By Sarah Mather
Mary Ellis conquered her nerves nearly 20 years ago on the set of Better Living, her first Great Canadian Theatre Company production. She never imagined the theatre would soon become her second home.
Like many Ottawa actors, Ellis has seen her theatre career develop with the GCTC. With plans to build a new theatre, the company will be better able to help local talent, like Ellis, get started.
The GCTC is planning to move from its original home on Gladstone Avenue to a larger theatre space at Wellington and Holland. The new space will have a bigger theatre, a studio and more working space for actors.
“They have outgrown the space. It’s totally inadequate for they type of productions they are putting on, so this space is quite a significant move,” says Peter Honeywell, executive director of the Council for the Arts in Ottawa.
The 95-seat studio is essentially a mini theatre. The space is ideal for profiling new theatre groups because there are fewer seats to sell and the environment is less intimidating.
“It’s great for smaller productions,” says Honeywell. “It’s less risky, so it’s good for emerging theatre groups,”
Honeywell says the city is lagging behind other cities in profiling local talent.
“Ottawa is far behind in showcasing its own stuff so this is a first step to improving that.”
“This space will give us the opportunity to do more new Canadian work,” says Charles McFarland, GCTC’s managing director.
Ellis says it is difficult for locals to find enough full time theatre work in Ottawa.
“No actor can solely rely on stage work in Ottawa,” she says.
Ellis says she has been lucky. While it’s not her full-time job, the GCTC has given her enough acting work to remain here. Ellis also points out the new theatre will make a huge difference for actors. “It is really crowded, the new space will give actors more breathing space.”
The company needs about $8 million dollars for the new theatre.
The City of Ottawa recently gave them $1.3 million to make the move and the company is working on finding the rest.
“We’ve got one major piece of the puzzle from the City, now we need a major piece from the government and a major piece from donations,” says McFarland. While the old theatre will be missed, the new one holds promise.
“In terms of my work life, I consider [the GCTC] my home. It’s sad to leave, but on the other hand, it’s a real step up for them,” says Ellis.