The Piggery Theatre (French: Le Théâtre Piggery) is a summer community theater in Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, in the Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality, in Estrie, in Quebec, Canada. By 1990, the Piggery was already the oldest professional English-language theater in Quebec and the only English-language summer theater in the province.Article « Le Théâtre Piggery – Un quart de siècle d’amour entre une communauté et son institution culturelle », journal La Tribune, 26 mai 1990, cahier 6, p. 2.
Surrounded by a forest (originally surrounded by fields) and mountainous setting, this entertainment site is also renowned for the organization of business or association meetings, meetings of friends or family, weddings as well. than other social or artistic events. Some events at the Piggery are aimed at raising funds for organizations.
In addition, since the 1980s, the Piggery has organized an art gallery where local artists and artisans offer their crafts and wares all summer long. This art gallery Emily LeBaron (1906-1983) was thus designated in recognition of this artist, craftswoman, antique dealer and volunteer greatly involved, who contributed greatly to the creation of the Piggery, in particular by donations and by volunteering for the organization of activities. In addition, she was chair of the board of directors.
In its report on its 2010-2015 cultural policy, the MRC of Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality indicates that five cultural institutions in the region have made their mark and are continuing their work of transmitting culture, including The Piggery Theater.Rapport "Politique culturelle de la MRC de Memphrémagog 2010-2015", p. 14.
The Piggery Theater was rated the third best summer theater in Canada by the newspaper Ottawa Citizen. In 1982, following the cessation of the Lennoxville Festival's activities (1972-1982), the Piggery Theater remained the only major English-speaking cultural enterprise in the region.Article "Council rift puts Piggery in cold", par Timothy Belford, journal The Record, 27 août 1982, Supplement 1, p. 4.
Geography The Piggery Theater site is located at 215 Simard Road, Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, either at an altitude of 251 m, and on the south side of Webster Creek. This theater is one kilometer in a direct line from the west shore of lake Massawippi (i.e. in the vicinity of Manoir Hovey), as well as east of the east shore of lac Magog.Mesures géographiques validés en utilisant les outils de l’Atlas du Canada (Toporama). This rural site is southwest of the North Hatley bridge and northeast of the village center of Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley. In 1965, this site was located near Noble Ranch.
Wide variety of activities and customers Although the activities presented to the public are generally held in English, several performances are held in French.
Annually, the theater season usually begins around mid-June and continues until the end of August. In the past, the Theater generally presented two or three large plays in its summer program.
During her 40th founding anniversary in 2005, Nancy Nourse of The Record newspaper wrote: "Over the years, The Piggery also offered a variety of other activities which helped to make it a vibrant center of summer entertainment".Article « Piggery to hold 40th anniversary celebration", by Nancy Nourse, journal The Record, Sept. 8, 2005, p. 11.
The growing public interest in the Piggery has been derived from the provision of a variety of entertainment options. For example, in 2011 the program featured 16 theatrical performances, in addition, the addition of musical performances included folk, country, bluegrass, jazz, classical, musical and a variety of tribute shows.Article "Piggery Theatre better than ever", by Sylvia Bullard, journal The Record, 26 juillet 2011, p. 3. In addition to theatrical activities, this site occasionally offers varied performances of song, music and magic. It also offers group meal service at events. In addition, the restaurant was renovated in (1997) and designated "The Posh Pig" since 1997.
The theater has enabled many artists in the region to assert their talents and flourish in the performing arts. Several artists and stage staff have experience in other performance centers or were performing arts students, notably at Bishop's University (Lennoxville) or Dawson College (Montreal). Several stage managers who are new to their careers have started their apprenticeship as a stage director at the Piggery.
Throughout history, the Piggery Theater has presented a variety of Canadian, American and British plays, as well as musical, magician and comedian performances.Journal The Record, July 29, 2013, p. 2, article "The Piggery Theatre", by Tierney Braden. Several plays presented at the Piggery Theater were part of tours of guest theater companies, having performed in theaters in particular: Bishop's University's Centennial Theater (Sherbrooke), Théâtre du Lac Brôme, Centaur Theatre (Montreal), La Poudrière (Montreal), Dome Theatre (Dawson College, Montreal), Saidye Bronfman Center Theater (Montreal), National Arts Center's Atelier (Ottawa) or at various festivals.
In 2002, the Piggery organized a first language arts camp, offering a chance for children aged 8 to 12 to learn English or French through the arts. The following year, the Piggery organized boot camps for would-be funny guys in a special two-day workshop (Aug. 24 and 25) as part of The Piggly Giggly Comedy Fest (Aug. 24–30).
The theater offers "Piggery Theater Summer Drama Camps" of typically four days. Usually, a student show is presented to the public at the end of the camp.
Mary Robinson's country dinners have long been a theater draw.Article «1980 Piggery season successful», journal The Record, 13 mars 1981, supplement 1, p. 9.
The "Gala fundraising kicks off" takes place annually in mid-June to begin the theatrical season.
The "after-theater cabaret" was added to the service offering in 1980.
