Although officially incorporated in 1975, the theatrical contributions of Western Canada Theatre began approximately eight years prior to that time with, primarily, the instructional abilities of Tom Kerr. Through the efforts of committed volunteer Board members and dedicated, talented artists, Western Canada Theatre has developed into one of the largest producing theatres in British Columbia.
Western Canada Theatre is situated in Kamloops, a city of 95,000 people in the interior of British Columbia. We have developed over the years a community of technicians, directors, designers, stage managers and administrative staff. We continue to assist in the development of performers, but this is a small community where we are the only employment opportunity for professional performers. As a result, we continue to rely on artists in all disciplines from outside of the community, which is an added cost to every production. Nevertheless, we have an average attendance of approximately 6% of the community for each production; we continue to enjoy a high level of financial support from the corporate and private citizens who are in the community; we have a talented and dedicated staff who perform above and beyond the call of duty in every way, and; we have a record of artistic and financial excellence based on the production and creation of works from the Canadian and world stages.
The Mission Statement is the basis of the Artistic mandate of Western Canada Theatre and remains:
Western Canada Theatre will provide the Kamloops regional community with challenging professional live theatre. The Company will entertain, educate, enrich, and interact with the cultural mosaic of its community.
Western Canada Theatre will promote and assist the performing arts through the provision of educational, theatrical, and artistic opportunities and services, and through the management and operation of facilities. All of this will be accomplished with fiscal integrity.
With this vision as our guide, Western Canada Theatre now produces a professional five play main stage season, a two play second stage series, and hosts one to two alternative pieces during the season; manages and maintains both the Pavilion Theatre, a 150-seat black box theatre, and the Sagebrush, a 693-seat proscenium theatre; and manages and operates a box office which provides ticketing services for both of the above-mentioned venues, as well as additional venues upon request.
Western Canada Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, and our staff participates in numerous committees locally, provincially, and nationally.