Sudbury Theatre Centre facts for kids
View of the Sudbury Theatre Centre from Shaughnessy Street
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| Address | 170 Shaughnessy Street Sudbury, Ontario P3E 4P8 |
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| Type | Professional theatre |
| Current use | Professional theatre and rental space |
| Opened | September 14, 1971 |
| Years active | 1971-present |
The Sudbury Theatre Centre is a special place for plays and performances in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. It's a professional theatre where actors perform for audiences.
In November 2023, the group that ran the Sudbury Theatre Centre joined with another theatre company called YES Theatre. Even though YES Theatre now manages it, the Sudbury Theatre Centre still uses its original name. This helps people tell it apart from the Refettorio, which is YES Theatre's other main performance space in Sudbury.
Contents
The History of Sudbury Theatre
How the Theatre Centre Started
Back in 1967, the Government of Ontario suggested that Sudbury should have its own theatre company. Local art lovers like Sonja Dunn and Bill Hart worked hard to make this happen. They raised money to bring a theatre group called Gryphon Theatre Company to Sudbury.
In May 1970, this group performed a play called Come Blow Your Horn at Laurentian University's Fraser Auditorium. This show was a big success and showed that Sudbury really wanted a theatre.
Official Opening and Early Years
Because of this success, the Sudbury Theatre Centre officially started on September 14, 1971. For several years, the theatre put on plays and held workshops for children. These events took place at different locations, including Fraser Auditorium, Cambrian College, and the Inco Club.
A big reason for the theatre's early success was its artistic director, Tony Lloyd. He worked very hard to build a theatre that would serve the people of Sudbury.
Building a Permanent Home
In 1980, the city of Sudbury gave the theatre some land on Shaughnessy Street. This land was close to Tom Davies Square, a main city area. The plan was to build the theatre's very own building there.
Construction began in July 1981. The new building, which had 289 seats, officially opened when the theatre's 1982 season began. This gave the Sudbury Theatre Centre a permanent home for its performances.
Modern Updates and New Shows
In 2015, the theatre got some exciting updates. The lobby, which is the entrance area, was renovated. The lounge area was also improved, making it a nicer place for visitors to relax. These changes helped make the theatre more modern and comfortable for everyone.
Since 2017, the Sudbury Theatre Centre has added even more types of shows. Besides their main plays, they now host music concerts, dance performances, comedy shows, and other special events.
The theatre also runs an annual drama program for young people. This program teaches students about acting and performing. In 2020, the theatre's artistic director, John McHenry, started co-hosting a radio show. It's called Arts at Nine and talks about the arts community in Sudbury.