Buildings and infrastructure The English term "piggery" means "pigsty" because the theater was installed in 1965 in the pigsty/warehouse of Arthur Russell Virgin (1877-1968), built in 1945.According to the assessment roll report of the Municipality of Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley for 2020.Interview on August 7, 2021 by historian Gaétan Veillette with retired artist Howard Ryshpan who inaugurated the theater in the summer of 1965. Four ventilation turrets are installed on the Piggery gable, the main one with a compass rose topped with a weather vane symbolized by the profile of a pig. These turrets are the result of the installation in 1985 of a heat reflecting roof and ceiling exhaust fans, while maintaining the rustic character of the building.
Since 1980, the administration has implemented a multi-year roof reinforcement program, the construction of a large capacity septic tank and the installation of air conditioning.Article "Comedy and cool temperatures rule", by Markthew Shepherd, journal The Record, 2 juillet 1999, supplement 1, p. 5.
During the initial transformation of the building, Guy Bachand, owner of the Premier cinema on King Street West in Sherbrooke, donated 300 free seats in his cinema, which were installed at the Piggery Theater. The latter was in 1965 treasurer of the first board of directors of the Guild. In addition, Mrs. W.W. Leslie donated the stage curtain to the Piggery Theater.Article "Le Théâtre Piggery – Un quart de siècle d’amour entre une communauté et son institution culturelle" (The Piggery Theater - A quarter of a century of love between a community and its cultural institution), journal La Tribune, May 26, 1990, cahier 6, p. 2.
For many years, Arthur Russell Virgin (1877-1968) was the branch manager of the commercial bank (CIBC) in North Hatley. Virgin becomes one of the most prestigious directors of the powerful American company United States Steel.Article "North-Hatley n’a pas oublié Jeannette Blake" (North-Hatley did not forget Jeannet Blake), by Gilles Dallaire, journal La Tribune, July 28, 1983, p. A4.
Janet Blake (death in 1981), owned Clematis Jersey Farm in North Hatley which they moved to in 1931.
In 1972, this large ancestral house was considered to be at least 150 years old; it was then filled with antiques and surrounded by gardens. It was located on top of a hill overlooking Lake Massawippi. After Janet Blake took possession of this home, this home underwent extensive renovations.Article "Piggery benefits from tours", by Crosbie Cotton, journal The Sherbrooke Record, 11 mai 1972, p. 1. In addition, the employees and volunteers of the Piggery Theater often came to this house, in particular to eat there and to build theatrical sets.Article "From boardroom host to char – Piggeery veterans honored", journal The Sherbrooke Record, 14 sept. 1979, p. 6.
When Janet Blake died in 1981, specific bequests from her testamentary heritage were distributed in particular to the foundation of the Sherbrooke Hospital, the "Townships Playhouse Guild" (which in 1981 became "The Piggery Theater Inc"), the North Hatley Library, and St. Barnabas Anglican Church.Eastern Townships Resource Centre.
In 1980, the auditorium (2nd floor) of the Piggery Theater had a capacity of 283 seats and accommodated an audience of 9,400 admissions; 10,000 in 1981 and 11,000 in 1982.Journal The Record, 27 août 1982, Supplément 1, p. 5, article "Council rift puts Piggery in cold" par Timothy Belford, p. 4-5. Its current capacity is 246 places. The building also has a large stage, restaurant and bar on the lower level.
In the 1980s, the Piggery set up a restaurant serving country dinners before theatrical performances; in addition, an outdoor patio has been set up in front of the restaurant. A few years later, the terrace was added to the front of the building. In addition, a building was moved to the theater site, to be transformed to serve as a set design workshop and warehouse.
History of this theater Prior to the opening of the Piggery Theater, English-speaking theatergoers from the Eastern Townships could attend the community theater activities organized by the North Hatley Playhouse Guild which existed between 1956 and 1962. This organization offered amateur productions in the building of the former curling club which was located at the North Hatley Playhouse, in the village of North Hatley, on the shores of lake Massawippi. This curling club was operated in association with the Brae Manor Inn (later become the Auberge Hatley),Article "Piggery to hold 40th anniversary celebration", by Nancy Nourse, journal The Record, Sept. 8, 2005, p. 11. which burned down on March 27, 2006)Radio-Canada, article d’archives du 26 mars 2021: «Le 27 mars 2006, la prestigieuse Auberge Hatley partait en fumée».
The roof of this former curling club collapsed in the winter of 1962 under the weight of heavy snowfall; this theater then had to cease its activities. Nevertheless, the North Hatley Playhouse had succeeded in instilling in the collective mind a marked interest in theatrical performances in the Eastern Townships. A group of citizens have organized themselves to restore the tradition of summer theater in the region. This enthusiasm for the survival of the theatrical mission in the region was spurred by, among others, Walter Massey and Norman Springford of Montreal Theater Company, as well as other supporters: Emily LeBaron, Arthur Russell Virgin, Margaret Coste, Dunbar Bishop, Helen Austin, Bruce McKeay...Article "Le Théâtre Piggery - Un quart de siècle d’amour entre une communauté et son institution culturelle", par Pierrette Roy, journal La Tribune, May 26, 1990, cahier 6, p. 2.Article "York: People are power behing Piggery", by Claudia Villemaire, journal The Record, June 8, 1990, supplement 1, p. 5.