Historic venue undergoes upgrade as part of new use

Mar 21, 2024 | 5:00 AM

Vernon’s historic Towne Theatre will be closing for more than month to get it ready for hosting more live events.

Operations manager Rebekah Beck said a large renovation to the auditorium will get underway April 2, with paint, new curtains, new acoustic treatments, and a new cinema sound system.

“This renovation also very importantly supports our transition to adding more live events as we are adding the infrastructure for that during the renovation,” Beck told Vernon Matters.

The theatre, which is operated by the Okanagan Screen Arts Society (OSAS), will reopen in mid-May.

Beck said the ability to diversify their programming will help build a self-sustaining business model and ensure the long term future of the venue that first opened in 1929.

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“We are getting close to our 100 year anniversary as an entertainment venue for the region, and that is a special piece of local history that has been lost in most other towns. The Greater Vernon Cultural Plan identified the need for additional live music and events capacity in the region, and a venue our size located right on main street downtown fits the current gap perfectly.”

Beck said the Towne is an economic driver for downtown businesses as it brings about 40,000 people to the downtown core each year, with a large portion of that in the off peak non-tourist season.

“Many of our audience members make a night out of it and do dinner and a show and get some shopping done at surrounding merchants. The more live and special events we can host, the greater the impact we can have.”

Beck added some “pretty big live acts” will be announced soon, as contracts are in the process of being signed.

The operating society has applied to the BC Liquor and Cannabis Branch for an extension of their liquor serving hours to 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, up from the current 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The application is supported by Vernon city council, the RCMP and the city’s bylaw department.

“Traffic in the area is not expected to be impacted, and noise in the area is not expected to change due to the proposed change to hours of liquor service,” a City of Vernon staff report stated.

Beck said alcohol service is a relatively small part of their business.

“We currently have alcohol service weekly for our Monday at the Arts events, some occasional 19+ late night movies, and for some private rentals of the venue. It is a nice option some groups hosting private events like to make use of, and that helps us with some incremental extra revenue to keep the doors open,” Beck explained.

Beck added the extra hours gives them flexibility in regards to accommodating requests from groups wanting the space.

The non-profit OSAS rallied to save the Towne Theatre from closure in 2021.

Proceeds from the theatre go towards bursaries for local youth pursuing post secondary educations in the arts, as well as the preservation and maintenance of the theatre itself.

by Pete McIntyre

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