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Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE) is a professional theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba,
CanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It has its origins with the Manitoba Theatre School started by the
Manitoba Theatre Centre Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is Canada's oldest English-language regional theatre. Next to the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, MTC has a higher annual attendance than any other theatre in the country...
(MTC) in 1960.
In 1972, MTC shut down the school and group spearheaded by
Colin JacksonColin Ray Jackson CBE is a British former sprint and hurdling athlete who specialised in the 110 metres hurdles. Over his career representing Great Britain and Wales he won an Olympic silver medal, became world champion three times, went undefeated at the European Championships for 12 years and...
.
Charles HubandCharles Huband was a Manitoba politician, who subsequently became a judge. He was the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party between 1975 and 1978....
founded the Manitoba Theatre Workshop to take its place. The organization operated out of the old Grain Exchange building in
downtown WinnipegDowntown Winnipeg is centred around Portage Avenue and Main Street, and is bounded by the Assiniboine River on the south, Colony and Balmoral Streets on the west, Notre Dame Avenue, Princess Street, and Logan Avenue on the north, and the Red River on the east. It includes the Exchange District,...
.
In 1981, the workshop took on a more professional role in the community and subsequently changed its name to the Prairie Theatre Exchange. After operating for many years on Princess Street, PTE decided on a bold step which was to move the theatre to the
Portage PlacePortage Place is a mixed-use shopping centre located on the north side of Portage Avenue, between Vaughan and Carlton Streets in Downtown Winnipeg...
shopping mall on Portage Avenue.
Over the years, PTE has staged some of Canada's most celebrated and innovative plays.