#Uncle John by Against the Grain Theatre

#Unlce John, the opera, came from The Banff Centre’s Open Space, a one-of-a-kind performance-based collaborative training experience for emerging opera professionals that truly challenges the conventions of opera performance, production, and design.

The program worked with eight young professionals for a 4-week summer intensive residency devoted to practical skill extension and development.

Joel Ivany, the founder and artistic director of Against the Grain Theatre (AtG) says, “Banff's Cave and Basin was a natural fit for this new adaptation. We have taken opera out of the theatre and created a site-specific experience. I believe that a patron can be a part of the action from when they buy their ticket, through arrival, as they sit down and finally wait for the magic to happen. What we’re also able to do in this setting is place the singers right amongst the patrons. A singer will walk right by you while another is 4 feet away. It’s intimate, accessible and right in your face.”

The opera was a partnership between The Banff Centre, Against the Grain Theatre, Canadian Opera Company , and Parks Canada.