Going backstage in Bobcaygeon
Globus Theatre acquires Lakeview Arts Barn and sets the scene for a new season
Whether they be longtime patrons or newcomers, visitors to the Lakeview Arts Barn are likely to notice a significant change when they pull up in front of the iconic pink structure on the southern outskirts of Bobcaygeon for a concert, a pantomime, or a murder mystery. Gone will be the enormous LAB sign, replaced with new signage announcing that this building is now Globus Theatre.
What is going on? Are they not one and the same? Yes and no – and this season’s change in signage reflects an exciting development in the history of a renowned player in the local arts scene.
Globus Theatre, the brainchild of Sarah Quick and James Barrett, had its origins in England more than 20 years ago. It began as a professional touring company, and after setting up shop in Kawartha Lakes, Globus rented space in Lindsay’s Academy Theatre. By 2006, Quick and Barrett had acquired a picturesque old barn steps away from the shores of Pigeon Lake. This venue operated separately from the producing theatre company as an event space – not only did it give Globus a home in which to stage its productions, it also functioned as a kind of community hub.
People came from far and wide to exchange their wedding vows beneath the barn’s photogenic beams. Others sought it out to play host to conferences and community meetings. All these things generated revenue for the LAB that enabled it to, among other things, provide space in which Globus could produce and perform its assorted shows.
And then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
No longer was it feasible for the LAB to function as an event venue – large gatherings went on an indefinite hiatus. What didn’t go on hiatus was the public’s love of live performances. “While it was disastrous, it created something new and very exciting,” says Globus’ artistic director Sarah Quick of those uncertain years, when live theatre was especially hard hit. “How do we contribute to society during this time when people need each other?” Quick recalls asking.
Undeterred, Globus organized online shows, outdoor shows, play readings, and other events. It had already established a solid reputation across Ontario for quality theatre productions – but it was still a tenant. Having come into its own, it needed to have a permanent home. Thanks to the generosity of donors and other funding sources, Globus Theatre was able to raise $1.7 million by the end of 2024 and has now purchased the Lakeview Arts Barn outright.
Although the events for which the LAB was known – weddings, for instance – will continue in a limited fashion, the focus now is on moving forward with a remarkable variety of live theatre offerings. Once a primarily summertime operation, Globus’ season now runs from May through December.
For Quick and her team, the fun and hard work begins with coming up with a season that audiences will get excited about. “We try to focus on new Canadian plays, or plays that are new to Canadian audiences,” Quick tells the Advocate. “You are always going to see a Norm Foster play; his plays are great audience-pleasers. They have humour with heart.” (Foster cut the ribbon opening the LAB nearly two decades ago.) “We will always have a concert in the season,” Quick continues. “You will always see a murder mystery. There is something for everybody.”
Once plays have been selected, Globus will apply for the rights to produce the shows. These administrative details being completed, it’s on to auditions, which take place in Toronto. Globus draws on a wide range of talent; some 150 actors might show up to an audition. They also participate in “generals” with other theatres: at these events, Quick explains, actors might be seen by seven or eight artistic directors. (As one of Ontario’s leading theatrical companies, Globus is tapped into a tightly-knit network of theatres that share many similarities in terms of funding structures and overall philosophy about the performing arts. The encouragement and exchange of ideas facilitated by this kind of collaboration grew out of the pandemic, says Quick, and has been going strong ever since.)
Callbacks happen with three or four actors who have been cast in a particular role. “You want to work with people who are like-minded and friendly,” Quick says of the decisions that go into casting. A typical season might feature up to 30 or more actors, of which about half will be new to Globus. These performers live in the community during the course of their four-week contracts and, as Quick points out, contribute to the local economy by patronizing local restaurants and other businesses.
It’s a big commitment, with performers engaged in rehearsal for eight hours a day, six days a week, for more than two weeks before showtime. This is aided in no small part by the building’s soundproof rehearsal hall downstairs, so the cast and crew of one show might be running their lines while audiences are taking in a performance in the space above.
And thanks to Globus’ 30,000 printed brochures and other intensive promotional efforts, those audiences keep coming back for more. “We are constantly getting new people coming to our shows,” says Quick enthusiastically. “We are a very positive team and are always looking ahead.”
By Ian McKechnie, The Lindsay Advocate
