Arthurs, Executive Director of Soulpepper Theatre. “This new vision is a blueprint for becoming a theatre that is open to all. A theatre that is essential to the cultural health and social fabric of our city, that creates space for human connection, and that helps build a stronger, more resilient Toronto.”

Stories for a Stonger City will unfold in two key phases. The first phase, already underway, includes deeper investment in artists and doubling the work presented on stage. In the coming weeks, Soulpepper will announce groundbreaking new partnerships with some of Toronto’s most electric theatre companies. Through these collaborative relationships, audiences will have a constant offer of work on stage to discover, and Soulpepper’s venue will provide a stable home-base for companies without their own facilities. This phase will also see a reinvigoration of the company’s new work development program and offer even more support for Soulpepper artists, providing them with the space and freedom to dream while they create new stories that will enrich the modern Canadian canon.

The second phase, launching in late 2024, will see the company substantially increase the frequency and scale of its community and education programs. These activities, free and open to the general public, are designed with one purpose: to bring people together and help them feel more connected. Harnessing the power of theatre to create a deeper sense of belonging and bridge seemingly disparate perspectives, these programs will transform how people think about their local theatre company, positioning Soulpepper as a vital piece of civic infrastructure that makes Toronto a more connected place.

"The Board of Directors is delighted to support this bold new chapter for Soulpepper. The introduction of this strategic vision is more than just a natural evolution for the company - it marks a significant step forward in serving the citizens of Toronto” noted Robin Cardozo, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Building on our fine reputation and notable achievements, this plan will guide Soulpepper in becoming an even greater force for social connection and artistic innovation. We can’t wait to see its impact in the years to come.”

Stories for a Stronger City not only responds to the challenges of today, but shapes the future of Toronto’s cultural landscape. By reimagining the company as a community hub, Soulpepper is positioning itself at the forefront of social change— creating a space where everyone can come together, share experiences, and rebuild the bonds that truly make a city thrive. This is the beginning of a new chapter, not only for Soulpepper, but for all who call Toronto home.  (Soulpepper Media Release, October 17, 2024)

For some context:

"While it was not the first Canadian company to be founded by actors, Soulpepper is the most widely celebrated and successful. In 1988, a group of actors — Martha Burns, Susan Coyne, Ted Dykstra, Michael Hanrahan, Stuart Hughes, Diana Leblanc, Diego Matamoros, Nancy Palk, Albert Schultz, Robyn Stevan, William Webster and Joseph Ziegler — who had trained and performed under director Robin Phillips at the Stratford Festival’s Young Company, decided to start a company of their own. The company’s mandate was threefold: to present classics of world theatre with a Canadian perspective; to train the next generation of theatre artists; and to foster mentorship programs for youth". (The Canadian Encyclopedia)