The Theatre GroupThe Caledon Townhall Players (CTHP) had their first performance of “Angels Unawares” in June 1962 in the Old Townhall, in the Village of Caledon. Subsequently, a series of short-term leases to continue use of the building were drawn up between CTHP and the Town of Caledon, and they have been presenting live theatre productions in that venue ever since. On Feb 20th, 1985, a 20 year lease was signed, and it in turn was renewed for a further 20 years commencing Dec 31st, 2004.
The Building
The Old Caledon Township Hall was built in the summer of 1875 to be used as a court house and hall. The building was used as a meeting place for the Church of England and Grange No. 174. It also served as a social centre and fondly remembered as the place where many dances, showers, euchres and public meetings were held. It should be noted that at that time there wasn’t any running water or washrooms! In the Fall of 1963, a new municipal building was completed in Caledon East, and the Old Townhall became the home of CTHP. CTHP undertook to pay all expenses and maintenance costs for the building.
In 1976, CTHP gave notice of the intention to “file for registration of the Old Townhall as a property of historic and/or architectural interest under the Ontario Heritage Act, 1974”. Subsequent supporting correspondence mentioned the expenses incurred by CTHP for adding, updating, and repairing the entrance way, kitchen, dressing rooms, wall paneling, side wings and chairs, furnace and ducting, historical displays, roof repairs, and painting. The Ontario Heritage designation was received in 1982 and plaques were affixed to the building.
In addition to its continual responsibility for and payments of maintenance and repairs, a number of significant financial undertakings by CTHP benefited the Old Townhall:
In 1992, along with a Government of Ontario grant of $16,000, CTHP funded and contracted the construction of the Green Room (lounge and actors waiting area) addition, which for the first time provided running water and indoor washroom facilities. This project included the pulling up and refinishing of the entire theatre flooring.
In 2002, CTHP received a $23,000 Ontario Trillium grant for new lighting instruments, a computer-driven lighting system and console, and fire-proof stage curtains.
In 2003, in anticipation of the eventual widening of Hwy 10 through the Village, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, in cooperation with the Town of Caledon, contracted the moving of the Old Townhall 20 meters south and 40 meters east onto a new foundation complete with a full basement, a relocated kitchen, larger and improved dressing rooms, and additional washrooms. This improved facility is air conditioned and includes a lift for handicapped access to the basement from the main floor.
In 2006, CTHP received a $9,800 Ontario Trillium grant to construct an outdoor storage shed for the stage walls (flats), doors, windows, and other miscellaneous items necessary for the construction of play sets. Apart from outside contractors (necessary for the professional engineering drawings, the digging of a foundation and the pouring of concrete), the actual planning and building of this shed was done entirely by volunteer members.
The Town of Caledon replaced the roof and ceiling insulation in the summer of 2006.
The Players
Our members are all unpaid volunteers, and are “governed” by a formal Constitution and By-laws. We have an elected executive comprised of a President, a VP Sales, a Treasurer, an Artistic Director, a Director of Advertising and Publicity, and a Secretary. Only a member may participate in our plays and we always welcome new members.
We are a non-for-profit registered charity (#89066 9799 RR0001) and this website (caledontownhallplayers.com) contains information about the scheduling and pricing of our current year’s plays, how to contact us, and theatre news such as dinner theatre nights in partnership with Knox United Church.
CTHP is a member of both Theatre Ontario and ACT-CO (Association of Community Theatres of Central Ontario). Under the latter, for a number of years, we have submitted the first two plays of each year for adjudication in competition with other member theatre groups. As a result of this, CTHP actors and production staff have been nominated for many THEA awards and received a number of award as well -- a recognition of which we are all extremely proud.
We present three plays a year, as a subscription series, and since 2004 have also presented a play with both children and adults. Originally, these were Christmas “pantomimes” -- fun family productions that look forward to the participation of the audiences! Yes, they boo and cheer, but they don’t throw things! These plays have included King Arthur, Treasure Island, and Dick Whittington, and are very interactive performances and geared towards young people (the younger the better), even though seniors have been known to make the biggest noise in the theatre. A pantomime includes singing, dancing and acting, with a lot of help from the audience. In 2007, we presented a regular production for young audiences: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. These productions not part of our subscription series.
To give something back to the community which supports us, we offer three “charity nights” (one per play) to local charitable organizations for their fundraising. The six groups (two per night) are selected by a random draw from those submitted and are allotted 50 tickets each for selling at the minimum of our ticket price, for which the group will remit approximately $5 per ticket to CTHP to cover costs. On one occasion, one group requested 100 tickets for their own very successful night.
CTHP has presented a number of different types of shows over the last few years, including:
· Tribute · The Perfect Manhattan · Don’t Dress for Dinner
· Lend Me a Tenor · Act Of Imagination · Crimes of the Heart
· Caught in The Net · Arsenic and Old Lace · Things We Do For Love
· No Sex Please, We’re British · Witness For the Prosecution · Who’s Under Where
· Over the River Through the Woods · Beyond a Joke · Murder Most Fouled Up
· Cash On Delivery · Communicating Doors · Perfect Timing
· There Goes the Bride · Funny Valentines · The Murder Room
· Home is Where the Clothes Are · Romantic Comedy · Murder on the Rerun
· Out of Sight · Cookin’ With Gus · Five Tellers
We look forward to entertaining you!
View the archival document of a proposal to take over ownership and preservation of the Old Caledon Twonship Hall, written in 1976.
& local information links:
Village Bistro | The Belfountain Inn | What's On | Erin Live Theatre
The Hills of Headwaters | Town of Caledon | Town of Orangeville
Theatre-Related links:
CTHP On-line forum | Theatre Ontario | ACT-CO | Trillium Foundation