THEATRE SOUP is a local, not-for-profit theatre company founded in 1998 by London actors Anne-Marie Caicco, Lil Malinich and Sookie Mei.  Theatre Soup has produced a number of well-received plays at various London venues, including The Forest City Gallery, The Old Factory Theatre, The London Fringe Theatre Festival, The McManus Studio, The Theatre School, The Arts Project, The Black Lodge, and the Wolf Performance Hall.  Theatre Soup is also pleased to have collaborated with The Palace Theatre in creating the KICKSTART alternative theatre series for 2004/2005, and to have performed as part of the Toronto Fringe Festival.  With tremendous support from local press and audiences, Theatre Soup will continue to provide London with unique theatre experiences.

Theatre Soup strives to provide London audiences with unique, challenging, and affordable theatre.  The company has a dedication to quality and diversity of dramatic experience, placing particular emphasis on Canadian works, works by female playwrights, classic plays, and plays featuring strong female characters.  Theatre Soup encourages and utilizes the talents of London artists and technicians in all its theatrical endeavors.

The theatre community in London has grown considerably during the past ten years, and Theatre Soup has played a significant role in reaffirming the cultural and personal importance of theatre in the community.  The company has introduced Londoners to several challenging works that have not been produced in the area before, including new plays by local playwrights Caitlin Murphy and the award-winning Jayson McDonald.  Soup productions have always inspired viewer response and discussion.  The company has mounted productions in a variety of local venues, and has participated in the city’s premiere theatre events, the London Fringe Theatre Festival and the London One Act Festival.  The group looks forward to staging another production in the Fringe Festival this summer.  Theatre Soup utilizes and highlights the vast pool of talent in London, including directors, actors, set and graphic designers, and technicians.  London businesses have offered enthusiastic support through donations of set pieces and catering for opening night receptions.  

Theatre Soup draws a significant portion of its audience from local high schools, the English and Women’s Studies departments at U.W.O, and the theatre program at Fanshawe College.  The mix of classic, contemporary and Canadian plays often tie in with the material covered in English, women’s studies, and dramatic arts curriculums, and the company has visited several local high schools to discuss the plays it produces.  Whenever possible, Theatre Soup offers audiences the opportunity to participate in a question and answer period after matinee performances.  This is an informative and rewarding experience for both the cast and audience. These activities have helped to expand student understanding and appreciation of the plays the company produces, and of the artistic process.  Theatre Soup plans to continue these educational services with future productions.  

 
Theatre Soup’s efforts might not have seen such tremendous success without the cooperation of a great many London volunteers, ranging from actors to set constructors to ushers.   Theatre Soup is also committed to collaborating with other local not-for-profit groups, working artistically with these companies through exchanges of rehearsal space, event promotion, and personnel.  The ever-growing number of independent theatre groups in London is an exciting development for the city.   Theatre Soup feels it is important to encourage, support, and celebrate the wonderful diversity and combined talents of London’s broad range of theatre companies.