Independent theatre is always about choices, how we use time, attention, and space to create meaning. At Hummingbird Theatre Company (HTC), Poetry Month is one of those deliberate moments: a chance to pause, experiment, and foreground the work itself.Each year, we present a curated series of recorded audio poetry readings. Sometimes we draw from the classics (reader’s choice), sometimes we platform new work by local writers, and often we combine the two. Once the audio is recorded, the HTC team determines the visual language for that year’s presentation. We intentionally shift the aesthetic annually.In previous years, this has included short narrative films responding directly to the poems, and time-lapse illustrations created by a visual artist to capture the essence of each piece.

As all independent theatre makers will know, one has to ‘hit the ground running’ in the New Year (as if our feet ever really left the ground…). At HTC, we consider the onset of the New Year the perfect time for re-engaging and reconnecting with our patrons, after the disorientation we all face after the festive season.During this time, we implement one of our Digital Initiatives, which we refer to as our ‘start-of-year programming.’ This is free online programming that we offer our social media followers to kick-start the year and thank patrons for their loyalty. Whenever logistics allow, we reserve January, February, and March solely for this recalibration process.

A Workshop Series with Laura Field 

After a transformative chapter behind the scenes, Hummingbird Theatre Company (HTC) is proud to unveil something we’ve been dreaming up for a long time…