Highland Arts Theatre facts for kids
|
"The HAT"
|
|
_Logo.png){kind=logo}
The official logo for the Highland Arts Theatre.
|
|
The Highland Arts Theatre during a special CBC broadcast in 2016.
|
|
| Former names | St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (1910–1925), St. Andrew's United Church (1925–2013) |
|---|---|
| Address | 40 Bentinck Street |
| Location | Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 46°08′20″N 60°11′38″W / 46.138782°N 60.194000°W |
| Public transit | Transit Cape Breton Routes 1, 5 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
| Owner | Highland Quality Productions Incorporated |
| Operator | Highland Arts Theatre Association |
| Type | Theatre |
| Genre(s) | live theatre, music, concerts, dance, film |
| Seating type | Soft seat, reserved seating |
| Capacity | Theatre: 416 Concerts: up to 475 |
| Production | The Producers |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 14, 1910 |
| Built | 1910–1911 |
| Opened | June 25, 1911 |
| Renovated | June 3, 2014 |
| Construction cost | $62,945 CAD (1911) |
| Architect | Samuel G. Curry and William F. Sparling of Toronto (Curry & Sparling) |
| General contractor | Rhodes Curry Company |
| Official name | St. Andrew's United Church |
| Type | Provincial Heritage Property |
| Designated | 29 August 29, 2012 |
| Official name | St. Andrew's United Church |
| Type | Municipal Heritage Property |
| Designated | 18 September 2007 |
| Reference no. | 9326 |
The Highland Arts Theatre, also known as "The HAT," is a historic building in Sydney, Canada. It started its life over 100 years ago as a large church but is now a popular center for arts and culture.
In June 2014, the building reopened as the Highland Arts Theatre. Today, it hosts live plays, concerts, movies, and dance performances right in Sydney's waterfront district.
Contents
From Church to Theatre
The building was first built as St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Construction began in 1910 and finished in 1911. It was the third church built for the local Presbyterian community, which had been growing since 1852. The first two churches became too small, so this new one was built to hold over 1,000 people.
In 1925, the church became part of the new United Church of Canada and was renamed St. Andrew's United Church. It remained a busy church for many decades.
By 2013, the number of people attending the church had become smaller. The cost to heat the huge, old building became too expensive. The community decided to close the church. On July 31, 2013, the church bells rang for the last time for a special closing service.
A Beautiful Building
The church was designed by architects from Toronto to be a grand and beautiful building. It was built with red brick made locally in Mira, Nova Scotia. The style is called Gothic Revival, which is known for its tall towers and pointed arches. This style is rare in the area, making the building unique.
Key features of the building include:
- Two bell towers of different heights.
- Arched windows and doorways.
- A very wide staircase at the entrance.
- A huge, curved ceiling that is 44 feet (about 13 meters) high.
- Construction using locally made red bricks.
Because of its beauty and history, the government has named it a Heritage Property. This means it is officially recognized as an important historical building that must be protected for the future.
The Giant Pipe Organ
Inside the theatre is a massive pipe organ made by the famous Casavant Frères company from Quebec. It is the largest pipe organ on Cape Breton Island, with 2,045 pipes! The pipes completely fill the back of the stage.
The organ was first installed in 1911 when the church was built. It was later rebuilt in 1946 to make it even better. In 2008, the 18-ton instrument needed $15,000 in repairs to keep it in working order.
The Famous Bells
The theatre has a chime of ten bells in its south tower. The bells were made in 1911 by the McShane Bell Foundry in the United States. Each of the nine smaller bells has a verse from the Bible inscribed on it. The largest bell, which weighs about 2,050 pounds (930 kg), is inscribed with the church's original name.
The bells are still played today. In December 2015, a Facebook video of a local woman playing "Angels We Have Heard on High" on the chime went viral. It was viewed over 1.6 million times in just nine days!
A Place for Music and Shows
Even when it was a church, the building was known for its amazing sound, or acoustics. This made it a perfect place for concerts. Classical musicians and even the Halifax Symphony Orchestra performed there.
After reopening as the Highland Arts Theatre, it became a modern performance venue. The old church pews were replaced with 475 comfortable theatre seats. A new stage, sound system, and lighting were installed to host all kinds of shows.
Many famous artists have performed at The HAT, including:
- The Barra MacNeils
- Ben Caplan
- J. P. Cormier
- Lennie Gallant
- Heather Rankin
- Symphony Nova Scotia
Live Theatre at The HAT
The HAT is now a major center for live theatre in Cape Breton. It produces its own plays and musicals, often telling local stories. The theatre officially opened on June 3, 2014, with a musical comedy called "The Wakowski Brothers - A Cape Breton Vaudeville".
Since then, The HAT has produced many shows. Here are a few examples from past seasons:
- A Christmas Carol
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dream - A 1950's Midsummer Musical
- Heart of Steel (a musical about women working at the Sydney Steel Plant during wartime)
- Kitchen Party (a musical celebrating East Coast life)
- The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
- Little Shop of Horrors
- The Glass Menagerie
Movies at the Theatre
The HAT also shows movies on its big screen. It focuses on Canadian and international films that you might not see at a regular movie theatre. It has also hosted fun "sing-along" movie nights where the audience can sing along to their favorite musicals.
Some films that have been shown include:
- Brooklyn
- Spotlight (winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture)
- The Princess Bride
- Mamma Mia! (Sing-along)
- White Christmas (Sing-along)
Gallery
- Highland Arts Theatre 2,045 pipe, three-manual Casavant Frères Pipe Organ
-
Highland Arts Theatre Casavant Frères Organ - view of the rank of metal pipes that make up the visible face of the organ.
-
Highland Arts Theatre Casavant Frères Organ - view of the Choir and Swell Stops to the left of the manuals.
-
Highland Arts Theatre Casavant Frères Organ - view of the Console, showing the Stops, the three Manuals, and the Pedals.
-
Highland Arts Theatre Casavant Frères Organ - view of the Great and Pedal Stops to the right of the manuals.
-
Highland Arts Theatre Casavant Frères Organ - view of one of the ranks of wooden pipes inside the organ.
-
Highland Arts Theatre Casavant Frères Organ - view of a number of the ranks of metal and wooden pipes inside one of the swell boxes inside the organ.
-
Highland Arts Theatre Casavant Frères Organ - view of several of the ranks of metal pipes inside one of the swell boxes inside the organ.
-
Highland Arts Theatre Casavant Frères Organ - looking down from above at several of the ranks of metal and wooden pipes inside the organ.
