PRESS RELEASE

LONDON - 15 October 2003

The Windchill Factor, a new, non-profit organisation dedicated to developing cross-cultural exchange between Canada and the UK, recently commenced operations of a new Web portal (www.canadiantheatre.co.uk) featuring background material on UK-based productions of Canadians plays.

Citing an unprecedented amount of Canadian theatre currently in London and the UK, Windchill Executive Director Colin Williams believes a Web portal will assist both Canadian theatre companies and local audiences. "This autumn there are eight Canadian plays in London. With the increasing popularity of Canadian theatre in the UK, it made sense to bring the productions under one informational roof," said Williams. "We hope to enable greater cultural exchange and learning between Canadian and British artists. This program will help both Canadian and British theatre grow and develop.

"British audiences are rarely given the chance to see the best of Canadian theatre, and Canadian artists usually don't have the opportunity to work and learn with professionals from outside of Canada. By addressing these two issues together we are confident that the performing arts in both countries will be the richer for it."

Katherine Bond, Performing Arts Officer at the Canadian High Commission, is keen to encourage and support the Windchill initiative. "Canadian plays and performers are among the best in the world," Bond commented. "We are pleased to assist Windchill in helping to promote these unique, exciting productions to British theatre-goers."

The Windchill Factor Web portal represents the start of a concerted and organised campaign to establish a stable, long-term platform for Canadian theatre work in London, the UK, and Europe. This platform will extend to a cultural exchange program designed to provide exposure of new cultures to up-and-coming artists in the performing arts. The Web portal will list both London-based and touring productions.

About The Windchill Factor

Founded in July 2003 by two expat Canadians, Colin Williams and Chris MacNeil, The Windchill Factor is quickly establishing itself as the central point for all Canadian-related performing arts initiatives in the UK. A pan-Atlantic organisation, The Windchill Factor is developing a series of programs to enable artists in Canada and the UK to explore and learn about the cultural differences of their respective countries.

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