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Re: Newmarket pitches future of town as arts hub, Nov. 29, 2022; Mayor shares inaugural vision for town that thrives through arts, Nov. 16, 2022.
Newmarket council has positioned the town as an eminent arts community in the GTA. Of the 16 organizations mentioned in a yorkregion.com article, the only performing arts organization listed was Marquee Theatrical Productions, headquartered in Aurora.
Has anyone in Newmarket ever heard of the Newmarket International Festival of One-Act Plays? No.
But playwrights in Sydney, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Dundee, Scotland; London, England; Hollywood, Burbank and San Francisco, California; New York City, New York; Miami, Florida; Dallas, Texas; Victoria, BC; London, Kingston, Guelph, Orangeville, Newmarket, the GTA, Ont.; Fredericton, N.B.; Calgary, Alb. and beyond all know what the Newmarket International Festival of One-Act plays is, and it's livestreamed worldwide each year.
Since 2016, actors, directors, stagehands, web designers, graphic artists and play readers have toiled to produce six one-act plays over three nights at the Old Town Hall in Newmarket, with many being world premiere plays, all staged in the heart of historic Main Street. A young future female director created the VUTC Young Company to workshop original works from young actors and playwrights.
Over the past seven years, not one person has received any compensation; they have all volunteered their time and talents to produce world-class entertainment. The actors and directors have lengthy resumes from professional theatre and film.
They are professionals who take pride in their work. They have chipped in to help pay for rehearsal space, purchase and build props, and even bring items from home. They travel from Ottawa, Guelph, Toronto, St. Catharines just to rehearse and be a part of this prestigious festival. They also dedicate their time and talents to this festival, which puts Newmarket, my hometown, literally on the world map each year.
Over the past seven years, the festival has received a one-time grant of $1,500 from the Newmarket community grants program and a $2,800 grant from the Newmarket Downtown BIA.
It’s disingenuous that the hometown of the Newmarket International Festival of One-Act Plays has not once mentioned the determination, talent and dedication of the many volunteers of this festival. It’s a discredit to their volunteerism and dedication.
In fact, it’s a discredit to everyone involved in this world-renowned festival, which takes place in what once was the sleepy cultural town of Newmarket. Newmarket can do better.
Mayor John Taylor said Newmarket is legitimately emerging as an arts centre in the GTA. Well, let’s give credit where credit is due.
John Dowson
Newmarket
Member of the performing arts community in Newmarket since 1978
