Cultivating the artist’s unique voice is at the heart of what we do.
Our Mission
Our deepest commitment is to the creator of the work above all else. Cultivating the artist’s unique voice is at the heart of what we do, meaning that our development strategy will always cater to exactly what the artist needs to express his/her vision to its fullest potential trumping any political mandate or outside vision. We are primarily a development company, providing a support structure to the artist. We are criminal in that we gain artistic freedom by experimenting outside the bounds of established Canadian theatres before making a commitment to any one institution or Artistic Director.
Criminal History
Founded in 2011 Criminal Theatre is an equal partnership between Rosa Laborde and Scott McCord. Both veterans of the Canadian theatre and music scene – Rosa as an award-winning playwright, actress, screenwriter and director; Scott as an award-winning actor, voice actor and musician – they recognized that there was a need for a professional development company built expressly to support artists to develop ownership over their craft, cultivate original voice and creative autonomy. At Criminal Theatre process is of absolute equal importance to product.
Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director
Rosa Labordé
Rosa Labordé is a Toronto based Playwright, Screenwriter, Director and Actress. She has been a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award, Dora Mavor Moore award and received the K.M. Hunter Artist’s Award for Theatre. She also garnered a Gemini nomination for her acting in television and a Dora Nomination for performance in theatre. Rosa has been resident playwright at the Great Canadian Theatre Company and been invited to the Banff Playwrights’ Colony twice. Currently she is Playwright-in-Residence at both the Tarragon Theatre and Aluna Theatre. She is a graduate of The Oxford School of Drama and The Canadian Film Centre.
Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director
Scott McCord
Scott McCord is an award winning actor, voice actor and musician. Based in Brooklyn, NY, he has been working in theatre, film, television and the independent music scene for 25 years. He has been nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award, a Gemini Award, was nominated Best New Artist of the Year at the 2010 Maple Blues Awards along with his band The Bonafide Truth, and in 2015 won a Canada Screens Award for his voice work in animation. Scott was a featured guest at Armegeddon Expo 2011 in Australia and New Zealand.