Our History

With the restoration of the Opera Hall on the second floor of the Orangeville Town Hall in 1993, a dream was born. Under the leadership of Artistic Director, Jim Betts, Theatre Orangeville opened its first season in 1994. None of this could have happened, however, without the overwhelming support of a committed and determined Board of Directors, The Town of Orangeville, the County of Dufferin, and the Founding Sponsors and Members.

Some of the best theatrical artists from all over Canada have performed on our stage, and most importantly, want to come back! One only has to name stars like Michael Burgess, Michael Therriault, Rod Beattie, Avery Saltzman, Douglas Chamberlain, Lally Cadeau, and Ted Follows to realize that this is a small town with big stars and great theatre.

Theatre Orangeville has also had the opportunity to develop and premiere a number of new Canadian works that have gone on to achieve success across this country - The Last Resort, War Brides, Dear Santa, Little Women - The Musical, Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun, to name just a few. What a thrill it's been!

One of the most memorable achievements of this theatre, however, is the success of our young people, be it the Theatre Orangeville Youth Singers performing for the Queen's 50th Anniversary tour, the hundreds of children who are being introduced to theatre for the first time through our many school shows or the very talented young people who participate in many of the other programs we offer. It is always a delight to watch them develop and grow. And with every new  season, our youth programs continue to grow!

Under the stewardship of David Nairn, Artistic Director since 1999, Theatre Orangeville is now realizing the artistic potential first envisioned by those pioneering spirits more than fifteen years ago. His creative vision and commitment are leading this company in to a future that not only guarantees many more exciting years ahead, but also ensures that our audiences can enjoy the highest standards in professional theatre performances. Come share the magic with us!