CORRECTION: This article has been update to correct the job title of Jon Duschinsky, a campaign advisor for the rebuild of the Royal George Theatre.
The Shaw Festival is encouraging public discussion about its proposed rebuild of the Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The organization hosted an open house at the theatre on Wednesday, inviting residents to ask questions and learn more about the Shaw’s plans. Ninety people were registered for 13 tours, which each lasted about 30 to 45 minutes.
The tour was split into eight sections showcasing different parts of the theatre: the lobby, auditorium, accessible washroom and delivery area, the stage and backstage, the greenroom, Royal George bar, which is in the basement, the outside stage door and 188 Victoria St., where one part of the rebuilt theatre would be.
Each section either showed what is wrong with the current theatre, or what the potential is for a rebuilt one.
Among the problems with the current theatre is its failing clay foundation which causes the basement to flood when it rains.
“We spent $500,000 to fix flooding issues just in January,” Shaw Festival CEO Tim Jennings said during a media-only version of the tour, adding that those repairs came out of the organization’s operating budget.
Along the tour, placards offered information and addressed some public concerns about the renovation, such as clarifying that the lounge areas and rehearsal halls will not be used for commercial events or weddings.
Another issue, according to fire codes, is that the lobby can only fit 13 people. The Shaw wants it to be larger and more accessible for people with mobility issues. An elevator would be added.
In the theatre space, the number of seats would increase to 350 from 335, but with wider rows and accessible seating.
The tour also emphasized that the building itself is not historic. The facade and interior were designed to have a heritage look. The new building will have the same “look and spirit” as the previous theatre, Jennings said.
Another major concern is the theatre’s only accessible washroom is now located in a separate building, forcing patrons to go outside to reach it. The new plan would include an accessible washroom inside the theatre building.
Jennings said the Royal George has been in a constant state of renovation.
“It’s been renovated every year for the last 40 years,” he said, adding it is important for residents to have a say and a thorough understanding of the project.
“It’s the community we’ve invited,” Jennings told The Lake Report before the open house. “We’re doing it in small groups so that everybody gets a chance to have their say.”
Located on Queen Street, the Royal George is a long-standing cultural landmark in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Built in 1915, it served as a vaudeville and movie theatre for soldiers at Camp Niagara before being purchased by the Shaw Festival in 1980 for theatrical use.
Based on its long list of problems, the Shaw plans to demolish the current structure and rebuild it just north of the existing site.
The proposed building would rise three storeys, plus the basement, and include modern features such as multi-purpose rehearsal rooms.
However, the project has sparked controversy, with concerns from residents over its size and location in the historic Old Town.
One concerned resident was Rod Tennyson, who said he wants to see what residents are “up against.”
“There’s going to be a lot of construction. How long is it going to take?” said Tennyson. “I want to see how it’s going to affect the town and the tourist business.”
The building’s size also bothers a lot of residents, Tennyson said. However, he, like every resident on the tours that The Lake Report spoke to, said they were open-minded.
Jon Duschinsky, a campaign advisor for the rebuild, told the first tour group of the night that the project was very much in the “design phase” and that it could change based on feedback.
The crowds were guided through each of the eight sections, and while there were questions about contentious issues, all they were civil.
Artistic director Tim Carroll, who was available during the tour, said he hopes discussions continue to stay polite.
“People are quite right to be concerned about the disruption that’s going to come as we rebuild,” he said.
“They’re quite right to wonder about the character of the main street and want to make sure that what we propose is going to be beautiful. No two people are going to agree, but I think it’s been a good robust conversation so far.”
The festival is pursuing what Jennings described as an “aggressive” timeline. Construction is expected to begin next spring, with completion targeted for August 2028.
The province has committed $35 million to the project and Jennings said the Shaw is essentially on a 30-month timeline starting this January.
The proposal still requires rezoning and other approvals from the Town of NOTL.
