Within the Canadian Public Arts Funders (CPAF) network, there is a need to better understand the changing theatre landscape. In preparation for a meeting of CPAF members on the discipline of theatre in March 2014, the network commissioned this literature review. The scope of the project was to investigate emerging approaches or practices which theatre artists, groups and organizations in Canada are adapting or implementing in order to succeed and thrive artistically. Key issues, opportunities and challenges the theatre sector is facing were identified, as were the implications for CPAF members.
The review includes a search of relevant online databases; theatre and academic journals; websites of funding agencies, foundations, theatre service organizations and theatres; applicable blogs, articles, and reports was undertaken. It also included a review of theatre literature from three other countries as selected by the CPAF Working Group: the US, UK and France.