Courtesy of Melissa Novecosky, Shaw Associate Director
HOW IS IT THE END OF THE MAIN SEASON?!? No really, didn’t we just start previews…time is an illusion.
This week we say goodbye to some folks and welcome some new ones as rehearsals get going on A Christmas Carol and White Christmas. For those who are new to this little newsletter – every month I send out an update on the All. Together. Now. Campaign and the Shaw Artists Village and New Royal George Theatre building projects. If you have any questions (or need some context!) please send me an email or find me in the building (my office is nestled with box office).
All. Together. Now. Campaign – The Gift of Learning
One of the markers at the end of the main season is announcing the Newton Award winners. Funded from the proceeds of the “Extraordinary Gala”, the Newton Awards fund professional development for any Shaw company member. There are always more requests than available funds (said every granting body ever), but I’m thrilled by the wide range of request and the diversity across the company. Many thanks to the company members on the selection committee!
Just some of the folks who received a Newton Award. Photo by Katie Galvin.
Last year I was on the selection committee, and I struggled with the openness of the criterion – the applicant need only be planning to undertake professional development, whatever that means to them. The deeper I got into reading submissions the more I realized that very openness is critical to the success of the program. The Newton Awards aren’t about supporting the Shaw Festival; they were Christopher’s gift to the staff providing them with funds to explore and grow their creative practice.
That’s what makes the opening of Burton Centre for Lifelong Creativity so exciting. We’ll soon have the space to offer more learning opportunities for our patron to re-awaken their creatively and that will be our gift to them.
Royal George Theatre Update – (or) What’s in a commemoration plan anyway?
Forgive me for the repetition…but we’re moving forward with the Royal George. It’s slow progress, but it’s happening. What I’ve learned in the last year is that you can’t just build a building. There are a lot of steps to the permitting process, and we are about mid-way through.
In early September, Town Staff recommended that our Heritage Permit Application for the demolition of 178 & 188 Victoria be accepted with some conditions. Those conditions included entering into a Site Plan Agreement with the Town, submitting a Conservation and Commemoration Plan, and a Vibration Monitoring Report. The Municipal Heritage Committee (MHC) accepted the Staff recommendation and at their September Council Meeting, Town Council accepted the minutes of the MHC meeting. Next step is satisfying the conditions from the Town and most importantly entering into a site plan agreement. We’re hopeful that this happens at the end of October and it is our aim so we can get a demolition permit and start limited demolition of 178 & 188 Victoria before year end.
So, what’s in a Commemoration Plan anyway? Well, it includes documentation and deconstruction of the buildings on the site, evaluation of what building materials may be salvaged and/or re-used, description how we will commemorate the cultural heritage of the site (plaques, public art, etc.), and more details about the ghost façade.
We are working on all the ways that we will celebrate and honour the history of the Royal George that goes beyond this document.
Kelly Wong, Alexis Milligan, and Neil Barclay are working on a two-part podcast series. There will be a fundraising event around the final performances of A Christmas Carol on December 21 (all tickets are currently blocked off, but we’ll be announcing the details of the event soon). We’re also going to do a staff and public event in late January to say good-bye to the Royal George. There are a lot of people who have a relationship with this building – even before it was the Royal George – and we want to make sure we give everyone the opportunity to say farewell to the old and leave something that will be incorporated into the new.
Shaw Artists’ Village Update – (or) Windows and Walls and Wiring, oh my!
Everyday I drive past the Shaw Artists’ Village and notice that something changed. New windows are going into the housing buildings and into Wardrobe. Partition walls continue to go up in the housing buildings and in Wardrobe. A bunch of wiring (electrical and IT) has been installed. Most exciting of all (maybe just exciting to me and Joel), layers of waterproofing membranes are being installed on the roofs. Once the buildings are watertight, we can start drywalling and other super fun stuff. Despite some little delays, we still on track to receive the housing buildings and Wardrobe building mid-December. While the short-term housing and central building will be handed over in March 2026. The whole Artists’ Village should be up and running by the start of the 2026 season.
Many thanks to all the folks working so hard to keep construction happening on time and safely! Not only are they great at their jobs, but they are pleasant to be around and always take the time to explain things to non-constructiony people like me.
Courtyard between the housing buildings. Complete with windows and a waterproof roof.
Yes - we are keeping the gazebo. Yes – we are getting a BBQ.
As always, if you have any questions, or want more information, please let me know.
