This information is of interest to those who value our heritage theatres as part of Vancouver’s Arts and Heritage and to those interested in creating a future for theatre in Vancouver.
Vancouver lacks performance space while outstanding theatres lie dark or underutilized. The future of the art-deco Vogue Theatre, a National Historic site, is uncertain and the York Theatre, historic home of Vancouver Little Theatre, has been sold to a developer with plans to demolish it to build townhouses, and plans to restore the old Pantages Theatre are on hold. Can we afford to lose existing spaces?
A Vancouver Arts and Cultures Forum on the Future of Theatres was held on October 4, 2007, at the Vogue Theatre to explore what we are doing, what we could be doing, and what we would like to do. The results of the conversation revealed some ideas and possibilities.
Shortly after the Forum, the York Theatre was purchased for residential redevelopment. The commmunity was informed about the opportunity to Save the York by offering to purchase the theatre back from the new owner and a prospective buyer was found.
The owners of the Vogue Theatre applied to the City of Vancouver for licensing approval with a view to convert the Vogue to a dinner theatre and were unsuccessful. The future of the theatre is uncertain.
The owner of Pantages Theatre who has been working with the community for the last three years on a project to restore and reopen the theatre has put the Pantages Theatre up for sale.