Bainbridge Gets a New Way to Experience Theater

Tom Challinor and Matt Eldridge launched inD Theatre in 2018 with the goal of creating a new experience for Bainbridge audiences.

By paying actors a stipend, inD has become more than a traditional community theater, where actors aren’t compensated. It aims to produce shows that inspire social change. And by offering free admission, inD ensures access for anyone who wants to see performances, no questions asked.

The concept that Challinor and Eldridge call semiprofessional theater continues to build a following.

Productions are minimalist: small cast, simple set, with most performances at Rolling Bay Hall, where inD usually limits seating to 50 to 60 people.

“We don’t have fancy sets and all the extras that professional theaters might use as draws,” Eldridge said. “But at its heart, theater is so much about the actors.”

Both Eldridge and Challinor have been involved with other theater companies in and around Bainbridge. Challinor previously created Swinging Hammer Productions. After he directed Eldridge in “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Challinor broached the idea of joining forces on a new venture.

“He said if you’re doing it alone, you only can take it so far, but working with someone else, you can go twice as far,” Eldridge said.

To broaden perspectives—age, gender, life experiences—Challinor and Eldridge recently added Rachel Ruby Squires as a co-director.

“She asks questions we don’t even think about,” Challinor said. “She has answers to which we need to listen.”

Squires, age 25, discovered inD when she was cast in its 2019 production of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” shortly after she moved to Seattle, fresh from college.

“I was impressed with the kind of art they were making,” she said. “And they really cared about making theater accessible to everyone while compensating artists. When we started talking about me coming on as a producer with the company, I jumped at it.”

Patrons can reserve seats at no charge, then they have the option of making a tax-deductible donation online or at performances. Those donations help cover the costs for everyone in the audience, Eldridge said. “Over time, audiences have become more generous with donations,” he said, adding, “This model is not for everyone, but we hope other theaters will revisit their policies. The generosity of our donors has exceeded expectations and allows us to be more inclusive.”

People continue to discover inD, Challinor said. “Frequent responses after performances are ‘I can’t believe this is in my neighborhood,’ or ‘Where did you get such great actors,’ or ‘What are you doing next,’” he said.

Keeping things small has pros and cons, Squires said. “Having a smaller cast makes it easier to get to know each other and can make for some magical moments onstage. And I love the intimacy of a small audience. You see people as individuals, both as actors and audience members.” Still, a small performance space limits the number of people who can see productions, she noted.

The company has tackled a variety of shows. The 2020-2021 season, for example, ranged from Noel Coward’s 1924 comedy “Hay Fever” to “Lizzie,” a punk-rock musical about Lizzie Borden.

Challinor hopes all the plays will spur audience members to reflect and talk about what they’ve experienced. “Theater is a great gift to everyone who participates – clear back to the last seat in the house.”.

InD Theatre’s next production, “Venus in Fur,” is scheduled for March 17-April 2 at Rolling Bay Hall. For more information, go to indtheatre.org.