Studio 58 is the professional theatre training schoolatLangara CollegeinVancouver, British Columbia. The school offers a three-year diploma program for acting students and a three-year diploma program for production students. It is regarded as one of the top theatre schools in Canada and the only conservatory-style theatre training program in Western Canada.[1][2]
The school auditions hundreds of people across Canada but only sixteen students are accepted per semester (there are intakes in both fall and spring). Studio 58 operates a small theatre and presents 4 full-length productions annually as well as a smaller presentation of a student devised show, called Risky Nights. Professional directors and designers are hired to work on each production, and occasionally guest performing artists. Studio 58 productions are open to the public and reviewed by the Vancouver media.[3]
The school was founded in 1965 as a small theatre arts course first held on the King Edward Campus of Vancouver City College, now Vancouver Community College.[4] Led under the direction of Antony Holland, the course grew into a full program. In 1970, the program moved to new facilities on the Langara Campus and became known as Studio 58, named after the room number of the original theatre space.[5]
In 1985, Holland stepped down as the Artistic Director[6] and Kathryn Shaw stepped into the role. Shaw held the role until her retirement in 2020.[7] The school is now under the guidance of Artistic Director Courtenay Dobbie.[8]
Studio 58's 2015/2016 season celebrated their 50th anniversary.[9]
