History Of Our Theatre

Part 3 : " Hey Stirling Rawdon- Here I Am "

By Jocelyn Perry 

It was Canada Day , 1996. A Director/ Choreographer by the name of Caroline Smith drove into town, curious to see this theatre that she had heard about from friend Jackie Hadley. Delighted with the charming village, Caroline decided that she would give up her successful freelance career, move here and build upon the efforts of the Stirling Performing Arts Committee (SPAC) by starting a professional theatre company.

 In a presentation to Village Council in October 1996, Caroline presented the plans for the enhanced use of the municipal facility.  Partnering with Stirling resident (and professional Stage Manager) Marilyn Lawrie, and Alex Winkler QC (Chair of the existing Theatre Board), Caroline would model the structure of the company on the hugely successful Drayton Festival Theatre, where Smith had been acting as Associate Director for several years. As a non-profit organization, the “SFT” would run under the direction of an executive board made of residents from the area as well as a representative from both the village council and the SPAC.   

Programming would include plays, musicals and youth programs, as well as special events and concerts without the use of taxpayer funds - the SFT would be self-sufficient. Council enthusiastically approved the plan, and Caroline was hired full time on Nov. 2, 1996 as Artistic and Managing Director of the Stirling Festival Theatre Inc. Through the sale of memberships, and donations from the extremely supportive community, by the end of 1996 the theatre had raised over $32,000 to start the necessary renovations. As the months flew by, a massive team of volunteers and local craftsmen donated their time and energy, updating, repairing and generally preparing the Theatre for the first summer of professional entertainment.

One year later, the fledging company had met all its expectations, and finished it’s inaugural year by breaking even - an incredible achievement for any business. Over the next few years, the programming expanded to a year-round schedule, 4 full-time and numerous part-time staff were hired, and many awards were won, including 3 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards, 3 Business Achievement awards, and Caroline was awarded an honorary Arts Degree from Loyalist College. Over $500,000 of renovations have been completed, including air conditioning, new washrooms, an overhaul of the box office, new seating and sound baffling in the auditorium, excavation of an orchestra pit and the total rewiring of the complex. 

The success of the theatre is evident in the fact that people from as far away as New York come to see shows, large bus groups are a regular occurrence for matinee shows, and the theatre now sells in excess of 45,000 tickets annually. 

Through the years, Stirling has enjoyed some of Canada’s hottest talent, including Lord of the Ring starts Evan Buliung and Michael Therriault, Canadian legend Don Harron, Broadway’s Julie Martell and dozens of great personalities who have become SFT favourites, including Diane Fabian, Debbie Collins and Ken MacDougall. From murder mysteries to pantomimes, from touching dramas to spectacular musicals, the Stirling Festival Theatre has survived floods and blackouts and has proven it is here to stay. 

Three cheers to SFT on their 10^th Anniversary season.  Congratulations!

Part 1: A Theatre is Born

Part 2: Saved by the SPAC

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