Barkerville’s Theatre Royal finds its newest operator close to home this holiday season

December 17, 2019 (Barkerville, BC) – Barkerville Historic Town & Park, the largest gold rush heritage attraction in Western North America, announced last night at its annual staff Christmas social that a new producer has been found for the Theatre Royal’s 2020 operating season.

“Newman & Wright Theatre Company, who’ve successfully operated the Theatre Royal for the past 16 years, have made immense contributions to the history and development of Barkerville as a world-class tourism and entertainment destination,” said Barkerville CEO Ed Coleman.

“We are committed to providing an equally high level of professional theatre presentation in Barkerville as we move forward,” he continued. “So, after a thorough internal selection process, we have invited long-time Barkerville contract manager Stewart Cawood to produce our Theatre Royal’s 2020 season.”

Cawood was born and raised in Quesnel, BC, where his love of theatrical performance was fostered at Correlieu Secondary School. He went on to earn multiple degrees in Drama, History, and Education at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops while working during the summer for the Chinatown, Historic Street, and Colonial Justice interpretation programs in Barkerville. As a professional actor, director, and production manager, Stewart has also worked internationally on projects with the Saucy Fops, Project X, Reliquarium Productions, The Sunset Theatre, Histrionics Theatre Company, London UK Records and Barker Street Cinema.

In 2013 Cawood assumed management of Barkerville’s Cameron & Ames Blacksmith shop and was awarded a contract to oversee the park’s Historic Street interpretation program the following year. He will continue managing both the Blacksmith and Historic Street programs while producing daily musical variety shows at the Theatre Royal in 2020, with help from a team of seasoned performers whose collective experience in Barkerville spans decades.

“I am thrilled by this new opportunity,” said Cawood. “Richard and Amy [of Newman & Wright Theatre Company] have been good friends and colleagues throughout my entire career in Barkerville and I look forward to maintaining the standard they set so well, while honouring the legacies of everyone over the past 150 years who have made the Theatre Royal what is today.”

For more information about Barkerville’s Theatre Royal and its 2020 season, please visit barkerville.ca, or phone James Douglas at 1-888-994-3332, ext. 41 or Ed Coleman at ext. 23.

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Photo Credit

Stewart Cawood at Victorian Christmas, photo by Jillian Merrick.

Media Inquiries

James Douglas | Public Programming & Global Media Development

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