Langham Court Theatre is located in the historic residential Rockland neighbourhood of Victoria.
Michelle Buck is the general manager of the theatre, and proudly explains that Langham Court is “the second oldest, longest-running community theatre in Canada, behind Ottawa Little Theatre.
“We’re also the oldest theatre company in Victoria. We’re 177 seats and we have six mainstage shows a year. So that’s also quite a feat when you think about it!”
It truly is quite a feat, because except for seven staff members, who work the equivalent of three full-time positions, this theatre is entirely managed and run by volunteers.
“We have volunteers that help run our costume loft” says Buck. “Volunteers are the builders, the directors, the choreographers when we do the musicals. And volunteers commit to over three months per production, because they’re involved in the rehearsal period, and then the running of the show, which is three weeks.”
Founded in 1929, Langham Court is celebrating a milestone anniversary this year, as Alan Penty, production chair for the iconic community theatre, explains.
“Ninety years! I know, it’s incredible! 1929!” Penty hopes audiences continue to support the shows. “We’ve got lots of [entertainment] choices in Victoria, but it really is important to come and support companies like this. We’re all volunteer. We’re all just doing it because we love it…we love theatre…we love entertaining!”
Langham Court also offers workshops, thanks to a grant from the Victoria Foundation.
“Without the support of the Victoria Foundation,” says Buck, “we wouldn’t be able to offer those programs, because they’d be cost prohibitive. So they really do open the door to allow community members to come in and take top-notch workshops, to do audition workshops, accent workshops, acting workshops, directing workshops.”
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