VIDEO: Mixed reviews as Kelowna council unanimously adopts plans for new performing arts centre

Kelowna city council has unanimously adopted the recommendations of its performing arts task force.

The plan is to keep the 1962-built Kelowna Community Theatre (KCT) and find a place to build a new, larger performing arts centre elsewhere.

So far there is no timeline or cost analysis for it.

However, the task force found there is enough demand to support both a new theatre and the existing KCT with a few renovations.

Early reaction from the performing arts community is positive.

"I'd love to see some of the shows that will make their way to the Okanagan," said Nate Flavel of the Kelowna Actors' Studio (KAS). "That would be fantastic."

Each year, the KAS, which has its own 220-seat venue, stages its biggest event at the KCT.

This year it was Mamma Mia!.

"I'm told it was the largest attended show ever in the community theatre's history. Just over 9,000 people saw it."

Flavel is thrilled to see that the city plans to keep the community theatre.

"That makes the most sense of all the scenarios that might be put out there," he said. "It's a no-brainer."

Flavel says the potential for more growth in the local performing arts scene is definitely there.

"We've been growing non-stop for 20 years," he said, "and I'm constantly shocked at the response from this community for the arts and supporting the arts."

But Citizens for a New Performing Arts Centre believes the best place for a new theatre is right where the current one sits.

"A new performance arts centre should be a central place," said Ainslie. "The ideal site is the current site of the KCT."

Ainslie suggest an option could be to build a small new community theatre elsewhere first.

"And then during the time that's being built, work on the plans for a new performing arts centre that is iconic and central to this community."

But, that is not in the plans adopted by the city.

In its presentation to council, members of the task force spoke about how they arrived at the conclusion to keep the old theatre.

They noted how well-used and well-managed the KCT continues to be.

"I think that was a bit of an eye-opener for all of us in terms of how busy that theatre is," said task force member, Robert Fine.

The recommendations also concluded that a new theatre, and the shows it would draw, would have "a positive economic, cultural and social impact on our community."

The focus of the task force will now turn to the important question of where the new theatre might be built.