After management changes, a new name and renovations the theatre and entertainment centre on Victoria Road is ready to draw the curtains and open its doors to the public.
“We’ve done some updates inside the theatre and painting and given it a fresh look. Fresh name, fresh sign,” said Harbour City Theatre manager Dean Chadwick. “It’s been an exciting venture. We’ve got a bunch of people coming back who want to reno the theatre.”
Earlier this summer, the Nanaimo Centre Stage was renamed the Harbour City Theatre after a newly formed group known as Harbour City Theatre Alliance struck a three-year deal with the City of Nanaimo to take over management of the Victoria Road venue from the Centre for the Arts Nanaimo.
“We created this out of necessity,” Chadwick, explained about the creation of the Harbour City Theatre Alliance, which he helped co-found. “This theatre needed to be there.”
On Thursday (Sept. 25) the Harbour City Theatre will hold an open house, which will feature live entertainment, food, tours, and refreshments. The open house is also intended to be an opportunity for the community to meet staff members and ask questions.
“It’s a get together for people to see who is running the theatre,” Chadwick said. “We’ve done some painting and some renovations. It’s a nice friendly place to check out.”
Chadwick said the goal over the next three years is to have the 25 Victoria Rd., venue being used more frequently.
“I really think that is where we are headed,” Chadwick said. “Really what we have here is a space that is meant for small audiences. We are not trying to fill up a 300 seat theatre, we are literally just trying to get those 100 people to come out and see an intimate space.”
For more information on the Harbour City Theatre Alliance and the upcoming free open house on Thursday, please visit http://bit.ly/HarbourCityTheatre.
arts@nanaimobulletin.comTwitter: @npescod
