Regina Little Theatre celebrates 100 years of performances

One of Canada’s oldest community theatre groups hit a major milestone this weekend with a gala celebrating a century of performances. Wayne Mantyka has the stor

One of Canada’s longest-running community theatre groups marked its centennial earlier this month, featuring highlights from 100 years of performances.

Regina Little Theatre was founded a century ago to meet a growing need for live entertainment in the city. John Chaput, president of the group, says that need was especially important at the time.

“This was before television. Radio had just become a popular medium, but people still craved live entertainment and the only live theatre you could get at that time was travelling companies,” he said.

“It was thought we want more regular dependable theatre that we can get and if we can put it on ourselves, they figured there was enough talent in the city.”

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Regina Little Theatre is the second-longest running community theatre in Canada, with only Ottawa’s group having a longer history.

Over the decades, many well-known performers began their careers with Regina Little Theatre.

“The current most famous one is Tatiana Maslany, who is She-Hulk, and John Vernon of course who has an illustrious career in movies and theatre,” said Carol Gay Bell, a member of Regina Little Theatre. “Shirley Douglas, Francis Hyland, Paul Nolan is now doing his eleventh Broadway show.”

The centennial was marked by a gala at the Regina Performing Arts Centre, which serves as the organization’s home.

“So, I came out and auditioned for a play in 1958 and got a role, and after that just probably did a show every year for years and years and years,” Bell said.

Regina Little Theatre is marking its centennial season with repeat performances of shows from its past 100 years, as it continues its historic run into the next century.