Nightwood Theatre and Tapestry Opera: Telling Their Story

This is a story of synergies. Of passion and courage. Of the spirit of creativity coupled with the foresight of pragmatism to elevate the community with the gift of art. It is a story about two Toronto-based cultural organizations facing a formidable obstacle. And how Big Red Oak responded to help them turn a setback into a success.     

A Powerful Partnership

Nightwood Theatre and Tapestry Opera have been partners in art for over 20 years, bonded by their values and sharing their space. Both organizations have engaged their audiences over the years, stimulating conversations that can change perceptions about who we are and where we’re going as a society.    

Nightwood Theatre, Canada’s leading feminist theatre company, raises the voices of women and gender-diverse folks, not only through producing and touring award-winning productions but also by nurturing the talents of new artists and providing a place founded on diversity and empowerment. Tapestry Opera transcends the stereotypes of the genre, pushing the boundaries of sound and performance with original Canadian productions featuring innovative technologies and exciting settings.

But in 2021, after almost two decades as founding tenants of Artscape in Toronto’s Distillery District, they received the distressing news that their lease would not be renewed; and they had to begin the search for their new home.

The two companies launched a partnership with St. Clare’s, a charitable organization that offers affordable housing, to create a collaborative facility for the city’s performing arts community. With governmental and fundraising support, Nightwood Theatre and Tapestry Opera are presenting live productions for the upcoming season in their new location.

Sharing the Values

Big Red Oak is keenly attuned to the trials and triumphs of small businesses. We have confronted our own challenges and understand the positive impact of bringing people together to surmount the roadblocks that stand in the way of their goals. 

“We felt an affinity with their struggle and welcomed the chance to be part of their solution,” commented Lee de Lang, founder of Big Red Oak. “Our values are aligned with theirs: transparency, respect, and collaboration. We believe in the power of people to make meaningful change, and this initiative testifies to this truth.”

Our creative team was inspired by the determination and enthusiasm of the artistic people at Nightwood and Tapestry, as they looked forward, rather than back, staunch in their vision of advancing a thriving, progressive arts culture in the heart of Toronto. We injected our own passion for art into their project, using our expertise to highlight the accomplishments and aspirations of these organizations through video.   

Behind the Scenes

Big Red Oak’s creative producers, Alistair Simpson and Joel Ruscinski, originally intended to tell a simple story about fellow creatives. But the reality behind the scenes soon expanded their expectations.

“There are a lot of parallels between these people and Big Red Oak,” Alistair said, “and the story became much bigger.”

As producer and director, Alistair had planned to capture a rehearsal and gather some ‘cool’ imagery, like a lighting setup or actors workshopping; but, as he and Joel got to know the people, they realized that this approach would just scratch the surface.

“The real story is about the Nightwood and Tapestry team and what they were trying to overcome,” explained Alistair. “They are deeply passionate about the arts and being a beacon of hope in Toronto.”

Alistair and Joel found their biggest challenge was editing down all the footage.

“It was a freeing experience to tell a long-form story about people who care so much about their work and their community,” said Alistair. “We could have made a feature documentary with all the stories we collected during the shoots.

Celebrating Success

As partners in art and partners in humanity, the people at Big Red Oak were thrilled to help celebrate the talented group at Nightwood and Tapestry's success in establishing a new venue at St. Clare’s on Toronto’s Yonge Street.

The city is richer for the bold, imaginative theatre and opera presented by these organizations, and Big Red Oak is proud of our role in sharing their story of optimism, dedication, and resilience in the face of disappointment. A story with a message that resonates with our team … a story that is a joy to tell.

If you want to check out the video, you can see it here.