Village Squire, 1974-12, Page 24Travelling to Toronto?
Visit its
alternate
theatres
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Toronto is one of the most exciting
theatrical cities in North America. The past 10
years have ushered in a theatre renaissance
in this cosmopolitan city.
The establishment of the St. Lawrence
Centre for the Performing Arts greatly
augmented the fine entertainment provided
at the O'Keefe Centre and the Royal
Alexandra Theatre. Four smaller theatres
began to offer contemporary plays in more
intimate surroundings. But the most exciting
theatrical movement is taking place in small
experimental theatres spring up all over
Toronto.
These theatres operate on small budgets,
mostly in converted factories and ware-
houses. Seating may consist of bleachers,
22, VILLAGE SQUIRE/NOVEMBER 1974
stacking chairs or benches, and the decor is
far from lavish, but audiences don't mind. In
these tiny auditoriums (usually seating
between 100 and 300) "the play's the thing."
Most of Toronto's small theatres present
original plays and sketches by young
Canadian playwrights. Some of them have
been successful, touring Canada, and
occasionally playing Off Broadway and in
Europe.
All of the Theatre companies are
professional. Their work has such a fine
reputation that actors between roles in other
cities often come to Toronto to work with
them.
An evening of small theatre in Toronto can
be a new and different experience. Consult
the entertainment pages of local newspapers
or telephone individual theaters to find out
what is playing at a particular time.
Resetvations are advisable, though tickets
can usually be picked up just before the
show.
ESTABLISHED SMALL THEATRES
The Playhouse Theatre, 1605 Bayview
Ave., is one of Toronto's oldest established
small theatres. Seating 500, it has a pleasant
atmosphere and all seats have a good view of
the stage. Specializing in light, modern
musicals, its successful production to date
has been the rock musical GODSPELL.
Tickets range in price from $4 to $7.
The Theatre -in -the -Dell, over the Dell