This theatre company offers residents of Osgoode and Rideau-Goulbourn in Ottawa, as well as neighbouring districts, the opportunity to become part of an amateur theatre. Ottawa Trend will share more about the theatre’s activities.
Year of Establishment
The Ottawa amateur theatre ITR was founded in 1973. How did its history begin? In 1973, a group of friends gathered to perform Jesus Christ Superstar at St. Brigid’s Church on River Road. Their next performance took place at St. Leonard’s School in the village of Manotick. These performances motivated the group to take decisive action. They named themselves “Manotick,” meaning “island in the river.” To honour their roots, the founders called the amateur company the Island in the River Theatrical Review.
In 2021-2022, Jori Basque served as president, and Connor Eibach as vice-president. On the theatre’s official website, you can find a list of past recipients of the President’s Award. The organization’s official address is PO Box 645, with a contact phone number: 613-800-1165.
ITR: The Most Interesting Aspects
This is a volunteer organization that is always happy to welcome new members. In addition to those involved in performances, newcomers can join in set design, costume creation, backstage work, or provide other assistance before or during a performance. To become a volunteer, one simply needs to fill out a simple form with personal information and indicate their area of interest.
Anyone can become a patron of ITR, a person who decides to support the theatre. Patrons receive free tickets to the spring and autumn shows and are given priority for tickets to future performances. The available levels include Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Honorary Patron.
ITR Membership: To renew membership in the theatre, one only needs to pay a fee and fill out a membership form. The community theatre is always open to new participants.
ITR Scholarships: Young students with an interest in the arts can apply for a scholarship. The goal is to support local artists in various fields. The theatre thus helps students from Osgoode or Rideau-Goulbourn continue their studies and eventually become part of the theatre community.
ITR Workshops and Masterclasses on One-Act Playwriting: Through these events, participants start or complete their one-act masterpieces.
ITR Reading Committee: Participants meet online to read plays that will become future productions. These are relaxed and engaging evening readings with favourite beverages, open to anyone interested.
A Dangerous Theatrical Performance 2023
In 2023, the theatre celebrated its 50th anniversary. Manotick writer Mary Jane Maffini wrote a mystery story specifically for the amateur theatre actors. The plot of the play is as follows: an active Ontario community theatre group is celebrating its 50th anniversary. On the night of the premiere, tensions rise, and a series of terrifying events unfold for the participants. The audience at the theatre dinner must solve the crime and follow one rule: trust no one.
An intriguing element of the Murder Mystery event was the return of actors who had not graced the ITR stage in a long time.
Mary Jane has received multiple Arthur Ellis Awards for her short stories, and her 19 mystery novels have gained popularity. ITR staged Death Goes to the Dogs as a benefit performance for Ottawa Therapy Dogs.
Charity
Around 10% of ticket sales from the amateur theatre are donated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Thus, by attending new theatrical productions, residents also contribute to good causes.
Every ITR performance is a combination of a fantastic show, great food, an incredible atmosphere, and a delightful aftertaste.
