Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre
2023 - Present
Black Box Theatre. Tofino BC.
A new black box theatre.
The small black box theatre in Tofino is currently undergoing a much-needed renovation. The renovation will include increased accessibility, natural daylight from new windows, retractable risers for extra floor space, a sprung floor for dance classes, and an expanded grand piano alcove for music lessons. These updates will transform the Clayoquot Sound Theatre into a dynamic and versatile space. As the theatre approaches its 40th anniversary, the renovation will ensure that it continues to be a hub for live music, plays, movie nights, dance classes, and chamber events.
Learn more about the theatre's history below.
Existing Conditions
“The Clayoquot Sound Theatre is a prime example of what happens when community-minded artists move to the end of the road and open up their creativity.”
— Sophie L’Homme, Theatre Manager
History of the Theatre
In the early 80s, Gary Marks and Kim Hoag, a young couple from Oregon, immigrated to Canada, dreaming of building a community theatre in Tofino. Living on the beach in the hippie community of Cat Face, alongside Gary’s old English writing teacher, Frank Harper, they rallied their friends to help them create the unique Clayoquot Sound Theatre. John and Toby Fraser, Pap and Judy, Neil McLeod, and Mike Baird were part of the adventure, to name a few of the troop. They had a vision but no location to host their dream theatre. After some research, they heard of a space behind the Municipal Hall on Campbell Street.
Tofino’s Municipal Hall used to be an elementary school (dating back to 1954), and the existing Council Chamber and Theatre was its covered playground for the rainy winter months. (Well, for all the other months, too, does it ever stop raining here anyway?) The school even had its little theatre in the basement across from the bathrooms where they’d watch short movies on a screen and hold sock hops on Friday afternoons. They would call it the Theatre Under the Pipes. The old covered playground space was left empty when the Wickaninnish Elementary School was built in 1973. Public works used it as a storage area, and it even became a dog pound. (Gary got close to calling the theatre the 'Dog Pound Theatre.')
In 1983, Gary went to the Council to present his idea of transforming the old covered playground into a theatre. After all, isn’t a theatre just a fancier-covered playground? After producing two extremely popular children’s plays at the elementary school, Gary already had the community on his side. Tofitians believed that if anyone could build a theatre in a remote little fishing town, it would be Gary Marks. With friends and volunteers, they transformed the cold, empty space into the most magical black box theatre on the West Coast. It was ingeniously built. Gary put on up to seven plays a year featuring local amateur actors. From Frank Harper’s Cougar Annie to Tartuffe, shows were sold out every night. The ticket prices were low, so everyone in the community could access live theatre. Kim, his wife, handled all the costumes, set design, and administration, and the space wouldn’t have come to life without her. No idea was too wild or extreme.
The bear costume she designed for Arkansaw Bear, the first play presented, was legendary. In 1987, the Clayoquot Sound Theatre became a non-profit led by Mary Bewick, and Gary produced plays for over a decade while working as a kindergarten teacher. Over the last 34 years, hundreds of plays, concerts, movies, and recitals have been presented on the stage of the Clayoquot Sound Theatre. Stuart McLean brought his Vinyl Cafe, Jill Barber and Grant Lawrence brought their songs and stories, Oscar-nominated movies were projected, and Carlo Marks, Gary and Kim’s son, even presented his theatrical productions.
The Clayoquot Sound Theatre will soon be 40 years old and needs to undergo some vital renovations to keep the community and its legacy alive. The whole space will be revamped and turned into a healthier, more flexible, accessible, and professional venue. Once the original musty wood structures are removed, a sprung floor made of neoprene and plywood will be installed to cover the whole room, allowing ballet classes and recitals. Retractable risers will then be added, allowing the Theatre to become a stand-up venue for concerts. Windows will be added on the harbour side, and new black-out curtains will surround the room at night. The space will finally be made wheelchair accessible, kid-friendly and can be used as a classroom during the day and as a venue at night.
Written by: Sophie L’Homme Theatre Manager