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New federal investment in YES Theatre in Sudbury

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Ottawa announced an investment in local theatrical productions in Sudbury on Monday morning.

YES Theatre received money to buy equipment officials said will help to increase production value while it continues to feature local talent both on stage and behind the scenes.

The federal government is investing more than $150,000 to replace the fly lighting system at the Sudbury Theatre Centre.

“It’s like a pulley system that brings set pieces of lighting equipment in and out,” said Alessandro Costantini, the artistic director of YES Theatre.

“It completely enhances our ability to increase our production value.”

Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced more than $150,000 in funding for YES Theatre to purchase new equipment on March 25, 2024. (Alana Everson/CTV News Northern Ontario)Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe made the announcement on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and said arts and culture create gathering spaces in our community.

“It's very important that we invest in arts and culture in a community,” said Lapointe.

“We know that it enriches a community. From an economic perspective, it brings a lot of visitors and tourists to come see productions.”

The federal government announced an investment in local theatrical productions in Sudbury on Monday, March 25, 2024. (Alana Everson/CTV News Northern Ontario)

Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre was also on hand for the announcement and expressed his support and love of the arts and the contribution they make to a strong vibrant city.

“Actually a city without arts is like a city without a soul,” said Lefebvre.

“The fact it adds so much to our community. It gets people out it gets people happy it gets people thinking. The fact that we have so much talent here in our community that we can showcase.”

YES Theatre features local talent and production people involved in live theatrical productions.

It has two venues downtown The Sudbury Theatre Centre on Shaughnessy Street and a new outdoor theatre – The Refettorio on Durham Street.

“We pride ourselves on a citizen artist model. It’s a community-driven professional theatre so on our stages we have artists from all across our region who are doing really incredible work,” said Costantini.

“Artists who work here in Sudbury and also work all across the country.”

Costantini told CTV News that when the community is represented on the stage the community will be in the audience and that’s been apparent in YES Theatre’s work and success in the past two years.

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