The Royal George Theatre’s multi-million-dollar rebuild is getting a federal boost of up to $25 million, helping replace the 111-year-old Niagara-on-the-Lake landmark with a building everyone can access.
And while the historic theatre is being rebuilt from the ground up, the Royal George name will live on.
Lead donors Tim and Frances Price made a $10-million gift to the project and were offered naming rights, but chose to keep it the Royal George Theatre.
Shaw Festival executive director Tim Jennings told The Lake Report the federal funding will help cover construction and completion costs, along with some design work and other early work dating back to this past spring.
“The funding will come once a final payment agreement is fully executed. It reimburses the Shaw for the approved costs after they are paid,” he said.
St. Catharines Liberal member of Parliament Chris Bittle announced the funding Thursday at the construction site on Queen Street.
Bittle was joined by Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa and Tony Baldinelli, the Conservative member of Parliament for Niagara Falls–Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Other attendees included Niagara Falls member of provincial Parliament Wayne Gates, Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati and NOTL councillors Gary Burroughs, Wendy Cheropita and Adriana Vizzari.
In April 2025, Ontario committed $35 million to the rebuild, to be paid over three years, bringing total government support for the new theatre to as much as $60 million.
The new theatre is scheduled to open in fall 2028 with 350 seats, a larger lobby, a rehearsal hall and spaces for community and educational programs. Its façade will echo the look of the original building.
The Shaw’s artistic director Tim Carroll said rebuilding the theatre became necessary not only because the old theatre had reached the end of its usable life, but because some people could not use it with dignity.
“I saw people who couldn’t come to our shows here because they were in wheelchairs or had mobility issues, or couldn’t come with dignity because they had to be wheeled out of the theatre and down, usually a rainy alleyway, to an outside toilet,” he said.
“Those days are gone.”
The Shaw says the entire building will be accessible, including backstage areas, catwalks, the overhead areas where technicians manage lighting and scenery and other workspaces. The building’s design will also include geothermal heating and cooling and rooftop solar panels.
“Those accessible catwalks and grid — it’s the first in the world,” Jennings said.
“We passionately believe that art is a basic human need and that it must be accessible to everyone. Regardless of age, regardless of physical mobility.”
On the subject of the theatre keeping its name, Tim Price’s comments were succinct.
“The Royal George is the Royal George,” he said. “Let’s leave it that way.”
That announcement drew applause from the crowd and an emotional response from Jennings, who said he gets “a little choked up” whenever he thinks about it.
“When you have these conversations, they don’t always go that way,” he said. “So it really was a very special moment for me.”
Price said the new theatre’s role as an open community gathering place helped inspire the couple’s support. Unlike the former Royal George, the new building is expected to welcome people throughout the day, including during practices or simply for a coffee.
“We know there are lots of people walking back and forth across that street who, yes, they see the theatre, but they really don’t know what’s going on,” Price said.
“But if the door’s open — and it’s inviting — they’ll come in.”
That spoke volumes, he said, about “what this magical place can be.”
The Shaw’s spokesperson, Cathy Cowan, had not responded by publication time to questions about whether the Prices will be offered any other permanent recognition within the new theatre, such as having the auditorium, lobby or another space named after them.
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa said the theatre has been part of the NOTL community for generations and helped make the town known for arts and culture.
“It’s a place where we meet, where we have stories to share, stories stay with us, and where our community sees itself reflected on the stage.”
Bittle credited and thanked the Shaw’s team for squeezing “every drop that they could have out of this building.”
“I’m happy to finally be able to deliver on this discussion that we’ve had for a decade,” he said.
The Shaw began designing a replacement for the Royal George in 2017, but plans to rebuild in 2021 were delayed by the pandemic.
