Ira Cooper is the artistic director and founder of Spec Theatre, a small but mighty independent collective that’s relatively new to the local city scene. But for this individual, who spent the past decade honing his craft far and wide, what he offers with The Strange Hour live-action theatrical variety show is a safe space for talents from various sub-disciplines to interact with audiences, and show them why their craft matters.
When asked about how he likes to describe himself, he says he’s a self-described white settler with Jewish and Eastern European roots. After a hearty chuckle, he revealed he wanted to craft a company grounded in humour, collaboration, and community connection. As a local Fringe theatre artist, he knows what’s important. He’s also said that his appreciation developed even when he was a wee lad—ever since his mother first enrolled him in acting classes at five.