The Village Playhouse

The Village Playhouse, is currently leased and operated by Tweed & Company Theatre. This vibrant theatre company presents a diverse and active season of professional theatre, music, and community programming throughout the year, contributing significantly to the cultural life of the Bancroft area.

For more information about the venue and to see their current schedule of performances, you can visit The Village Playhouse website. You can also learn more about the company behind the productions, Tweed & Company Theatre.

Partners in this application were Jocelyn Downing (Algonquin Arts Council President: Bancroft Theatre Guild), Wayne Lord (President Loyalist College), Tom Malloy (Campus Manager: NHHS student theatre), Bill Tomlinson (Director NHSES School Arts Committee), Margaret Musclow Young (Chairperson: St Paul’s United), Church Don Davy (Committee Liaison: Theatrics Summer Theatre), Richard Capner and Bety Lambeck (Partners).

On Sunday April 24, 1994, the members of St. Paul’s United Church approved a draft lease agreement and draft-operating model for the new venue. With this approval, funding applications to the Government of Ontario and fundraising in the local area began. The initial budget set was $140,000.00. On February 16, 1995, it became official when Jocelyn Downing (AAC President) and Don Davy (St. Paul’s representative) signed a formal lease. 

Funding followed, with a JOBSONTARIO grant bringing $90,000.00 to the project. Community fundraising was led by Betty and Barry Lambeck, with a matching donation from Richard Capener. Fundraising activities included “Seat Sales” and “Gala” events, as well as Direct Asking. The Bancroft Theatre Guild was also approached with the possibility of selling their building on Heritage Trail Way and directing the proceeds to the new venue. This required Ministry approval, as the building had been constructed with Provincial funding. This effort was successful, and the Bancroft Theatre Guild became the first major benefactor of the new venue.

During the planning of the building, there was an understanding that two performing groups had donated a significant amount of volunteer hours, cash and in-kind donations: Theatrics Summer Theatre and The Bancroft Theatre Guild. As a result, each group would claim a storage unit in the building to house their flats, props, and theatre paraphernalia. A five-year lease (subsequently renewed) was signed with Theatrics Summer Theatre. Recognizing the loss of the Theatre Guild Building as a rehearsal Hall, an arrangement was made to allow the Bancroft Theatre Guild to use the building for rehearsals at a nominal fee if it was not otherwise in use.  

Volunteer Treasurer Maureen Kely administered the renovation project, which was supervised by Barry Lambeck. The project oversaw a paid staff including general contractor, Knowlton Hunter, and a crew of local carpenters working at minimal wage. 

In keeping with the lease agreement, a management committee for the new venue was established. The agreement stipulated that the management committee would be compromised of six members who would oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility. Three of these members would be appointed by St. Paul’s, and three by the AAC. The Algonquin Arts Council agreed that, in recognition of significant financial and other contributions, their appointees would be compromised of 1 from Bancroft Theatre Guild, 1 from Theatrics Summer Theatre, and 1 from the AAC board. These first appointees were Don Davy, Ron Black, and John Pogue from St. Paul’s, Gillian Whittall (Board Member), Hans Meyn (Bancroft Theatre Guild), and Barry Lambeck (Theatrics Summer Theatre).

In May of 1995, a private reception was held for volunteers and members of St. Paul’s United Church, where the result of the renovation project was unveiled. This event was followed a few weeks later by a public reception at which time the winner of a “Name the Venue” contest was announced. Thanks to Susan Freeborn Malloy’s winning entry, “The Village Playhouse”, was christened. In following weeks, the “Bancroft Playhouse Project” bank account was closed, assets were transferred to a new “The Village Playhouse” account, and appropriate signing officers were named.

