Farewell to Rosebud Theatre’s technical director

Laureen F. Guenther
Times Contributor

 

Byron Linsey, Rosebud Theatre’s technical director, is moving on to new adventures, and he’s leaving big shoes to fill.
Linsey came to Rosebud in 2011, with a rich background in theatre and construction. He’d been an actor and founding member of Vancouver’s Pacific Theatre, worked in set construction for television and theatre, and done finish carpentry.
“We always thought that having the opportunity to live in a rural community would be fun,” he said. “And we’ve done that, and enjoyed many aspects of it.”
Now, six years later, Linsey’s wife still works in Calgary and their children are grown, the youngest graduating from Rosebud School of the Arts (RSA) a year ago.
“It didn’t make a lot of sense for us anymore to be here in Rosebud,” Linsey said. “It wasn’t an easy decision at the time. But it was time to move on.”
As technical director, he was responsible for sets, props and lights for Rosebud Theatre productions. That involved determining the costs of a show, and acquiring or creating materials to fit the show’s design. It also meant working closely with RSA students.
“You’re supervising and teaching [students] how to do various things,” when they help transition from the set of one play to the next, he said. “Hang lights, maintain lights, help set the set up and that sort of thing.”
He helped teach a first-year class – Introduction to Technical Foundations – and he was a resource for second-year student productions.
“Whether it’s building set or building props or hanging lights or whatever, you have to be there,” he said. “They’re supposed to do the work, but you help them and supervise what they’re doing.”
He was again a mentor in the students’ fourth year, when they produced their Final Projects.
The position has had challenges, of course, mostly due to a quick turnaround between shows. “Sometimes the schedule is very difficult, having a two-week turnover period from closing one show and opening the next,” he said. “Sometimes that’s plenty of time. But dare I say most of the time it’s difficult to pull it off and it requires extremely long days.”
There have been rewards too, and the greatest was “the opportunity to be part of this community,” he said. “I’ve made what I’m sure will now be lifelong friends here.”
In Calgary, he may get connected with the movie and television industry, but he’d also like to explore new avenues.
“I wouldn’t mind being able to head off in a completely different direction,” he said. “But it’s good to know I have those skills that I can always fall back on.”
According to Paul F. Muir, RSA’s education director, losing Linsey is a big deal.
“He’s brought so much to the organization, to the theatre, but also to the students,” said Muir. “He really cared about the students’ thoughts.”
Denise Lines, formerly with the Passion Play, has been hired as production coordinator.
“Denise isn’t exactly Byron’s replacement,” said Mark Lewandowski, Rosebud Theatre’s managing director. “We’re restructuring the production department to make best use of the skills that we have within the organization.”
Linsey says: “As far as the audience is concerned they won’t notice any difference at all.”
Linsey adds he plans to keep coming to see shows in Rosebud, and he invites others to do the same.
“Come to the shows,” he said. “People who do come to Rosebud love coming to Rosebud. And people who haven’t tried yet, they won’t regret it.”