The Belfry Theatre began producing plays in 1976. As a professional adult theatre company, we are dedicated to producing contemporary plays, with an emphasis on Canadian work, and to promoting artistic, cultural, and educational events in the Greater Victoria Region. In the past 30 years the Belfry has become one of Canada's most respected companies, producing 210 plays, of which 148 have been Canadian, and over 31 have been premiere productions. Many of the plays that have premiered at the Belfry have gone on to acclaim across Canada, in the U.S., Australia, Europe and London's West End. Belfry Theatre productions have won awards in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. The Belfry Theatre produces up to twelve plays per year: one or two summer productions, a four play Mainstage subscription series, and a mid-winter festival of innovative and alternative work from across Canada - our newly-named SPARK Festival. The Belfry Theatre's mission is to produce theatre that generates ideas and dialogue, and that makes the audience see the world a little differently. Building Audiences Volunteers The Belfry, like all charitable, not-for-profit organizations, is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Belfry Theatre is a not-for-profit professional company operating within the Canadian Theatre Agreement in association with Canadian Actors' Equity Association and is an active member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and the Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria (ProArt).
Company History
The company resides in a former Baptist Church built in 1891. From the company's inception until 1991 the Belfry rented the main theatre space in the building and shared the complex with a homeless shelter. In 1991, then owners, The Cool-Aid Society, moved out and the Belfry began the first of five capital campaigns to buy and restore the building. Renovations were completed in 2000 with the restoration of the exterior. The building is listed in the heritage registry and has won a number of awards for its beautiful and painstaking restoration.
Naturally, a majority (85%) of the Belfry's audience comes from the many communities that make up the Capital Regional District and the Gulf Islands. The remaining 15% comes from up-Island, the Mainland (including Washington State) and from other visitors to Victoria.
The Belfry has over 250 dedicated people who volunteer as ushers and bar staff during performances. Many of these amazing people have been with the theatre for years, including a few who have been volunteering since the theatre's inception.
