The society that runs Greater Victoria’s largest performing arts venue has commissioned a feasibility study that will look at how expansion can benefit patrons and users of the Royal Theatre on Broughton Street.
The building committee of the Royal & McPherson Theatres Society, which oversees both the Royal Theatre and the McPherson Playhouse, will welcome ideas from key stakeholders in the process at an information meeting set for Feb. 19. The meeting will likely involve discussions on technical improvements and future viability of the space, according to the society’s executive director, Franz Lehrbass.
“It’s basically a consultation process,” he said. “There aren’t any pre-set must-haves on this. It’s very open-ended.”
The civic-owned venue operates with an annual $100,000 grant from Oak Bay, Saanich and Victoria municipalities. Municipal representatives and Capital Regional District staff are expected to take part in the meeting, alongside key users such as the Victoria Symphony, Dance Victoria and Pacific Opera, among others.
The feasibility study has been funded by an anonymous sponsor, Lehrbass said. Though it has not yet been completed, he said the study will look at expanding the theatre’s footprint into the parking lot located behind the building.
The lot is currently owned by the CRD and managed by the City of Victoria. “With any process like this, you have to look at what makes sense,” Lehrbass said.
