Over the weekend Canada's National Post ran nice story on how the Soulpepper Theatre has defined itself and it's productions through illustration. (article here)

"Judging a book by its cover can be important," Lester says. "With a poster that's defining a classic play, people recognize the names, but in order to be evocative of what direction [the play] is going to take, I feel like the poster art or the visual identity is helping with that. It kind of creates another perspective. A contemporary layer." - Leslie Lester, Executive Director

"What Soulpepper does is pretty unique," says Edel Rodriguez, illustrator for the company in 2008. "It should be part of what everybody does in theatre. If you're going to support the arts, go for it all the way. It makes your theatre stand out, but some people don't get that."

"[Soulpepper] comes off as being atypical of the work experience with clients," says Brian Stauffer, this year's artist, on the phone from Miami. "They say, ‘Look, we're treating our audiences like morons by not expecting that they're going to want to see some brilliant, innovative, thoughtful stuff.' These guys are putting a lot of time and effort and blood and sweat into putting these productions together. To not represent it in an equally creative way, it just feels like a missed opportunity."

Above is another in the 2010 season series for the play entitled, "What The Butler Saw."  The play originally opened in London's Queen's Theater in 1969 to much controversy and acclaim.  Consisting of two acts, the scene is the office of a sexually perverse psychiatrist who basically tries to seduce almost anyone who walks into his office.  That's over simplifying it quite a bit but basically it's a farcical comedy about sexual encounters and acquaintances colliding to break down social conventions.

Thanks again to Anthony Swaneveld, the Art Director-Designer at Sandwich Creative who's collaborative spirit made this series possible.  Thanks also to MArk Medley at the National Post, and Leslie Lestor and the fine folks of Soulpepper Theatre.  Their desire to stand-out beyond the pack says so much about the value they place on the productions they bring to life.