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$250,000 will empower Why Not Theatre to realize its most ambitious artistic production to date

Why Not Theatre is delighted to announce that it will receive a major gift of $250,000 from The Slaight Family Foundation. This landmark donation, one of the largest in Why Not Theatre’s history, is part of a transformational philanthropic initiative that will see The Slaight Family Foundation contribute $15 million to 22 Canadian theatre companies for recovery from pandemic-related closures (#SlaightInitiative). Designed to enable theatre companies to take artistic risk, reignite creative processes and bring back audiences, this extraordinary gift will help support Why Not Theatre’s artistic productions and marketing costs over the next two years.

The Slaight Family Foundation’s generous donation comes at a critical point for Why Not Theatre as the company prepares for its most ambitious artistic production to date: a contemporary two-part, six hour retelling of the Sanskrit epic, Mahabharata, co-produced with Shaw Festival, with support from the National Arts Centre, and in association with the Barbican, London. Written by Why Not Theatre’s Co-Artistic Directors Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes, and featuring an all-South Asian diasporic cast, Mahabharata will see its World Premiere in March 2023 as part of the Shaw Festival’s main season. The company is also currently touring North America with its groundbreaking bilingual American Sign Language-English production Prince Hamlet, and hosting the third iteration of its national ThisGen Fellowship for BIPOC women and non-binary theatre practitioners.

“We are humbled to receive this tremendous gift from The Slaight Family Foundation at a watershed moment in our company’s history,” said Why Not Theatre Co-Artistic Directors Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes. “With a major commission from the Shaw Festival in association with the Barbican, Why Not Theatre is blazing a new path for BIPOC-led Canadian theatre companies and this timely gift will be instrumental in helping us realize and exceed our artistic aspirations.” Incoming Why Not Theatre Executive Director Karen Tisch said, “The Slaight Family Foundation’s donation is truly a game-changer, allowing the company to emerge from the pandemic with renewed confidence and artistic fearlessness. We are extraordinarily grateful to the Foundation for its generous commitment to the Canadian theatre sector and for including Why Not Theatre in its transformational initiative.” 

Commenting on its unprecedented gift to the Canadian theatre community, Gary Slaight, President and CEO, The Slaight Family Foundation, said: “The forced closure of theatres because of the pandemic has devastated the theatre industry. Even now, with audiences nervous to return since reopening, we are still seeing shows being rescheduled and cancelled, sometimes the same day. We’re very happy to support these organizations so they can focus on the work of creating and bringing back audiences.” 

About The Slaight Family Foundation 

The Slaight Family Foundation was established in 2008 by John Allan Slaight. Allan Slaight (1931-2021), known as Canada’s broadcast pioneer, was a leader in the music industry and a prominent Canadian philanthropist. Through his generosity, the Foundation proactively supports charitable initiatives in the areas of healthcare, at-risk youth, international development, social services and culture. Allan’s son, Gary Slaight, oversees the foundation as President & CEO, The Slaight Family Foundation. 

About Why Not Theatre

We push boundaries, build community, and find new ways. Rethink how stories are told. And who gets to tell them. We MAKE great work that takes chances, and tours all over the world. We SHARE everything we have because more artists mean more stories. We PROVOKE change because we believe art should be for everyone. At Why Not we make things, better.