Building a vibrant future
A modern new cultural hub where magic will happen.
New Brunswick and the Maritime provinces are evolving into a more complex, more diverse and more internationally connected region. Fredericton’s new Performing Arts Centre must play a lead role in fostering further cultural vitality.
The Fredericton Playhouse has been an energetic piece of the downtown landscape for over half a century, and during that time has come to be highly regarded and appreciated by its patrons and the community it serves.
Now, it’s time for the encore.
The Performing Arts Centre will be a modern hub that meets the needs of an evolving community where people can come together cross-culturally to share experiences, express creativity and connect with one another.
The 72,000-square-foot modern, state-of-the-art building, 2.5x the size of the Playhouse, will feature two formal performance venues as well as other prime spaces for gatherings that will allow for magic to transpire between artist and audience.
an 850-seat main hall, fully equipped for a variety of the highest-quality performance including music of all genres, opera, dance, comedy, theatre, film, circus and Broadway.
a 300-seat flexible theatre perfect for more intimate events and accessible for local groups looking for an affordable and high-quality theatre venue.
a main-floor lobby that includes a small open amphitheatre to be used for performances, workshops, lectures, educational programs, receptions and public gatherings.
a multipurpose studio room for small performances, workshops, recitals or varying artist purposes.
state-of-the-art technology and amenities with comfortable seats and a seamless experience for all.
ample space for green rooms, dressing rooms, more lobbies, two concession areas and a conference room.
While the new building is very exciting, the magic that will follow its construction will come from the activity taking place within its walls.
The possibilities that will open up within the new Performing Arts Centre are endless: from large touring performances of today’s global artists, to ballet and Broadway, to music of every genre, to local arts groups who will be able to perform in the smaller studio at an affordable rate.
The Playhouse has always been a place where all people in New Brunswick – no matter their age, background, place of residence or capacity – can experience meaningful live performances and programs that add significant value and capacity to the community. In the Performing Arts Centre, we will double down on that vision. The greater capacity for access programming – double or triple capacity in many cases - that will be undertaken in the larger venue will be extraordinary.
The two theatres
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The Main Hall
Seating 850 patrons, the main hall will be the largest and best-equipped space dedicated to live performance in the region. The generous stage, fly system, orchestra pit and state-of-the-art sound, video, stage and lighting systems will make it ideal for large productions in a variety of genres and disciplines (opera, dance, concerts, theatre, comedy, musicals). With a higher seat count and more robust technical capacity, it will attract global performances not previously able to play in our region.
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The Theatre
The more intimate theatre will seat 300 in its typical format, with flexible seating that will allow the space to take on different configurations. Like the main hall, it is designed for a multiplicity of artistic disciplines, and its smaller capacity makes it ideal for local and touring productions that are best suited to audiences of 100-300 people. This is an affordable high-quality space that local artists and groups have been yearning for.
“The small theatre companies in Fredericton need a place to perform. The smaller stage in the Performing Arts Centre is key to what we need here in Fredericton for local productions. We need a place where we can celebrate our own talent.”
Ilkay Silk, O.C. Theatre Director and Educator
With design now underway, construction could begin as early as 2023 with the new facility opening in 2026.
The Performing Arts Centre is being designed by a top-notch multi-disciplinary team led by Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects who specialize in the complexities and intricacies of modern performing arts space design. Selected from a field of 20 proponents, Diamond Schmitt teamed up with Fredericton-based EXP Engineering and five other specialized consultants to be selected by the City of Fredericton in a competitive selection process. Threshold Acoustics of Chicago and Fischer Dachs of New York bring a depth of experience and expertise in acoustics and theatre technology to the work of designing a high-functioning regional facility. Three of the seven consultants on the team are based in Fredericton.
With its front door on King Street and its modern exterior, which is inspired by the river, wrapping around the corner onto Regent Street, the Performing Arts Centre will be ideally situated in the heart of downtown Fredericton with proximity to parking, restaurants, other cultural institutions, the Historic Garrison District, retail and hotels. Reclaiming this important civic address by developing it in a way that benefits the larger community is a win for everyone. It aligns with the City’s municipal plan to densify the urban core of the city, contributing to a better quality of life and a greener environment.
Explore the new Performing Arts Centre!
“There are so many young artists who are choosing to come back to the Maritimes and are choosing to stay and build their careers as artists here. We have to have a space that’s matching the momentum I’m seeing with artists.”
Sharisse LeBrun, Director, TNB Theatre School