Theatre Cambrian's board of directors has decided to put the community theatre company's Eyre Street building up for sale.
The board had been considering this measure since early winter, but the decision was made last month, and the group has now retained a real estate agent, said the group's president, Chris Nash.
“We simply cannot afford the monthly payments, which, on a very old building, are high,” she said.
The theatre company purchased and renovated the former St. Eugene Parish Church about a decade ago.
But between the mortgage and operational costs such as utilities, the building costs Theatre Cambrian about $11,000 a month — and that's before it actually pays to put on any theatre.
Repair costs on the more than 60-year-old building are also substantial. In January, during the extreme cold, several watermain breaks in the building caused headaches for the theatre company.
Nash said the property, which includes not only the church but also the rectory, has far more space than Theatre Cambrian actually needs.
The theatre company is now in the process of negotiating a lease on a different venue to put on its shows, although Nash said she can't yet reveal where it is.
Theatre Cambrian has been struggling with financial problems recently. Those issues even included the organization's bank account being seized by the Canada Revenue Agency last year.
Nash, who joined the theatre company's board last year to try to turn the situation around, said she thinks Theatre Cambrian still has a lot to offer the community.
For now, Theatre Cambrian's shows continue in its current location.
Its next production, “Oliver!”, runs May 3-13. Shows take place at 7 p.m. except for Sundays, when there's 2 p.m. pay-what-you-can matinees. Tickets cost $20 for children, $25 for students and seniors and $29 for adults (plus tax).
Visit theatrecambrian.ca.
@heidi_ulrichsen
