Due to its upcoming end of lease, the Catalyst Theatre, with its self-described mandate of creative new theatrical productions, must find a new home. Wishing to remain within the Old Strathcona area, close to the theatre district, the company asked Manasc Isaac to create a concept for a new theatre, with the working title, “Creation Lab”, on a small site immediately south of their present location on Gateway Boulevard and 85th Avenue.

In discussion with the creative team at the Catalyst Theatre, we established key aims for the new Theatre: uniqueness, bold and distinctive theatricality, highly identifiable aesthetics, flexibility of performance type, attractiveness for audience and performers and a minimum environmental footprint.

The theatre is entered under a glass tower and the first space is a lobby with a ticket office, bar, etc. and a raised podest with glazed backdrop, as an impromptu performance or presentation platform. The auditorium is at the second floor level. It has seating capacity of 350 as theatre-in-the-round. But it can be reconfigured with raised blocks of seating to create a “proscenium” arch, thrust stage presentations.

The new theatre has a fly tower and all-round access to lighting and control booths at both ends of the auditorium, thus making for a state-of-the-art fully flexible performance space.

The exterior of the building is an opportunity to express the uniqueness of the Theatre Company and along with the targeted LEED certification will make it very unique in Edmonton and North America.