Fabulous at 40: Theatre Collingwood celebrates milestone

‘I think we’re on a great course right now. When we get a new centre for arts and culture, the sky’s the limit,’ says current executive director

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1 / 1 From left, Erica Angus, executive director of Theatre Collingwood, with long-time supporter Hella Sandberg, celebrate Theatre Collingwood's 40th season.Jessica Owen/CollingwoodToday

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Hella Sandberg recalls a time in 1984 when Theatre Collingwood first started as an idea, and became a reality.

On March 19, Theatre Collingwood’s board members, staff, local dignitaries and admirers gathered at Fig & Feta to officially announce their 2024 40^th anniversary season. In attendance was Sandberg, who has been there since the beginning.

In 1984, Sandberg had been working doing make-up and costumes for a theatre company in Meaford that was about to dissolve. She was approached by Theatre Collingwood’s first artistic director Kevin McCormick about an idea.

“He said we were not going to stop because we were doing really well. He said he was going to take it to Collingwood,” recalls Sandberg.

McCormick went to the Weiders of Blue Mountain Resort to ask for support to get the new company off the ground, and Barbara Weider took up the torch with a group of local volunteers, including Sandberg.

“That’s how Theatre Collingwood started,” she said.

Sandberg continued doing make-up and costumes for Theatre Collingwood, and remembers McCormick regularly getting up on stage with actors whenever he produced a show.

“He said, we create magic. He was a very good director, and got it all going,” said Sandberg.

Sandberg recalls Steven Thomas taking over the artistic director reins and serving in that role for 15 years, until 2012.

“He was a wonderful director too,” she said.

Current executive director Erica Angus took up the mantle after being hired in 2012, and led a push away from producing shows, instead toward bringing interesting and diverse shows to Collingwood from elsewhere.

“It’s difficult financially to run a theatre company. It can cost a lot to put shows on. What they wanted to do is see if we could work with other theatre companies to share the expense,” said Angus. “It also helps shows to have a longer life.”

“We wanted to bring a high level of artist to the community.”

Over the years, Sandberg struggles to come up with one favourite show put on through Theatre Collingwood that sticks out in her mind.

“I loved all of them,” said Sandberg, with a laugh.

“We’ve worked with amazing artists, like Louise Petrie, Leisa Way... and Adrian (Marchuk) on the Andrew Lloyd Webber show Any Dream Will Do,” said Angus. “There was a show we did in the earlier years with Theatre Orangeville called Queen Milli of Galt. It was such a beautiful show.”

Looking toward the future, a new fully-accessible arts centre in Collingwood is top-of-mind for both Sandberg and Angus as a long-overdue need.

“It’s hard to produce theatre when you don’t have a space. When a new arts centre is built, we may go back and do a little producing,” shared Angus.

Coming out of the pandemic, Angus said things are improving with people coming back to theatre. She said future hopes for the company include expanding their theatre education programming.

“I think we’re on a great course right now. When we get a new centre for arts and culture, the sky’s the limit,” she said.

For more information on Theatre Collingwood and details on the shows in their 2024 season, click here.