Janet Harron

Memorial University is poised to make recommendations on the future of the Reid Theatre and is asking for community feedback at two public consultations scheduled for July 22-23.

"The Reid has always been a gathering place for the Memorial and St. John’s community,” said Dr. Jamie Skidmore, a faculty member in the Department of English and a key member of the committee.

“Through our consultations, we want to figure out how we can continue to strengthen our links to both our students and our town. We’re all in agreement that we want the Reid to be ‘the crown jewel’ of Memorial, where we can go to learn, to create art and to engage with one another. We want to make sure that the Reid continues to be a wonderful classroom and performance space, and we’d like the advice of our community in deciding how best to make this happen.”

The Reid Theatre opened in 1961 in the Arts and Administration building on the St. John's campus. Over the course of its history, the theatre has hosted a diverse range of performances and events, including local theatre, music and drama festivals, film screenings, artistic celebrations and awards presentations, orchestra and opera workshops, and cultural galas. It was closed in 2012 due to health and safety concerns.

Following the consultations the committee will report on the design, budget and specifications of a new and improved Reid Theatre which will become, once again, a valuable cultural resource for the people of St. John’s and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Consultations will take place Tuesday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m. at The Rocket Room, 272 Water St., and on Wednesday, July 23, at 3 p.m. in room 1046 of the Arts and Administration building.

Please visit www.mun.ca/reidtheatre for further details and to complete a survey on the future of the Reid Theatre.