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Vancouver Heritage Foundation is a registered charity supporting the conservation of heritage buildings and structures in recognition of their contribution to the city’s economy, sustainability and culture. |
The 2013/14 season for The Arts Club Theatre Company will mark its 50th season and VHF is excited to be presenting our Places That Matter plaque at their season launch on April 3rd. It's a private event but we will be live tweeting, and recording it for our social media followers (follow us on facebook and twitter).
We had a chance to chat with long time Arts Club supporter Anne Tarriss. She was a wealth of historic tidbits having been with the company since its very beginnings in the '50s until 1979. She remembers when the collective theatre group, not yet officially ACTC, used a space on West Pender that was an art gallery and bar that served "great sandwiches". The space on West Pender was started by visual artists and expanded to readings and poetry and involved playwrights. Let's not forget that as Anne puts it, there wasn't much around in Vancouver's official theatre scene at that time in the '50s. It was the beginning of many things in the city, and it was a challenge getting started, but it was also an exciting time.
They moved soon after to the 1181 Seymour Street location. Anne recalls first sharing the office when it was only 2 people (both ladies sitting across from each other at their desks). Then Bill Millerd joined, and he got the "big office". She also chuckled as she told us of the Perkins family who would store props at their home and then transfer them to the theatre. What a neat sight that would have been! The former Gospel Hall was converted to an auto repair shop downstairs, as well as a club- the arts club lounge. The theatre was upstairs. Thanks, Anne for sharing your memories of the early years with the Arts Club.
The Arts Club Theatre history page has a nice recap of some of the notable actors and playwrights to come out of the original site: "Founded in 1958 as a private club for artists, musicians, and actors, it officially became the Arts Club Theatre in 1964 when the company opened its first stage. The tiny 250-seat stage helped launch the careers of Canadian talents such as Michael J. Fox, Bruce Greenwood, Ruth Nichol, Janet Wright, Winston Rekert, Lally Cadeau, and Brent Carver, while introducing Vancouver to works by Canadian playwrights such as Michel Tremblay, David Freedman, and Carol Bolt. Productions by newcomers Sherman Snukal (Talking Dirty), Nicola Cavendish (It's Snowing on Saltspring), Morris Panych (7 Stories), and John Lazarus (The Late Blumer) also premiered there."
The original Arts Club Theatre on Seymour Street was closed for demolition in 1991 and the company moved to the Granville Island site. Now with three venues year round, and a successful touring program, Arts Club is in their 50th Season. We at VHF are very pleased to be presenting the plaque at their 50th Anniversary celebration. Congratulations Arts Club, now on with the show!
