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Survival of Calgary teen theatre company threatened: ‘Don’t leave kids in the dark!’

Performers with Calgary Young People's Theatre rehearse at the West Village Theatre. Bruce Aalhus/Global News

It’s a theatre company that’s been providing opportunities for young performers for 27 years, but now Calgary Young People’s Theatre is facing an uncertain future.

It’s because a big change is coming at the West Village Theatre, which CYPT has shared since 2014 with two other companies, Ghost River Theatre and The Green Fools.

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The venue’s lighting and sound equipment has been provided by the Green Fools.

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“Green Fools Theatre has been amazing and so generous to let us have a lit stage for the past five years,” 15-year-old CYPT performer Aiden Lang said.

But when the Green Fools moves out of the space in June, they’ll be taking their lights, cables and sound gear with them.

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“If this theatre closes down and CYPT has nowhere to perform, there’s nowhere quite like CYPT in Calgary,” 16-year-old CYPT performer Adriana Jenkins said. “Like, we’re not just going to go over to the next youth theatre company.”

CYPT is now making a public appeal for support, starting a GoFundMe campaign, hoping to raise $20,000 to cover the costs of purchasing new technical equipment.

“CYPT gives such great opportunities for kids to actually shine,” 14-year-old CYPT performer Anton Matsigura said.

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