Sage Theatre's mandate is to present stage performances that are bold, intimate and thoughtful, and such shows don’t often come with easy solutions or happy endings.
This is especially true of Sage Theatre’s early years, after its founding in 1998. “Sage Theatre cut its teeth on dark, urban performances that explored humanity’s depth,” says Sage artistic director Jason Mehmel, listing plays like Judith Thompson’s Lion in the Streets and Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting and Filth. “There was a bite to the shows Sage Theatre was making,” Jason adds, singling out the company’s 2008 production about a transgender rock star – Hedwig and the Angry Inch – as particularly important in establishing Sage’s place on the Calgary theatre map.
Sage Theatre is a dynamic contributor to the dissemination of edgy, thought-provoking theatre in Calgary from socio-cultural and political dramas to comedies with a social agenda. For example, Sage Theatre produced the Canadian premiere of My Name is Rachel Corrie about the pro-Palestinian peace activist killed by an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer. Sage hosts the Ignite! Festival for Emerging Artists every June to provide young artists with an opportunity to showcase and develop their skills.