ORIGINS
Cahoots Theatre Company (formerly Cahoots Theatre Projects) was founded in 1986 by Beverly Yhap. It was incorporated provincially as a non-profit organization in February 1986 and registered as a charitable organization in 1987.
The word cahoots comes from the word for a small cabin, either the French cahute or the Dutch kajuit. Thus, to be in cahoots with someone means, literally, to live with someone in a confined space, implying both close collaboration and constructive tension. The name Cahoots Theatre Projects was coined in the spirit of flexibility, and was indicative of a time when there was not enough culturally diverse work on stage to merit more than project-to-project operations.
Our re-emergence as Cahoots Theatre Company marks our transition to sustained year-round operation, providing continuity and momentum for our artists. Cahoots has matured into a strong, visible presence in the communities that we serve. Our spirit of cultural diversity and inclusivity is enhanced with a new passion and verve for artistic growth.
Completing the company’s rebranding and further clarifying our revitalized mandate, CMANGO Design developed a new logo that incorporates the symbol of the Mandorla: two overlapping rings signifying inclusivity and interconnectedness. This symbolizes how our work and the artists that we engage are a vital part of Canada’s artistic and cultural landscape.
“With Cahoots, it was especially a struggle to plan beyond the current project, never mind down the road to anything like a future, or legacy. I am heartened an artistic enterprise begun for fun — a necessary conspiracy — has evolved, deepened, grown, and been taken up by subsequent artists, each with their own unique take on what diversity really means in theatre.”
Beverly Yhap, Founder of Cahoots Theatre Projects
