Moving into its sophomore season, Encore Theatre is increasingly finding its identity within the city.

The young theatre company is continuing to establish itself as it introduces more dates and more Canadian programming, as well as placing a heavier focus on developing new talent.

“You will see Encore coming into its own in 2013,” said Callam Rodya, founding artistic director of the theatre company. “After a very successful debut season, we have experienced overwhelming support from this community and we have developed a stronger sense of what we want our identity as a company to be.”

The season opens with a run of the production Alphonse Jan. 17 to 29. The Wajdi Mouawad production is the story of a “remarkable boy with a huge imagination.” He is off inventing extraordinary adventures for a fictitious character while the whole town looks for him — an experience that reflects on the joy and pain of youth.

From April 18 to 27, guests can check out Lenin's Embalmers by Vern Thissen. The story is about two Jewish biochemists who are recruited to embalm Lenin. Both men are pushed to their limits in preserving the former Soviet leader. The story is pinned around the resilience of the human spirit, ever-changing war games and the importance of always having vodka on hand.

The last production of the season, The Monument by Colleen Wagner, runs July 11 to 20. The award-winning production is about a young life forever changed by war.

All productions are staged at the Encore home at the Ernie Checkeris Theatre at Thorneloe University. A general casting call for roles in the season is slated for Sept. 15 after 2 p.m. by appointment. Anyone interested in taking part can visit www.encoretheatre.ca for more information.