Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, boasts a vibrant theatre scene. Every day, local theatres offer a rich program that attracts large audiences. However, things were quite different in the past. Let’s explore how theatre emerged and evolved in Alberta and Edmonton on edmonton-trend.
The Construction of Edmonton’s First Theatres
The first Christmas festivals featuring dramatic readings and recitations began in Alberta’s capital in 1879. After the railway reached Edmonton in 1891, the city’s population grew, leading to the establishment of local theatres. That same year, the Edmonton Amateur Society was formed, followed by the Edmonton Opera Dramatic Society in 1903.
In the spring of 1892, Edmonton welcomed its first professional theatre troupe. Around this time, William Robertson constructed the first theatre, Robertson’s Hall. Unfortunately, it did not last long and burned down in 1906. In the summer of 1904, the Thistle Rink Theatre began staging plays until the Opera House was built, which later became the Lyceum Theatre in 1910.
In 1907, Alexander Cameron built the Kevin Theatre, which lasted only two months before being destroyed by fire. Undeterred, Cameron rebuilt it as the Dominion Theatre in 1908. In 1911, the theatre changed ownership and was renamed Majestic, but by 1914, it had closed permanently.
In 1910, the Empire Theatre opened in Edmonton, soon hosting world-class performers such as Sarah Bernhardt and Johnston Robinson. However, it was the third Empire Theatre, established in 1920, that was considered the finest in the country.
Meanwhile, Calgary saw the formation of its first amateur music and drama club in 1884. By the 1890s, the city already had Hull’s Opera House. When the Calgary Opera Society was founded in 1895, audiences enjoyed operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan. In 1912, the Grand Theatre opened its doors, later housing the Calgary Little Theatre in the 1920s. By 1921, Calgary had multiple theatres, including The Capitol, The Lyric, and The Monarch. At the time, theatre troupes from other cities and countries dominated Alberta’s cultural landscape. It is worth noting that without the continued efforts of amateur performers during World War I and II, there might not have been a homegrown theatre scene in the province at all.
Women’s Contributions to Theatre
In 1929, influential Albertans established the Drama League, which later served as a model for the Dominion Drama Festival. In 1933, Elizabeth Haynes and E. Corbett founded the Banff School of Fine Arts, significantly boosting Alberta’s theatre scene and the development of Western Canadian drama. Haynes, who worked in the extension department at the University of Alberta, traveled extensively throughout the province, conducting workshops, delivering lectures, and directing performances. Another key figure in Alberta’s theatre development was Esther Nelson, who actively promoted theatre from 1949 to 1960, working with school and community theatre groups.
Two notable female playwrights also gave voice to Alberta’s communities through live performances and radio dramas. Gwen Ringwood’s plays explored the customs and traditions of various cultures, while Elsie Gowan’s works depicted the lives of rural Alberta women and Edmonton’s social history.
The Founding of Citadel Theatre and Theatre Societies
In 1965, Edmonton lawyer Joseph H. Shoctor founded Citadel Theatre, the first professional theatre between Winnipeg and Vancouver. In its early years, the theatre staged only one Canadian play, Hier, les enfants dansaient, which helped cultivate a local theatre culture. Citadel Theatre flourished in the late 1970s under artistic director John Neville, who oversaw the construction of a multi-stage complex and encouraged the production of Canadian plays by notable playwrights.
Under the leadership of Peter Coe, Citadel Theatre dedicated its resources to Broadway musicals while also staging Canadian works such as The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, John Gray’s Billy Bishop Goes to War, and several plays by W.O. Mitchell, including The Kite and The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon.
In 1970, University of Alberta professor Marc Schenberg founded Theatre 3 in Edmonton, focusing on non-commercial productions. During the 1972-1973 season, the company presented a lineup of Canadian plays. By 1980, it premiered Blood Relations before being rebranded as Phoenix Theatre in 1981. Under the leadership of Bob Baker, Phoenix Theatre focused on British and Canadian repertoire and quickly gained popularity among younger audiences.
Two other alternative and experimental theatres, Theatre Network and Workshop West Theatre, were established in Edmonton with a special mandate to develop and produce Canadian plays. Thanks to their efforts, by 1980, Edmonton audiences enjoyed a wide array of new theatrical productions. Between 1985 and 1995, under the artistic direction of Stephen Heatley, 70% of Theatre Network’s productions were written by Albertan playwrights.
Since 1982, the company La Quindicina has been a major player in Edmonton’s theatre scene, delivering comedic works written by Stewart Lemoine and significantly contributing to the development of new plays. That same year, Brian Paisley founded the Edmonton Fringe Festival, helping expand Canadian theatre.
As a result of these efforts, theatre in Alberta and Edmonton has become a thriving and diverse cultural phenomenon. Today, residents and visitors can enjoy unique performances and productions brought to life by talented actors and theatre companies.
