Curtain rises on funding for theatre society
By Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The latest act has been written for the Nelson Civic Theatre Society as a one-time grant of $150,000 has been scripted for them while the facility is closed due to a roof repair at the Civic Centre.
The Society requested a one-time grant of $150,000 in July from the City to support their operations through the end of 2024 to offset the loss of revenue from the theatre’s closure.
Coun. Rik Logtenberg stated that the theatre played a vital role in Nelson’s cultural and community life and, while the organization undergoes a major renovation project to transform the theatre into a three-screen facility, delays due to the City’s required roof repairs at the Civic Centre have created an extended closure of the theatre.
He said he had a sense the grant request was more than bridge operational funding so that people could continue their jobs until the repairs were done.
“I think it is more about holding that institution together that is really … more than just a movie theatre, it is more than just operational funding,” he said. “I think the message needs to go out broader to the community to support that staff and that institution through this period.”
In July City council approved access to a line of credit for Nelson Civic Theatre Society (NCTS) to cash flow their capital project. However, the prolonged closure and the financial demands of the renovation placed significant strain on NCTS’s operational budget.
The limited revenue from ongoing operations, such as the Shoebox Theatre and the summer drive-in at Railtown, has been insufficient to cover the organization’s operating costs during this extended closure period.
A peek at the project
The three-screen project is extensive and will see many changes to the venue which has been a one-serving service since it opened in 1936.
There will be a complete lobby renovation complete with new concession, ticket booth and five unisex washrooms. The major aspect of the renovation will be to create three screens where one has previously resided — all fully accessible — dividing the spaces into 214 seats, 81 and 84, respectively.
“The lobby will get as much of a renovation as the theatres as well as the support spaces,” said project architect Adam Brady from Cover Architectural Collaborative.
The renovation will provide two new theatres, which is the most exciting aspect of the project, said Brady.
“And, for us, this is where the focus is happening first, where we are going to be able to introduce the Small Black Box Theatre,” he said, which will include 81 seats and a mini projector booth on the balcony floor.
The third theatre also sits on the balcony level.
“So that is kind of what is driving this reno right now is the ability to be able to carve out those back areas into additional spaces that could generate more viewing and more viewership within the theatre itself,” said Brady.
Then the project will move toward the renovation of the main theatre with the existing auditorium going to remain largely intact, but with new projector and sound booth. There will, however, be a shared corridor constructed between the theatres that is going to allow people access to all three theatres.
“This really becomes now the main focus of the reno where we have the opportunity to introduce a barrier-free corridor and barrier-free entrances at dual points into this theatre,” Brady explained.
The entire Civic Centre is currently undergoing roof upgrades and the fall will see the theatre renovation kick into full gear, with a 10- to 12-month project completion timeline.
