Theatre renovation Backstage at City Hall

Backstage at the Earl Cameron Theatre gets a thoroughly good review

Behind the scenes at The Earl Cameron Theatre at Hamilton’s City Hall has received a significant facelift to help the actors, singers, musicians, and others produce their very best performances.

Patrick Cooper, City of Hamilton Chief Operating Officer and City Engineer, explains. “We have been dealing with budget constraints of $230,000 to $250,000 on this project, trying to get the best value for money out of it.

He adds one of the most challenging things with renovating the dressing room area was the time pressure, due to events scheduled throughout the year. “We had to determine what is most important, and in which order to get things done.”

Mr. Cooper said the dressing room area hasn’t been renovated in many decades, with it receiving a “patch” update around 15 years ago.

Some of the changes include ensuring the flooring is all the same, replacing the makeup area mirrors and lights, installing new tankless water heaters, hidden under the vanities, in the bathrooms, and new clothes racks in the dressing rooms. The break room in this area has also seen some of the equipment hidden to make it more visually appealing.

The most significant change sees an interior wall in the Green Room taken out, creating more space.

Chris Bailey, Assistant City Engineer says, “A huge 26ft beam comes across the top to extend this space and make it more usable.”

Two new mirrors have also been placed on the Green Room wall at the foot of the stairs leading up to the stage.

The Green Room also includes 28 lockers for performers to store clothes and other items.

One other addition is to the area leading into the orchestra pit where sound-attenuating drapes have been installed. Mr. Bailey says, “The curtain is in addition to a door, and provides a space for musicians to enter and leave as required during performances without light or sound transferring from the Green Room into the orchestra pit and further into the auditorium beyond.”

Mr. Bailey suggested that the best feature of the renovations is “a purpose designed theatre dressing room that will better support theatrical, dance and musical performances for the enjoyment and benefit of the community.”

• Cooper Gardner