Audience members at Harbour City Theatre can sit in comfort thanks to a donation of 96 seats by Vancouver Island University.
“It means the world for us,” said Dean Chadwick, marketing coordinator for the Harbour City Theatre Alliance Society, adding the society doesn’t have the money to go out and purchase seating. “It gives a more professional look and greater comfort for the audience.”
Harbour City Theatre society volunteers, Roger Lappin, John Derook, and Bruce Rowland spent two weeks installing them.
Chadwick said he was approached by Leon Potter, chairman of VIU’s theatre department, about donating the seats. The university launched the Encore campaign, which coincides with Malaspina Theatre’s 40th anniversary, earlier this year to raise money to replace theatre seats, upgrade technology and give the lobby a facelift.
“In celebrating and recognizing its rich history, it only seems fitting to donate the existing Malaspina Theatre seats to a local theatre group,” said Kamala Haughton, advancement and alumni relations coordinator at VIU, in an e-mail. “We are very happy to partner with Harbour City Theatre in repurposing 96 of our 294 seats. Knowing that a portion of the Malaspina Theatre seats are now in a new home and will continue to serve the local performing arts community brings great joy to us at VIU and the theatre department.”
Chadwick said the donation is another step by community members in recognizing the value of arts in the community.
“It’s pretty awesome. We couldn’t be more grateful,” said Chadwick.
The last group of chairs were donations from Beban Park.
The seating is slightly raked. The slope allows for better viewing for audience members.
For information about Harbour City Theatre, located at 25 Victoria Rd. please go to http://hcta.ca.
For information about the VIU Encore campaign please go to www2.viu.ca/giving/encore.asp.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
