Culture and connection thrive - The Creative Perspective with Fridge Door Live Theatre Company

Fridge Door Live Theatre Company has being the heart of local theatre since 2006. Through summer camps, youth programs and live plays annually, Len Cuthbert leads the team into this new year with newly written musical production, on stage this fall.

Tell us about your business/organization's journey - do you recall how you first discovered your interest and passion for your work?

The theatre company first began in 2006, providing summer theatre camps and programs for youth in London, Strathroy, St. Thomas and Ingersoll. In 2011, we became an incorporated not-for-profit organization. For the past 15 years, we have staged plays and musicals annually, written by Len Cuthbert.

Talk about your business/group. What services or products do you provide? What is your vision and what are your goals?

We are producing original plays written by local playwright, Len Cuthbert, for community audiences in Strathroy and other local towns. The mission of Fridge Door Live Theatre Company productions is to influence, inform and inspire cast, crew and audiences, through process and production.

Community theatres turn shared stories into living experiences that spark conversation and pride.

What is the most challenging part of running your business/organization - and what’s the most rewarding?

Every successful show requires funding, marketing and getting bums in seats. We love the process of bringing artists together to create a production, and then the pinnacle of observing the response of the audience to the performance and hearing afterwards about the impact it made on them.

How do you hope people feel or what do you hope they take away when they visit your business/organization?

We not only hope that community members will be influenced, informed and inspired from the theatre experience, but that they will return with family and friends to be a part of the next theatre production experience.

What role do you think small businesses or community groups, especially in the creative field, play in a community like ours?

Small businesses in Canada with less than 9 employees make up almost 74% of all businesses in Canada, so collectively, they are vital and necessary for sustainability. Small businesses and live theatre are the heartbeat of small-town communities. They bring people together, foster creativity, and give local identity its coluor and character. Independent shops and cafés create gathering spaces, and community theatres turn shared stories into living experiences that spark conversation and pride. Together, they fuel local economies, nurture talent, and remind residents that culture and connection can thrive just as vibrantly on a hometown stage as in any big city.

What’s next for you - are there any upcoming projects, events, or milestones you’re excited to share?

In 2023, we staged the original play, Lawrence Station: The Crash of American Airlines flagship Erie in 1941, that was about Canada's worst aviation disaster that happened just 20km South of Strathroy.

In 2026, on the 85th Anniversary of the event, we will be staging a newly written musical version of the production with a unique artistic team. Tentative dates are in October 2026, when the event occurred.

Connect with Len Cuthbert (he/him), Fridge Door Live Theatre Company

For more information on productions we have staged and to keep up-to-date with this and future productions, visit www.OnStageLive.ca regularly.

Website

lencuthbert@hotmail.com

519-495-7305

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