If you’ve got a thing, they’ve got a stage: Common Ground Festival at Pumphouse celebrates 11 years

Now in its 11th year, the grassroots Common Ground Festival offers emerging artists a stress-free space to create, experiment, and connect.

What started as a modest idea in a too-small space has grown into one of Calgary’s most unique celebrations of new theatre. The Common Ground Festival returns to the Pumphouse Theatre from Nov.12 to 15, bringing six original works by local artists — from circus and puppetry to drag history and romantic fantasy.

Founded more than a decade ago by Troy Couillard, the festival was built on a simple promise: “If you’ve got a thing, we’ve got a stage.”

“I started it about a little over 10 years ago when I was in university,” Couillard says. “I knew so many people who had ideas for shows that they wanted to do, but it felt like there were a lot of hoops. There was a lot of stress. I recently learned how to rent spaces, so I just figured why not make an opportunity that’s not very stressful. The only thing they need to bring is themselves and an idea.”

Over the past 11 years, the festival has helped launch artists onto professional stages, film sets, and television productions.

“We are on the fringe of fringe,” Couillard laughs. “Over the last 11 years, we’ve had people develop shows that have gone on to Fringe. We’ve had artists that have moved on to professional stages. We’ve had artists that have started making careers in television and film too.”

This year’s lineup includes six distinct productions:

The Fair Is in the Air — a circus comedy by Jasoncircus and Caityhoops celebrating authenticity and community.

The Late Great Mormon Drag Queen — Steven Morton’s historical fiction about Brigham Morris Young, son of the second president of the Mormon Church, who performed as Madam Pattirini.

The Farmer Jo & Chicken Show — a puppet-based family piece by Logan Sundquist tackling climate change and conservation.

Rave Alien — Alexa R. McGinn’s story of an extraterrestrial discovering raves and self-expression on Earth.

Every Waking Second — a new play by Sarah Innes and Soph Sloan about sleepless ambition, burnout, and connection.

The Romantasy Project — Third Draft Theatre’s homage to romance and fantasy, exploring “the intersections of romantic ideals and fantastic reality.”

The festival follows a fringe-style box office model, where artists keep 70 percent of ticket proceeds.

“It’s all dependent on audience numbers,” says Couillard. “We do like to give everybody a little bit. It’s not as much as I’d hope — in a perfect world, you could pay all your bills with this — but it’s something to tell them that we appreciate you. Your work is valuable, and to us, you’re professional.”

After starting in small rented rooms downtown, Common Ground found a permanent home at the Pumphouse Theatre in 2019 — and its audiences have only grown since.

“We’re seeing houses get bigger and bigger every year,” Couillard says. “A lot of people ask what we’re doing to make it grow so fast, but I kind of like the slow growth, because slow growth feels a little bit more permanent.”

Couillard, who also serves as facilities manager and interim programming director at the Pumphouse, calls the festival his “baby.”

“It’s all about giving new artists an opportunity to show their passions, show their work, with as little stress as we can manage,” he says. “If we’re going to be a city of the arts, the citizens need to come out and support it.”

Tickets and full schedules are available at pumphousetheatre.ca.