In August of 2000, Annie Dugan and John Ullyatt created Firefly Theatre. Our mandate is to create and tour original and accessible physical theatre that combines the visceral and awe-inspiring response of the circus with the emotional response of the theatre. We work on the ground and in the air, using the trapeze, vertical rope, aerial silks, aerial hoop and bungees, creating a signature style that we call Aerial Theatre. Our productions have taken place inside theatres, outside in intersections, and in the air suspended from buildings. Firefly Theatre’s work is unique in Alberta and has been described as “thrilling and thought provoking,” The Journal, “gorgeous and terrifying,” Vue Weekly, “endlessly inventive,” The Sun, and “stunningly beautiful,” See Magazine.
FFT productions include: The Balloon Project: Phase One, Primordial Blues (An Evening of Aerial Theatre), The Tail of the Peacock, 21st Century Gargoyles, Crosswalk Theatre and Ballerina on a Horse. Our annual productions are Fly By Night: circus-vaudeville and Let There Be Height: an aerial cabaret.
Our work has been presented at many places, including Canada Day 2007 in Trafalgar Square (London, England), WinterCity Festival (Toronto, Ontario), the Pacific National Exhibition (Vancouver, B.C.), On the Waterfront Festival (Halifax, Nova Scotia), Brilliant City Festival of Arts (Calgary, Alberta), Oh Solo Mio Festival (London, Ontario), the Edmonton International Street Performer's Festival (Edmonton, Alberta), the Canadian Conference for the Arts, the 2005 World Masters Games, the 2006 Alberta Summer Games, the Grey Cup Festival 2006, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.
Firefly Theatre established Alberta's first Aerial Arts Program, offering aerial skill classes to community members, as well as workshops in our specialty, Aerial Theatre.
Firefly Theatre Acknowledged:
2007 - City of Edmonton Salute to Excellence in Arts and Culture Award
2007 - Syncrude Award for Innovative Artistic Direction
2006 - Syncrude Award for Innovative Artistic Direction Nominee
2004 - Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award for Best Independent Production Nominee