In the early days, there was so much to be done. More than six people were needed to manage the Playhouse. The physical work of the building was completed by volunteers led by Barry Lambeck. A financial shortfall was addressed by individuals including the Forths, the Lambeck’s, the Meyn’s, and the English’s, who guaranteed a loan. Systems for booking, setup, and cleaning had to be developed. An ad hoc group formed to handle these tasks and began to call themselves the “Operating Committee”. This operations committee accepted responsibility for all aspects of day-to-day management, including bookings, event supervision, cleaning, and building improvements. All this work was carried out by these volunteers, and the Management Committee approved this arrangement. 

The first members of the Village Playhouse Operations Committee were Bill English, Betty Lambeck, Bob Rennie, Barry Lambeck, Age Smies, Noreen Tinney, Don Koppin, Knowlton Hunter, Hans Meyn, and Adrianne Schutt. Bill English became the first Village Playhouse Operations Committee Chair person, serving until 1998, when Richard Capner became the second Playhouse Chair. In October 2001 Barry Lambeck became Chairperson and serves in this capacity today.

The Village Playhouse continued to be well used, with rental income covering operating expenses, while fundraising income was allocated toward debt and special projects. In the summer of 2000, Theatrics Summer Theatre donated the installation costs of telephone services, allowing the Playhouse to confidently add telephone to its monthly expenses. That fall, the Playhouse budgeted for a paid Playhouse Manager, and Steve Scally became the person responsible for booking, event supervision and general maintenance. In future years, Steve was succeeded by Roslyn McCann and Ten O’Connell. Ken Wishlow is the current Playhouse Manager.

Operations Committee members set policy, present an annual fundraising evening known as “The Gala”, and have applied for and received two different Trillium Grants to upgrade various aspects of the Playhouse, from Stage Curtains to outdoor entrance ramp, and lobby windows and doors. They continue to carry out various improvement projects and oversee the management of the building.

Management by the Operations Committee proved so effective that in the annual written report to St Paul’s United Church (dated January 2002), the Operations Committee explored the idea of formally disbanding the Management Committee. A verbal reply was received through Joan Woodcox and Don Davy that the Church responded that the Church did not desire to formally disband the Management Committee but were content to see it meet infrequently. Don Davy, Barb Laundry, and John Pogue were acclaimed as Management Committee Members and invited to attend Operations Committee meetings; all have attended some meetings. 

This Management method has worked well and each year. Without fail, the Operations Committee has provided St. Paul’s Church Members and the AAC General Membership with a document outlining the work of the Operations Committee. However the formal process of declaring membership of the Operations Committees has not always been maintained. 

For several years (1995-1998), an Annual General Meeting style event was undertaken by the Operations Committee. All known user groups were invited to send representation, and paid advertisements invited members of the public to participate. Rarely did anyone new come forward in this way. However this was the time and place when membership on the Operations Committee was affirmed and recorded. In more recent years it has been the custom for the Committee Chair and Committee Members to invite renting groups and interested individuals to have representation. 

From 2000-2003, the format of a general meeting took the form of an “Appreciation Dinner”. These events were held in the spring, twice at Craftsman Restaurant, once at the home of B & B Lambeck, and once in the Village Playhouse lobby, catered by Oriental Gourmet. These events served the same purpose as the Annual General Meeting type event and also served as a socially rewarding opportunity for volunteers to review their accomplishments. In 2004, such a meeting did not take place, merely due to an oversight. Members serving in the 2003-2004 season have continued to serve, and several new members have come forward to join.

As we complete the 2004-2005 season (the fiscal year of the village playhouse coincides with that of the Algonquin arts council June 1^st through May 31^st), the time has come to review our past and look forward to our future. Recent Operations Committee meetings have become contentious over issues of conflict of interest and long-term leasing questions of the mandate and membership of that committee. The Operations Committee is resuming the custom of an annual review/election of Officers. This meeting can be called “THE YEAR END REVIEW MEETING” and it is proposed that it be held each May. The names of the Chair Secretary treasurer and members will be forwarded to the AAC/St. Paul’s United Church to prevent real or perceived conflict of interest in setting playhouse policy; the Management Committee is renewing their status.