Let’s talk about theatre, dear reader. There are few things more stimulating and exciting than live theatre expressing an artistic culture. It creates a synergistic relationship between the actors and audience, and the exploration of drama, horror, and comedy in a live setting can move viewers to laughter and tears.
Sadly, Camosun is lacking both a theatre program and a suitable space from which to present live shows. In contrast, the University of Victoria has a booming theatre program and the luxurious Farquhar Auditorium.
“So what?” I hear you say. “Go to UVic.” But this is where I believe that Camosun has a cultural advantage over UVic that is not being utilized.
On Camosun’s website, the following words can be found: “Camosun College offers over 160 innovative programs to help meet the needs of students and communities in Victoria and beyond.” What stands out in this statement is the focus on community. Camosun has long boasted a reputation of being a highly inclusive community college that accepts people from all walks of life. You may study with a concrete goal in mind, or easily engage in casual learning. Camosun is a place for the everyday working individual, and it seems to distance itself from the cold harshness of the world of academia made so infamous in universities.
UVic, on the other hand, is a larger, high-level institution with more restrictive admission policies. Certain subjects, like fiction workshops and theatre, are unavailable to anyone who is not locked into a multi-year program. Its tuition prices are also steeper, and being a student there left me with a distinct sense of being nothing more than a profitable number in an accountant’s ledger. This has the effect of excluding folks who desire learning and engagement on a budget, people who are unsuited for the bustling, chaotic university experience, or those who just want to learn at their own pace and level.
It just so happens that Camosun is a shining example of these inclusive community values. We badly need a theatre program and a proper auditorium so Camosun can provide its students the opportunity to partake in the magic of live theatre in a smaller, more intimate setting than UVic.
Of course, the most pressing question is where would we build a dedicated theatre? Perhaps we should repurpose some parking space at the back of the Foul Bay parking lot at Lansdowne to create a small but functional space where theatre may flourish. Alternatively, expanding the outer wall of Fisher 100 and renovating would allow the lecture hall to include a suitable backstage area and proper lighting at a fraction of the cost and space of a dedicated building.
As for funding, we should allow our students, and our community, to decide through a referendum if this is something they want to support through a higher per-person student levy.
This is our school, our community, and our money, and a healthy democracy keeps Camosun accountable.