Loud & Queer Cabaret

First Location: Catalyst Theatre 10943 - 84th Ave
Second Location:
The 3rd Space, 11516 103rd St.

Third Location:
La Cite Francophone, 8627 91st St.
Last Location (2014):
Westbury Theatre (Fringe Theatre Arts Barns) 10330 84 Ave NW

For twenty years, Loud ‘N Queer Cabaret was one of Western Canada's preeminent and longest-running queer theatre and artistic showcases. Their mission was to incubate and support queer playwrights and performances. The Cabaret began in 1991 when Ruth Smillie, the Artistic Director of Catalyst Theatre, wanted to create theatre designed to reach marginalized communities, specifically the queer community. Smillie approached Darrin Hagen and Kevin Hendricks of Guys in Disguise with this idea, and one conversation later, Loud ‘N Queer Cabaret was born.

Before Loud ‘N Queer came into existence, Catalyst Theatre already had a history of producing and supporting queer theatre in Edmonton. As early as 1988, Catalyst and the Theatre network put on the play David for Queen by John Lazarus, directed by none other than Ruth Smillie. The play, advertised as “A provocative look at a gay teenager’s search for acceptance in a straight world,” created some controversy in the city. The magazine High School Rage decided to cancel the ad for David for Queen even though a contract had already been signed, noting concern that the content “wasn’t suitable” for high school students.

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