There’s a gap in performance venues in Estevan.
There are lots of fine venues if you’re looking to attract a few hundred people. The acoustics might not be the best, but you can still watch a good show at one of our local schools, in a church sanctuary, at the legion, or any one of a number of sites. The best place for a concert might actually be the Orpheum Theatre, which has hosted some big names over the years.
If it’s a large concert you want to have, then you have Affinity Place, which can accommodate anywhere from about 1,800 to more than 3,000 people, depending on the stage location.
But what happens when you get a performer who’ll bring in a good crowd, but not enough to justify using Affinity Place? What happens if you want to have more of an intimate evening with a prominent musician? Or if you want to have a show that will attract around 1,000 people?
We’re lacking.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Canadian music icon Jann Arden would be performing in Weyburn in November through the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils, at Weyburn’s relatively new performing arts centre. It’s the type of show that will attract a good crowd, but not large enough to warrant renting out Weyburn’s arena.
Weyburn has a performing arts centre, and so they have the perfect setting for a musician like Arden. It’ll be a great show, and in an intimate setting.
There’s also the advantage of having concerts in a venue that is built for concerts. As much as the Estevan Comprehensive School’s cafetorium has served the school and community well for decades, and as much as it has hosted some great shows over the years, it’s not a great concert hall.
A performing arts centre could also host events such as stand-up comedians, live theatre during the winter months, dance recitals and other attractions.
We had a great performance by famed Saskatchewan comedian Brent Butt earlier this year. But his show could be enhanced by a larger venue built for an appearance by an entertainer of his stature.
Obviously, this community has some big decisions looming when it comes to sport, recreation and culture facilities, most notably whether to construct a new arena or a new field house. Estevan needs both, but it can only have one, at least for the short-term.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be the city’s responsibility to construct and operate a performing arts centre. But it would require a lot of fundraising to make it happen, just like a new arena or a new field house would require significant fundraising.
But it’s also time to take a long, hard look at a performing arts centre so that this community can eventually start to host some of those acts that it can’t just host now.
