The Ottawa Little Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in all of Canada. Its history dates back to the early 20th century with the founding of the Ottawa Drama League. For a long time, the theatre operated without government funding. All actors, directors, and other members of the theatre company worked on a volunteer basis. The theatre functioned solely through ticket sales and donations from dedicated patrons. Despite these challenges, the Ottawa Little Theatre became Canada’s oldest continuously operating theatre, showcasing performances throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. More details at ottawa-trend.com.
The Founding of the Ottawa Little Theatre
The decision to establish the Ottawa Little Theatre was made during a meeting of the Federation of University Women in 1913. Initially, the Ottawa Little Theatre was a society dedicated to studying and creating dramatic art. It became the first Canadian branch of the Drama League of America.
In the early 20th century, the Little Theatre was temporarily housed in the Victoria Memorial Museum. This venue included a stage where artists rehearsed and performed. The hall had a capacity of 360 seats—quite small compared to other theatres in Ottawa.
The Ottawa Drama League held its first performance in 1913 at the Russell Theatre on Queen Street. The group began performing at the Victoria Memorial Museum in 1915. From that moment on, the Ottawa Little Theatre gained momentum. Even with minimal funding, the actors, directors, and producers were remarkably talented. They staged compelling plays and productions, and Ottawa residents eagerly attended the performances. The theatre was always fully booked. For a time, due to the lack of state funding, staff at the Ottawa Little Theatre even had to work for free.
Securing a Permanent Theatre Building
For several decades in the 20th century, the Ottawa Drama League performed in various city theatres without a permanent building. Many performances took place at the Russell Theatre and the Victoria Memorial Museum. However, in 1916, the Ottawa Drama League lost its stage at the Victoria Museum due to a devastating fire on Parliament Hill. Additionally, World War I claimed the lives of many members of the Ottawa Drama League. After the war, the league performed at a theatre on Queen Street until 1923, when they began fundraising efforts to purchase their own venue.
It took five years for the Ottawa Drama League to collect the necessary funds and buy a building to establish the Ottawa Little Theatre. The building they purchased was originally a church located on King Edward Avenue. The first play performed in their own theatre was titled “Anthony and Anna.”
Organizing the Dominion Drama Festival
The post-war years were challenging for Ottawa’s cultural life. Due to the global economic crisis of the 1930s, foreign theatre troupes stopped touring in Canada. However, for the Ottawa Little Theatre, this period became an opportunity for growth. In the early 1930s, under the direction of Governor General Bessborough, the Ottawa Drama League launched the Dominion Drama Festival at the Little Theatre. This festival brought together amateur playwrights and theatre groups from across Canada.
During its first five years, the festival achieved great success. However, during World War II, the festival was suspended. It was revived in the late 1940s and continued as a successful event until 1978.
