Goderich Little Theatre showcased at Goderich Co-op Gallery

Exposure 2024, A Moment in Time by Siobhan Quinlan.

As part of our community outreach, the Goderich Co-op Gallery (GCG) will next feature another artistic town gem - the Goderich Little Theatre (GLT).

Starting with church drama clubs and play readings, the Little Theatre evolved to a separate group in 1947. Plays were presented in churches and the MacKay Hall.

Over the intervening decades, volunteer casts and crews, board of directors, marketing gurus, not to mention sponsors, have all participated in bringing some amazing plays to the stage.

The celebratory display at the gallery will feature artifacts from some of these plays including costumes, posters, old photos, and posters.

The Livery building, which is the performance venue, has had an intriguing history worthy of the drama now being produced within.

Built of Maitland River Stone in the 1860s by a trader of hides and whiskey for pilgrims on the Huron Trail between Guelph and Goderich, the building has undergone many transformations.

A livery stable followed, then a car dealership and then a building centre. Slated for demolition in 1978, some envisioned its use as an arts centre, and since 1983, the Goderich Little Theatre had acquired a new home.  Ever since, quality dramas, comedies, musicals and historical plays have been presented.   

The theatre unites the community in diverse ways while working together to bring stories to the stage.

One memorable performance of “Crimes of the Heart” unintentionally had added atmosphere when a power outage struck. The audience assisted by lighting the stage with their cellphone lights. The play, Straight Through the Heart, written and directed by Warren Robinson and David Armour told the story of the Goderich tornado in 2012.

This fall, the Streamliners directed by Duncan McGregor and written by Andy Sparling and James White’s performed to sold out shows celebrating local history and the 100th anniversary of the RCAF.

Theatre goers can look forward to PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE written by Steve Martin and directed by Brian Cox.

Show dates are February 27 and February 28, March 1, March 6, March 7, and March 8 at 8 p.m. March 2 and March 9 at 2 p.m.

The play is sponsored by 2nd Streetlight Estate Winery and is set in a Parisian Cafe in 1904, where Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso meet and discuss creativity, fame, and the universe with a very skeptical audience of bystanders.

It is full of Steve Martin’s trademark wit and silliness, layered on top of a deep intelligence and respect for the arts.

Goderich can celebrate this amazing community theatre at the opening of their exhibition at the Co-op Gallery on Saturday, March 1, from 2 until 4 p.m.

This display will be on until the end of March when EXPOSURE, our community art show, is displayed.

Celebrate the artist in you. Applications for EXPOSURE are now available at the gallery and on our website, gcgallery.ca.