The collection includes records of the Prairie Theatre Exchange (known as the Manitoba Theatre Workshop until 1981) encompassing theatre seasons from 1973 to 2001, particularly those of the 1980s and early 1990s. Included are administrative papers, such as minutes, correspondence, legal and financial records, as well as publicity material, newspaper articles, show programs and posters, production scripts, notes, schedules, plans, drawings and set designs. The photograph collection consists of 91 photographs, 3 contact sheets, 1 slide, and 43 negative strips. The tape collection consists of 14 audio tapes. The electronic media series consists of 10 computer diskettes.
Administrative and production files have been grouped together by season. These files document the various activities undertaken by PTE/MTW, including its theatre classes, educational outreach programmes and school tours. Most of the seasonal series contain files of Board of Directors minutes, correspondence, finances, press releases and press clippings as well as other promotional material. Production files dealing with the season's shows (mainstage and touring productions) are arranged chronologically at the end of each seasonal series. Records in these files include programs, schedules, promotional material and reviews.
Miscellaneous and cumulative files that could not easily be placed into a seasonal series are grouped together. These include files which continunue over multiple seasons, regarding PTE/MTW buildings, tours and activities, as well as reference materials and a large group of subject-files (accumulated by PTE) regarding the organization's "early history".
The third series consists of records from the prompt books of PTE's Stage Managers (and sometimes Assistant Stage Managers). These contain rehearsal schedules, production notes, blocking diagrams and annotated scripts, show reports, tour itineraries, notes regarding set, costume, sound and lighting cues, as well as other related documents.