|
"We may not be BIG, but we're small"
from stable to
Stage...
Records indicate that the rear portion of The Livery
was erected during
the 1840's as a harness shop by Samuel Seegmuller, trader in hides and whiskey along the Huron Trail between Guelph and Goderich. By 1878 A. M.
Polley had added two sections, also in Maitland River stone, to the front
of the early shop to accommodate his livery stable business. After the turn
of the century, when horses gave way to automobiles, the building became
the first local car dealership. In 1974 it was transformed into a building
centre.
By 1978 it was slated for demolition. Goderich Town Council, however,
recognizing the historical importance of the building, forestalled the
demolition, allowing time for a private citizen, interested in the
preservation of historic buildings, to intervene with a down payment on
the property.
A local architect recognized its potential as a theatre. Soon, a group of
enthusiasts formed the Goderich Arts Foundation, dedicated to the recycling of The Livery as a focal point for promotion of the Arts. The Livery building was purchased by the Goderich Little
Theatre (GLT), with the support of this community, several years later.
The Livery, as a non-profit corporation under the GLT, opened in 1983 as the community’s Arts Centre and has met with
much success in the last two decades.
What the Livery
houses now...
Each season, The Livery presents a number of
theatrical productions
under
the flag of the Goderich Little Theatre. Using the talents of hundreds of
volunteers, both young and old, the community can experience quality
dramas, comedies, musicals and historical presentations.
The Livery also runs a
film series
between September and April of national
and international films not generally available to patrons in rural Ontario
. Working with the Toronto Film Festival and Film Circuit Board we offer
up to 7 films per season. A volunteer committee orchestrates the entire
program and the audience averages 1500 per season
Whether showcasing professional performing
artists from across the country or presenting local talent, The Livery takes
pride in each event. These
licensed, cabaret-style concerts vary in theme and highlight
a variety of genres such as jazz, blues, slapstick comedy, opera scenes, magic acts...you name
it.
The Livery is also home to the
international festival in Goderich, the
Goderich Celtic Roots Festival.
Acting as office facilities and meeting
space between May and August, the building becomes a classroom, private
concert hall and common room for international performers and teachers
during the Festival’s college at the beginning of August.
In recent years, the Livery has had the pleasure of hosting a number of
programs for young performers, including the incredibly successful “
Actors Without Equity” and an joint initiative with
GDCI - Drama in the Community. It has the arts and
theatrical training
ground for our community youth and offers a unique and well-equipped
facility for their training.
The Livery is a popular meeting space for non-profit charities. In the last few
years,
we're proud to be
host
to many community awareness and fund-raising campaigns for
the Cancer Foundation, Scouts Canada, IODE, OSPCA, GDCI Drama, Rotary Club,
Goderich BIA, Canada Youth
International, McKay Choristers, Canadian Parents for French, Alzheimer’s
Society, Reuben R. Sallows Art Gallery and Breast Cancer Foundation.
__________________________________________________________
Our governing
corporation,
and resident Amateur Theatre Company...
Proudly one of the Country's longest running "little" theatres,
the
Goderich Little Theatre
began in the autumn of 1946 as
the Goderich Dramatic Club.
Organized by Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Peters, meetings of the newly formed
drama club were held at the Peters' residence. There were no public
performances, simply members of the group performing for the rest.
The group became a formal organization in 1947, and meetings
were held at MacKay Hall for readings and discussions.
In 1948 the Goderich Dramatic Club sponsored and hosted the Annual
Drama Festival, where local and area groups performed one act plays for
an adjudicator and an audience at MacKay Hall.
During the years 1953-1954 the name changed to Goderich Little Theatre
and it began performing its own productions independently from the Annual
Drama Festival. Plays went on at MacKay Hall until 1983 when the Goderich
Little Theatre moved its productions to
The Livery.
Since then, the dedication and vision of many skilled volunteers has
brought the GLT up to a very high standard in performing arts projects.
 
|
|