The story of Lawyers on Stage Theatre Society (LOST) began in 1996 when a group of 11 lawyers, including Diane Turner, Michael Hutchison, Steve Kelleher, Rolfe Horne, Judge Michael Hubbard, Andrew Pirie, and Don Lawton, offered to help raise funds for a struggling theatre company in Victoria. They bravely went on stage and played the jury deliberating about the life or death of a young immigrant man accused of first-degree murder in Twelve Angry Men. This was the first fundraiser by what would later come to be known as LOST.
LOST went on to regale, surprise, disappoint, wow, and provoke audiences for over ten years. Perhaps you remember LOST alumni who performed in the following shows: Breaker Morant (1997), Tom Jones (1999), Romulus the Great (2001), Escape from the 70s Dinner Theatre (2002), Murder on the Nile (2003), The Man Who Came to Dinner (2004), Everything I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten (2005), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change! (2006), Scrambled Feet (2007,) Working (2008), and many more.
LOST then went cocoon-like for a few years, although the core of the LOST alumni and the concept of lawyers on stage giving back to their community did not disappear.
In 2017, with the support of Stephenson, Luchies & Legh and the Victoria Bar Association, as well as the hard work of a lot of people, LOST went from a dispersed collection of theatre aficionados in law to a registered Society: Lawyers on Stage Theatre Society, complete with a Board of Directors made up of both dedicated theatre and legal professionals to emphasize the collaborative nature of the enterprise.
In December 2017, LOST, in its new form, presented The Snow Queen at Langham Court Theatre. Directed by Kate Rubin and designed by Carole Klemm, Stuart Patterson’s adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s 1844 tale was well received and raised much needed resources for the Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre and TLC: Funds for Kids. And even though a fairy tale, the play had some remarkably timely messages about courage and standing up to an existential threat to the world, perseverance, friendship, corruption, and not unimportantly, the fragility of the environment.
LOST returned in 2018 with Bryony Lavery’s feminist version of Treasure Island, based on the adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Directed and designed once again by the talented Kate Rubin and Carole Klemm, Lavery’s Treasure Island took the audience on an edge-of-your-seat search for treasure and its meaning in our lives. Proceeds from the show went to support TLC: Fund for Kids and the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre (VSAC) and a bursary for a law and theatre student in need at UVic.
In 2019, LOST staged the George M Cohan classic, Seven Keys to Baldpate. This little-known melodramatic farce turned out to be a beautiful hit! Cohan’s century-year-old clever satire on the mystery thriller aged well, particularly the bit about political corruption! Kate Rubin and her team delivered their 3rd and best production, which was a wonderful parting gift. Proceeds from this show went to Need 2: Suicide Prevention, Education and Support and the Victoria Foundry.
After a break during the COVID pandemic, LOST returned in 2021 with Philp Grecian’s Frankenstein: The Radio Play co-directed by Andrew Pirie and Sara Ramshaw, with Foley Director Phil Duchene. With modern day messages about tolerance and discrimination, this live radio play with on stage Foley and sound effects wowed audiences and produced record revenues for LOST charities: Need 2 and the Victoria Sexual Assault Centre (VSAC).
In 2022, LOST produced another big story in staged radio play format: Bram Stoker’s Dracula, adapted for radio by the legendary Orson Welles, co-directed again by Andrew Pirie and Sara Ramshaw with Artistic/Foley Director Phil Duchene. Proceeds from this production went to Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS) and Need2.
In December 2023, LOST presented a spirited new take on the live radio play in its production of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s beloved classic, The Great Gatsby, adapted for stage by Joe Landry. This unique production included movement and dance as well as live sound effects and music. Proceeds went to support two local charities: Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS) and Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre (VCAPCC).
The history of LOST will continue to evolve. If you would like to get involved, have a look at how you can participate and/or support LOST.