Natasha Baldin/News Staff
The Other Guise Theatre Company now owns its own space in downtown Victoria to create a dynamic, environmentally-conscious space for artists in Victoria to call home.
The theatre company recently announced it had purchased 716 Johnson St., the former Tomley’s Market grocery store, and has ambitious visions to transform it into a permanent performing arts hub in downtown Victoria like no other.
Other Guise artistic and executive director Matthew Payne envisions a space outfitted with a versatile black box theatre, a cabaret and cafe space, an outdoor alleyway theatre and patio, as well as upstairs dance and rehearsal studios.
The building’s upper floor is currently home to Raino Dance, and Other Guise’s goal is to keep the tenants as the primary users of the space while opening up more studio availability to Victoria artists.
“The plan isn’t to take anything away from them, but just add to the space — find the gaps in the schedule that aren’t being filled and put them to use and just make more of those spaces,” Payne told Black Press Media.
Payne also aims to turn the facility into “the greenest theatre in Canada,” with eco-friendly stage lights, solar panels, rainwater captures and conscientious waste management.
“From the get-go, we’re trying to make as little a mark upon the environment as possible,” he said. “I don’t think many people have put that kind of emphasis on their space and I’m curious to see if we can be a kind of leader in that regard from a national perspective.”
While plans are still in the early stages, Other Guise also plans to offer a home to other Victoria-based performing arts companies facing the harsh realities of expiring leases.
“If you’re worried about where your home is going to be, how can you possibly stop and make art?” Payne said. “If we can solve that question for several companies, we’re going to see a pretty significant shift in the kind of work that gets made in Victoria.”
Funding to make the $2.4-million purchase came from Kate Kempton, a social justice lawyer with a dream of creating and investing in a new theatre space in Victoria, as well as two mortgages and support from the BC Arts Council and the City of Victoria Arts Infrastructure Grants.
The next phase, the $1.5 million renovations, will begin in January and are anticipated to last a minimum of one year. While mortgages are structured so the company can focus on transforming the space, they are now looking for support from the community to help turn the vision into a reality.
Payne said the company is hoping to raise $300,000 in donations by the end of the calendar year.
“It’s going to take the whole city to make it work and get behind it,” he said.
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