Final curtain falls on Royal George Theatre as $90M rebuild set to begin

It was the final curtain call today for the Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A $90 million rebuild is set to begin in March when the building will be torn down.

Some at the final curtain call today support the new space but are sad to see a piece of history go.

“When I think of the different shows I’ve seen, and I’m looking back and I think of Rebecca. That was one that I really liked,” said Maureen Dalgleish, longtime supporter.

Fifty years ago, the Shaw Festival purchased the building, which eventually became the Royal George Theatre.

In 1915, it was built to be a temporary education and entertainment space for Canadian troops during the First World War. It was not meant to last more than 100 years.

“It’s really just a structural issue. It has been flooding constantly. We’ve lost shows. Millions and millions and millions of dollars have been invested to try to mitigate that over the last couple of decades. But unfortunately we’ve just gotten to the point where the engineers say it’s not possible anymore,” said Tim Jennings, executive director at the Royal George Theatre.

When it comes to the cost of the rebuild, organizers say $35 million is coming from the provincial government, $30 million from personal donations and the rest they hope will come from the federal government.

The Royal George as it stands now is over 100 years old, and in order for it to continue to be enjoyed by the community, it has to be ripped down and rebuilt. And in the new rebuild, it’s going to have many accessibility options for the cast and crew and the patrons coming in.

“We’re going for something called Rick Hansen Gold certification, which means that every part of the building will be accessible to anybody with any kind of need. So if you are a technician and you’re working in a wheelchair as a staff member, you can be in the grid,” said Jennings.

Organizers say the new building will be modernized but still keep the feel and historical presence of the old building. It will also continue its outreach programs.

“We do things where we’re teaching kids about theatre and how acting is done, and just to appreciate it more,” said Jane Calver, volunteer.

While the rebuild is happening, the shows will go on in other spaces in the community. The new Royal George Theatre is set to open in the fall of 2028.

READ MORE: Ontario to spend $35M to help rebuild Shaw Festival’s Royal George Theatre