PUENTE Theatre Society was founded in Victoria in 1988 by its Artistic Director, Chilean-born director Lina de Guevara.  Puente, in Spanish, means bridge, and the mandate of PUENTE Theatre is to use theatrical experience as a bridge between cultures.  The organization's goals are to 1) give expression
to the experiences of immigrants to Canada, 2) expose Canadian audiences to works from other cultures, 3) use theatre to explore social issues, 4) offer work and creative opportunities to immigrant
artists, 5) create a multi-ethnic network of immigrant artists and resources, 6) build community through collaborative projects.

Over the past seventeen years, PUENTE has produced many original plays - such as Canadian Tango, Sisters/Strangers, an original translation of Malucha Pinto's remarkable Letters for Tomas and Storytelling Our Lives - and has worked with other local organizations in the production of plays from abroad, such as The House of Bernarda Alba, by F. Garcia Lorca, and Evita and Victoria, by Monica
Ottino. PUENTE projects have often incorporated the use of innovative forms of theatrical presentation,
such as:

- forum theatre productions, in which the audience participates in the development of the story, intervening with new solutions to social problems presented by the players,

- playback productions, in which people tell stories from their own lives, and watch them enacted on
the spot by a group of performers,

- community plays, created in collaboration with the members of a community, and giving expression
to its history and values,

- play readings.

PUENTE also offers workshops, training courses and mentorships for immigrant community organizations, women's groups, schools and universities.  PUENTE has participated nationally and
internationally in theatre festivals and conferences, been the subject of numerous articles and videos.

http://www.puentetheatre.ca/js index.htm