"[A] spare, massive set created by German designer Peter Werner and engineered by Banff's ingenious production team." The Globe and Mail, March 15, 1997, describing Jackie O in Houston.

"The set is terrifyingly effective." Le Devoir, Sept 19, 1995.  "A huge disk-shaped portion of the wall, five stories high, detaches itself and lowers slowly… It is a brilliant physical metaphor for a production that brilliantly confronts the challenges of opera." The Globe and Mail, Sept 22, 1995, both describing Wozzeck.

As the above quotes illustrate, the scene shop and its associated designers and crafts people have, in recent years, produced a variety of highly acclaimed sets possessing distinctive quality. The scenery production staff is drawn from many of the leading theatres across Canada and has extensive experience building touring and repertory sets which are both durable and easily assembled. The paintshop is capable of producing an extraordinary range of styles and finishes.

The well equipped shop can produce scenic elements that range from traditional wooden structures to lightweight steel and aluminum space frames. We are able to take initial design concepts through a detailed production planning process which produces finished sets of the highest standard.

Props uses a wide range of tools and equipment. In addition to a number of hand, air, and electric tools, there is a small carpentry area with a bandsaw, belt sander, and drill press. A small painting area exists beside the local exhaust ventilation area.  Worktables line the west wall under windows that afford a stunning view of the mountains.

Depending on the show needs, Props may: 

• build, repair, refinish, and upholster furniture
• cast a variety of items in various materials
• build soft props (e.g. curtains, cushions, etc.)
• sculpt or carve and scrim everything from small decorative details to large set pieces
• simulate painted finishes (e.g. marble, woodgrain) and/or provide metalwork (welded, soldered, riveted)
• complete small detailed projects such as masks, puppets, fake food, weapons, and/or paper props

Props works in materials including but not limited to wood, rubber, metal, plaster, resins, foams, thermoplastics, paints and fabric. Small props are stored in the basement of the Centre while large items (e.g.. furniture) are stored in a Calgary warehouse. Props usually runs during the summer with a staff of 3 (Head, Assistant and Buyer) and 2 work studies.  

Our Costume Shop has perhaps the best view of any costume department anywhere! Panoramic windows light a large and well equipped workroom, able to cope with any costume requirement. There are 25 large workstations for cutters and sewers and an abundance of industrial and domestic sewing machines -- including button hole machines, sergers, a leather machine, etc.

The Dye Room is close to the Costume Shop in the basement of the Theatre Complex. It is small but well equipped and ventilated and can handle all dying requirements short of "industrial" quantities.

The design studio located adjacent to the offices and overlooking the scene shop has five drawing boards and an IBM compatible computer which is supplemented by rented computers in the summer. It has materials and an area for model-making.

The lighting shop is hidden away on the lower level of the Theatre Complex. Its spacious shop covers 1752 sq. ft., which includes two large assembly tables, an 11 foot repair bench with two soldering stations, gel/gobo room, 5 desk areas, drafting table, and two Mac G4 computers with Vectorworks-10 installed. Adjacent to the shop is an 1152 sq. ft. lighting storage area.