The Walterdale Playhouse

The Walterdale Playhouse is an amateur live performance venue in the Old Strathcona neighborhood of Edmonton.[1] In 2008 the venue celebrated 50 year of theater.[2] The theatre is mainly run by donations and volunteers in the community.

Originally Strathcona Fire Hall No. 1, built in 1909, became Fire Hall No. 6 in the 1912 amalgamation with Edmonton. It has housed the Walterdale Theatre since 1974, and has been an Alberta Historic Site since 14 July 1976. The tower still holds the original bell.

History

The Walterdale Playhouse was founded in 1959 by the Walterdale Theatre Associates it is one of Western Canada's oldest amateur theatre groups. Since 1974 Walterdale Theatre Associates has been located in the heart of Old Strathcona in the oldest fire hall in Alberta, Strathcona Firehall No. 1 (later Edmonton No. 6), which the Associates converted into the Walterdale Playhouse. Built in 1909, the firehall is now designated a Provincial Registered Historical Resource. This venue seats 145. In 1994 the theatre received an award for "Outstanding Contribution to Performing Arts". To those in the Edmonton community it is a meaningful part of the arts and theatre culture enjoyed within the city.[3]

References
  1. Walterdale Playhouse
  2. "'50 Years of Footlights' (archive)". Archived from the original on 2007-12-26. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  3. Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Walterdale Playhouse


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