Outdoor theatre set to open in downtown Sudbury in 2022
The Sudbury-based performing arts group YES Theatre is set to open an outdoor theatre in the downtown core next year.
The future outdoor theatre is a $2.8 million project that will be located on Durham Street near the YMCA.
“It started really as a Covid bandaid and then it quickly became an avenue to really realizing our artistic vision and the goals that we have for the future which is to become Canada’s largest musical theatre festival,” said Alessandro Costantini, YES Theatre Artistic and managing director.
A total of $750,000 in federal money has already been secured. The performance space will be called The Refettorio, which is an old Latin term for dining hall or gathering place.
The plan is to support emerging artists and stage small scale performances, and work with other theatre art centres in the city on a multi-venue arts festival.
“We could see 8 to 10 productions happening here between the Refettorio, Place Des Arts and the Sudbury Theatre Centre,” said Costantini. “So, we are collaborating with all the other infrastructures that already exists in the city. We have the potential to welcome upwards of 1,200 patrons per day in the downtown core between the months of April of September.”
Costantini said this project would be a good economic boost for the city.
Sudbury City Councillor Deb McIntosh, along with two other councillors, brought this motion forward at a recent council meeting, where the city is looking at chipping in $50,000.
She said the YES Theatre group is worthy of this money.
"Their passion and their success so far of their productions and their fundraising and their grants that they’ve received already just proves that this is something to get behind. And I got to tel you, the production levels of these performances of YES Theatre are incredible," McIntosh said.
The goal is to break ground next year and to have the space open to the public on either August or September of 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.