Submitted photo Sandi Reimer
The entrance to the Esplanade's Studio Theatre transformed into a red carpet entrance for an Oscars-themed party.
There used to be a British TV show called “Changing Rooms” that I enjoyed. It was about a group of decorators that went into a person’s home and, over a weekend, completely changed one room. At the Esplanade it sometimes seems like that same thing happens only it isn’t interior designers sneaking in. It is the staff who work, sometimes late into the night, to make these changes.
You may be familiar with the main theater stage having a different appearance from one concert to another or the transformation of sets for a play. The variety in stage design is partially due to lighting technique and some is creatively crafted set design but all of it takes skill and time to accomplish.
The Art Gallery and the Heritage Gallery change on a regular basis, usually every few weeks. The gallery foyer may switch in one day from a classroom for children in the morning to an evening art reception complete with live music. Sometimes it becomes a living room for the comfort of philosophical discussions.
The exhibitions never seem quite long enough for me. Sometimes, I get a chance to scan an exhibit briefly with the intention of returning when I have more time to ponder only to realize that I have waited too long and the exhibit has changed again. I have a plan to go this Saturday afternoon so I won’t miss another one.
The Discovery Center is a dedicated classroom for children. In the earlier part of the day it may host a Grade 5 class learning about the historical buildings in Medicine Hat and next it’s a place where toddlers and preschoolers’ enjoy age-appropriate art lessons. Occasionally, the room turns into a birthday party with a qualified instructor leading a group of kids in an art project specially planned to match the birthday child’s preferred theme.
The studio theatre can also have some very dramatic changes. It may accommodate a conference during the day and then be flipped to become an Oscar party that same night. It can go from a blank open room where a ballet company practices to a wedding reception decorated in a way that makes it seem almost magical. One day it’s a testing site where 100 recruits sit classroom-style to write the test that will determine if they will move forward in their chosen career path or have to wait another year. Another evening, this same room may host a round dance and then, next day, become a show space with a stage and bleacher seating.
Even the lobbies have seen their share of quick changes. The main lobby is often an empty space welcoming hundreds to a theatre show but it has also held Christmas craft sales and children’s activities in rapid succession. One time, a wedding had been cancelled at another venue due to a building emergency and, at the last minute, the bride and groom found themselves without a place to hold their ceremony. Luckily for them, the Esplanade’s main lobby can be set up for this type of an event rather swiftly.
Receptions, such as alumni events, are often cocktail style parties that take place on the second floor lobby. This area has also become a chosen spot for wedding ceremonies and photo shoots.
Let’s not forget the roof top terrace, the Esplanade’s crown jewel, which goes from a big empty space with beautiful views of the river and courthouse to an ideal spot for a champagne ceremony on a hot afternoon. There is also no better place than the terrace for a jazz concert on a lazy summer evening.
All these changes require staff working diligently after the building closes to the public, sometimes until the early hours of the morning. Weddings and stage changes can run very late and it takes hours to reset these spaces for the next event.
When you come down to the Esplanade, take note of what’s different from the last time you visited and if you see a theatre technician or a facility worker, recognize them as the turn-over artists that make our buildings accessible and desirable for all occasions.
Sandi Reimer is Event Services Coordinator at the Esplanade.
