Isabelle Reader Theatre has been a community hub since 1977, but the busy facility is showing its age.
During school hours the theatre is used by Spencer middle school, for its drama and dance programs.
Outside of school hours the theatre is open for public rentals. Users include drama groups, theatre companies, dance studios, public meetings and church services.
B次元官网网址淔or community usage itB次元官网网址檚 used in excess of 250 times a year at least,B次元官网网址� said Roger Traviss, manager and technical director of the theatre for 22 years.
During his tenure, Traviss is almost always able to accommodate drama and dance groups and has only double booked the theatre once.
B次元官网网址淭he theatre is that busy. There is a pecking order and itB次元官网网址檚 first come first serve,B次元官网网址� said Traviss who operates the lights and sound board for user groups. B次元官网网址淚f you want a rehearsal it can be bumped by a rental. I just accommodate them elsewhere (in the school).B次元官网网址�
Funded for construction by Langford taxpayers nearly 35 years ago and operated by the Sooke School District, Travis said the beloved and well-used theatre is B次元官网网址渇alling apart.B次元官网网址�
One his main concerns is the technical equipment. The computer he uses for lights and sound dates back to 1983 and isnB次元官网网址檛 compatible with modern lights such as LED or non-stationary lighting.
B次元官网网址淚 run the lights with an Apple 11e computer,B次元官网网址� Traviss said. B次元官网网址淭he dimmers are analog and we canB次元官网网址檛 buy replacement parts (because they are so old). We need more dimmers, we donB次元官网网址檛 have enough for a theatre this size.B次元官网网址�
Aesthetically the theatre also needs some upkeep, including its 302 seats. B次元官网网址淢ost of the seats were installed in 1977 and they have reached the end of their shelf life,B次元官网网址� Travis said.
About 15 years ago Traviss said the school board looked into upgrading the theatre and equipping it with a private entrance and washrooms apart from Spencer middle school. Due to a lack of funds the upgrade project never got out of the planning stage.
B次元官网网址淚f people want to use the theatre for a show, they canB次元官网网址檛 come set up in the morning (because the school is using it),B次元官网网址� Traviss remarked.
Another theatre has been proposed to be built in Colwood at the Royal Bay site. The proposal is to build a 1,000 seat theater as well as a smaller 100 seat informal theatre.
If those theatres are built Traviss said he doesnB次元官网网址檛 think that will affect the user group of the small Langford theatre.
B次元官网网址淧eople who use this theatre wonB次元官网网址檛 rent the 1,000 seat theatre due to the cost and the size. The 100-seat theatre will be too small,B次元官网网址� Travis said.
Four Seasons Musical Theatre use the theatre throughout the year. It is the resident company and rents space in the theatre to store costumes. Terry Rowsell, FSMT president, says he needs to be with a SD 62 employee to enter the builiding.
B次元官网网址淚 have a key to the theatre, but I donB次元官网网址檛 have a key to get into the school to get to the theatre,B次元官网网址� Rowsell said explaining a separate entrance to the theatre would help his production group. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want to depend on school district staff to use the theatre.B次元官网网址�
Although Rowsell said there have been some challenges booking the stage time his group would like, he enjoys using the theatre.
B次元官网网址淔or all its plus and minuses we have a good theatre, any bigger would be too big,B次元官网网址� Rowsell said. B次元官网网址淟angford has a perfectly good theatre and they just need some input and to put some money into it. Otherwise people will be going to Colwood.B次元官网网址�
Even with the theatreB次元官网网址檚 age showing, Traviss is proud of the theatre and says it holds an importance place in the community.
B次元官网网址淭here have been lots of kids who have grown up on this stage,B次元官网网址� Traviss said. B次元官网网址淓verywhere in the theatre the acoustics are good. There really arenB次元官网网址檛 any bad seats in the house.B次元官网网址�
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
