A statement from the Civic Theatre says that the process should take up to five months.
In October, the City of Nelson learned that the wooden trusses supporting the building’s roof no longer met the required snow load limits. This resulted in temporary closures and evacuations throughout the winter when the snowfall became too heavy.
Prior to the roof announcement, one of the building’s tenants, the Civic Theatre, had been planning to undergo major renovations to upgrade the theatre space. The organization had previously raised $3.3 million for the renovations, but the structural issues left the theatre with major concerns about its future in the community.
However, in a statement posted on NCTS’s Facebook page, executive director Eleanor Stacey says things are looking much brighter now.
She explained that the theatre will use the time the facility is closed to prepare for its own renovations, which will see the 1935 auditorium divided into three spaces, expanding the theatre from just one screen to three.
“The future Civic Theatre will still have the original stage that we all know and love, while also boasting two smaller theatres where the very back rows of seats used to be.”
Stacey said the additional theatre spaces will enable NCTS to be more financially stable than ever before.
“Our financial future is also expected to be much brighter — more theatres means that more audiences will walk through our doors each week, and our dependence on grants and other fundraising will diminish as a result. Our goal is to be self-sufficient and to keep ticket prices affordable while also offering diverse cultural programs and services in our community too.”
The repairs are scheduled to begin Apr. 18, Stacey said that NCTS will be providing updates on the status of the repairs and renovations as they get underway.
