Tarragon is excited to announce Tarragon Acoustic, an online celebration of Tarragon’s history and future. Tarragon will produce a series of audio readings from Tarragon’s 50 yearhistory, along with select new works highlighting Tarragon’s direction for the future.

“The 20-21 season was to be one of the largest seasons in Tarragon’s history with 10 plays in production, tours and co-productions across Canada to include Calgary, Saskatoon, Gananoque and Ottawa. It was a season with playwrights from across the country telling meaningful and important stories about their communities. Nearly 100 freelance artists were to be involved, supported by our excellent staff.  Unfortunately, we had to shut down public presentations in mid-March 2020 closing five shows, one mid-run, one in tech dress, one about to start rehearsals, one having just opened in Thunder Bay (and going to Saint John, NB) and one arriving from Halifax,” notes Artistic Director Richard Rose, “And regrettably, today we have to announce that Tarragon will not be presenting live theatre in the 2020-2021 season given that public gatherings are still restricted and social distancing requirements are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future.”

With the support of the board, Tarragon has re-positioned its 2020/21 season to be an audio and digital offering. With public gatherings still restricted, Tarragon will not be moving forward with the planned presentations but in lieu of a full cancellation, Tarragon has decided to pivot its season online. 

Leading with an online version of Rick Roberts’ Orestes (A Livecast) (originally planned to open Tarragon’s Mainspace), Orestes will be fully re-worked to be an online event slated to premiere in the Fall of 2020. This exclusive interactive experience will offer Orestes to audiences with real-time functionality for Tarragon audiences. A modern re-imagining of Euripides’ tragedy for the online world. This political satire looks at who we are when most of our lives are lived online and how we survive when our identity is blurred, then cancelled, across social media platforms. Just who is on the other side of the screen? Directed by Richard Rose. 

Following Orestes will be 18 radio plays going live on the second Thursday and final Sunday of each month. Tarragon will invite patrons into our space in a format that ensures the safety of our audiences, until we can meet in public once more. From marking the past to celebrating the future, Tarragon Acoustic will be a unique opportunity to experience classics and hear new voices that are part of Tarragon’s history and history to come. Full details for each of the radio plays, including cast and directing teams will be announced shortly.

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