pacific theatre venue update | the state of things

Some time has passed since we last shared an update on our venue situation here at PT. We know that there are members of our community who are concerned about the future our physical home as well as its impact on the company as a whole. Let us eagerly assure you that Pacific Theatre, as a company, is not going anywhere. As we continue to explore options, we will do our best to keep you updated - below is a statement about where things are at right now and how we got here.

In 1994, Pacific Theatre found a home in the Chalmers Heritage Building at 12th and Hemlock after a decade of producing theatre in various locations in and around Vancouver. This distinctive and intimate alley stage has been a great home for our artists and audiences ever since, and now in our 33rd year of creating theatre that matters, we pursue a new home. We fully intend to maintain such a home for our productions and people, and improve upon our facilities even if it requires a temporary or permanent relocation.

In 2012, a strategic planning process noted the importance of acknowledging the venue needs for Pacific Theatre with a focus on being in a space that made us more accessible and provided opportunity for sustainable growth as a company and as artists. Not long after, we learned that our landlords at Holy Trinity Anglican Church had chosen to seek redevelopment to best manage the large Heritage Building. At that time we knew that a search for a new home needed to be expedited. This led to a year-to-year leasing arrangement with Holy Trinity, that is currently secure until June 30th 2019, with the possibility of further lease renewal until redevelopment plans are confirmed. Once construction commences, we have a number of options.

Remaining at 12th and Hemlock post-redevelopment is an encouraging possibility for Pacific Theatre. We are working closely with Holy Trinity on options that would provide increased street presence and capacity for us as part of the building redesign. We are also exploring other avenues, including a potential partnership with the Fringe Festival and Langara College to create an Arts Centre elsewhere in the city.

For the past five years, we are proud to say that Pacific Theatre has continued to produce full theatrical seasons while preparing for significant changes regarding our theatre space. We fully intend to continue in that tradition, and we are deeply grateful for the integrity and trust of our landlords at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, as well as their openness to keep us a potential part of their future plans. We appreciate the support of Cultural Services at the City of Vancouver as we execute studies on potential venue options, and all other partners who have been open and generous with their time. We also need to thank our patrons, artists, reviewers, and all those who hold Pacific Theatre as a valuable space for art in Vancouver. We will continue to serve the community as one of the only mid-sized theatre companies and look forward to reporting on venue changes when plans are confirmed.