The Ottawa Little Theatre – 112 years of creating magic for local theatregoers

By Robin Etherington

Robin sat down with two key members of the Ottawa Little Theatre (OLT), Venetia Lawless and Lindsay Laviolette, for a wide-ranging conversation about the challenges and successes of running a community theatre. 

Q: What is the greatest challenge for the Ottawa Little Theatre?

People don’t come to live theatre as much. OLT competes with entertainment services that allow people to stay home. There is unique and magical energy in live performance that you can’t get at home watching a streaming service. We face the challenge of diminishing audiences by enhancing audience experience. 2023 saw a 5% membership increase and a 6% box office revenue increase, mainly due to season planning and high-quality productions.

Q: How challenging is it to finance the Ottawa Little Theatre?

OLT is a charity, not-for-profit. Ninety-nine percent of theatre activities are volunteer based. We employ a technical director/facilities manager and part time individuals in the back office and front of house. OLT survives as a community theatre thanks to our volunteers, patrons, and audience. 

We balance ticket prices to keep our shows affordable, while paying increasing production costs and building maintenance. Many subscribers are longtimepatrons, the backbone of our financial stability. Future sustainability lies in our ability to attract diverse audiences, with a blend of classics and contemporary scripts. 

Q: What is it like to run a community theatre in Lowertown? 

We are fortunate to be downtown, near Ottawa University. Improvements to public transit will give our audience members options for getting to OLT. We are mindful of the overall audience experience and recently recruited a security firm for show nights. Everyone enjoys the warm welcome from the security officers who provide a feeling of comfort and security. 

We support social service programs such as Options Housing through donations from our concessions and preview performances for charities to use as fundraisers. Since partnering with Options Housing in 2019, the organization has raised $57,000. It’s our way of giving back to the community.

By changing the theatre season from late February through December, we attract new audiences, avoiding dreaded January driving and accommodating our “snowbird” patrons. It also reduces winter wear and tear on the building.

Q: What is Ottawa Little Theatre’s relationship with the City of Ottawa?

The vibrant arts community defines Ottawa. Arts appeal to locals and visitors, impacting Ottawa’s economic and cultural health. We work closely with Councillor Stéphanie Plante to keep arts visible. Past President, Geoff Gruson, was awarded a 2023 Community Builder Award for his work in strengthening the relationship between the arts and the community. We benefit from city support and look forward to engaging with the city’s new Nightlife Commissioner, Mathieu Grondin, to improve access to arts and culture.

Q: What are the funding resources for the Ottawa Little Theatre?

OLT finances its operations and performances through ticket sales, concessions, donations, sponsorships, and a rental of our space to a local church group. Some of our income is derived from government grants: City of Ottawa, Arts Funding Program, Province of Ontario, Trillium Foundation, Heritage Canada, Canada 150.

OLT’s season sponsor is Tea & Toast, an organization that assists seniors in making life transitions. Our sustaining sponsor is Kelly Funeral Homes by Arbor Memorial. They both feature in our show program. 

Q: What partnerships are happening?

Although we are located among condos and adjacent to Sandy Hill and Lowertown, patrons come from across Ottawa. Business opportunities exist to partner with OLT to build the community and to showcase what Lowertown has to offer. We recently collaborated with Rideau Street Metro who donate condiments for the theatre’s beverage sales. Proceeds go to Options Housing. The bar’s liquor empties go to Bottleworks, Operation Come Home.  We are exploring potential partnerships with local restaurants for “dinner and a show” offerings.

Q: How do community performing artists use the Ottawa Little Theatre?

OLT has a large costume and properties inventory, which we loan to other community theatres and high schools.

Arts programming in schools is important to nurture future theatre lovers. We look at creative ways to support students in their artistic journeys. We sponsor two awards at the CAPPIES awards gala. CAPPIES students in the photography stream take production photos at rehearsals.

Q: How do you see Ottawa Little Theatre in five years?

We predict a healthy relationship with our patrons and Ottawa’s community of theatre lovers. Ottawa is changing. We engage in conversations about planning and land use which could impact our future. We plan several years ahead, having recently announced our 2025 season (opening with The Shawshank Redemption) and are already planning our 2026 season.

Q: What are the challenges for the culture-heritage-arts sector in Ottawa?

Arts organizations are siloed, working in competition for audiences and funding. The merger of Ottawa Arts Council and Arts Network Ottawa is a smart move, creating a unified organization to advance a stronger voice for the arts community. 

OLT attended the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, performing An Act of Grace. Edinburgh experiences vibrant culture, with a population half the size of Ottawa. It hosts five culture festivals in August, offering free admission to galleries and museums throughout the year. The arts are recognized for their economic and cultural benefits. We could learn a lot from their model.

Q: Please talk about your theatre practice!  

We are passionate about theatre. OLT is our second home where we dedicate hundreds of hours to creating and producing. The theatre is a diverse and inclusive community where people offer their unique expertise. The OLT has made our lives richer!