WHO WE ARE

Theatre; Just Because (TJB), an independent theatre company in Treaty 8, nistawâyâw / ᓂᐢᑕᐋᐧᔮᐤ / Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo founded in 2014, is run entirely by local artists. TJB works to develop unique opportunities for local artists to create meaningful and impactful theatre experiences, and to foster ongoing artist growth in our local context. We strive to make theatre accessible to all, and we are constantly exploring new venues and ideas to continuously support local performance arts through mentorship, encouragement, and by challenging artists to develop and enjoy their craft.

How we started

Theatre; Just Because was founded in 2014 by theatre artists Michelle Thorne-Speir and Danna-Rae Evasiuk during the 2014 Alberta Drama Festival Association One Act Festival. Since then, TJB has proudly been a part of the creative landscape of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, offering development opportunities, workshops, performance opportunities, educational programs, and more to the people who call this community home.

Accolades

• 2020 - Shortlisted for the Theatre Award at the Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards presented by Arts Council Wood Buffalo

  “Recognizes an artist or group active in acting, directing, playwriting, design, comedy, and/or technical production (such as stage management).”

• 2018 - Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce Artpreneur Award

  “The Artpreneur Award recognizes individual artists, crafts people, and arts-based business which have made an outstanding contribution in the combined areas of business success, innovation, and community services, and have added value to the local creative economy.”

• 2016 - Creative Collaboration Award at the Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards presented by Arts Council Wood Buffalo

  “The Creative Collaboration Award recognizes an arts organization or individual artist who have demonstrated an innovative use of the arts to contribute to a balanced community by highlighting or focusing on a community need or social issue.”

  For Fanny & Manny Tie the Knot Dinner Theatre by Theatre; Just Because and Waypoints