Soulpepper Theatre Company was founded in 1998 in Toronto by a group of twelve artists, with a two-production summer season. In 2005, Soulpepper migrated from Habourfront to its current home in the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Soulpepper hopes to build a national civic theatre; a place of belonging for artists and audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Soulpepper has three main mission platforms which are its performances, its education program and its community programs.

In F2017, Soulpepper had 553 performances and public events. For all its productions, festivals, events and programs across Canada, the charity reports having an audience of around 130,000 people each year. Soulpepper is also one of the most active commissioning bodies for plays in Canada. In F2017, Soulpepper reports building 14 new sets, using 283 gallons of paint, and 60 litres of wood glue for its variety of productions. In celebration of Canada’s 150^th, Soulpepper launched Project Imagination, Canada’s largest theatre commissioning project of new work by Canadian artists which seeks to find between 30-40 Canadian artists to help develop new ideas for plays and adaptations.

The Soulpepper Academy, launched in 2006, is Canada’s only multi-year paid professional training program composed of actors, designers, directors, playwrights and producers. Upon graduation, these artists will be ready to contribute and work with Soulpepper and other professional performing arts companies. In F2017, Soulpepper reports that 45 artistic instructors engaged in all education and community programs.

Its outreach programs target community members and youth. It created the Soulpepper-CultureLink New Canadians Welcome Program, an initiative which helps newcomers in Toronto join the creative community with free tickets and special events. All Soulpepper’s outreach programs have a mentorship component to them, where participants are in direct connection with performers and artists.

Recent News: Soulpepper is going through a soul-searching phase with recent allegations of sexual misconduct. Artistic director, Albert Schultz, has resigned with four pending lawsuits. In addition, some government funding has ceased. Soulpepper is undergoing real change in its organizational culture, CBC News reports.  

Soulpepper Theatre Company is considered a medium-sized charity with donations of $5.9m in F2017. Its administrative costs were 10% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs were 10% of donations. For every dollar donated, 80 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

The charity has funding reserves of $9.7m of which $8.4m are donor-endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity’s funding reserves can cover programs for 1.5 months.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Soulpepper Theatre Company for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 29, 2019 by Parker Thomlinson