Fonds AR011 - Belfry Theatre fonds

Financial records General files Show files Newsletters Programmes and pamphlets Graphic materials Sound tape cassettes

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Belfry Theatre fonds

General material designation

  • Multiple media

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Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

CA UVICARCH AR011

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1976 - 1989 (Creation)
    Creator
    Belfry Theatre (Victoria, B.C.)

Physical description area

Physical description

5.15 m of textual records and other material

Title proper of publisher's series

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Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

(1975-12-10 -)

Administrative history

The Belfry Theatre was established on 30 December 1975, having been registered on that date as the Springridge Cultural Centre Society. Its original aims were to promote cultural events, operate a cultural centre, and sponsor workshops relating to the performing arts. During its first three seasons it hosted touring companies, and began to produce its own shows in 1976/77. By the end of the 1977/78 season, the Belfry had achieved its longer-term goal of becoming a full-fledged professional theatre company, and on 10 December 1981 the society's name was officially changed to the Belfry Theatre Society. However, the Belfry continued to host other touring companies and has also sponsored concerts, a fund-raising fashion show and a series of classic children's films. The company has received financial support from the Canada Council and the provincial government through the British Columbia Cultural Programme, the Lottery Fund and the Intermunicipal Fund.

The Society consists of a Board of Directors; there were five directors in 1975 but by 1986 the number had expanded to eleven. The company's permanent staff consists of the Artistic Director, General Manager, Production Manager, Publicity Manager and Accounts Manager. The Belfry's first production was "Puttin' on the Ritz," which ran from 29 January to 12 March 1977. Developed and directed by Don Shipley and Pat Armstrong, this production featured choreography by Judith Marcuse and a four-person cast (Bill Hosie, Danny Costain, Sheila McCarthy and Mary Swinton). Since then the company has produced many more productions, most of them highly successful and some controversial, such as "Hosanna" and "Let My People Come." It has attracted many well-known actors and directors, including R.H. Thompson, Stuart Margolin, Frances Hyland and Nicola Cavendish.

The Theatre is housed in the Emmanuel Baptist Church on Gladstone Avenue in Victoria, which was originally leased to the Belfry by the Victoria Cool Aid Society. In 1980-1981 the company embarked on Operation Facelift, a plan funded by the Canada Community Development Project to renovate the building, including raising the stage, insulating, re-plastering, repainting, raising the balcony side seats and adding new fire doors in the dressing room.

The Belfry Theatre continues to be a dynamic part of the Victoria arts community.

Custodial history

Scope and content

The fonds consists of records documenting the administrative and operational activities of the Belfry Theatre, arranged into the following series: Financial records, 1976-1988; General files, 1976-1989; Show files, 1977-1987; Newsletters, 1981-1986; Programmes and pamphlets, 1976-1984; Graphic materials, 1981, n.d.; and Sound tape cassettes, 1981.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Language of material

Script of material

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

Access restricted to financial records. Permission must be obtained from the Belfry Theatre Board of Directors.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Finding aids

Inventory available with series and file level control. Excerpted file lists are available at the series level.

Associated materials

Related materials

Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

General note

Files in boxes 36, 37, 40, 41, and 42 were consolidated into one oversize box. Original file numbers have been retained.

Physical description

Includes ca. 400 photographs, ca. 300 slides, and 1 audio cassette.

Alternative identifier(s)

Standard number

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Control area

Description record identifier

belfry-theatre-fonds

Institution identifier

Rules or conventions

Status

Revised

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

2013-02-05; updated 2016-02-24 and 2016-03-03 (MP)

Language of description

  • English

Script of description

Sources

Accession area