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| Moliere's The Bourgeois Gentleman was staged at the Sir James Dunn Theatre, which is due for a refit.(Pearce photo) |
The old guyÕs getting a makeover.
The Sir James Dunn Theatre, the small theatre located within the Dalhousie Arts Centre, will soon be renovated. Some of the improvements slated for the theatre include: new lighting system; new sound system, safety hand railings for the stairs, 250 comfy chairs Ñ even an industrial sink backstage.
Work will transform the Dunn Òfrom a good working theatre to a state-of-the-art theatre,” says Marian Binkley, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
ÒWeÕre just over the moon about this. I canÕt tell you how excited we are,” adds Susan Stackhouse, associate professor and chair of the Department of Theatre. The theatre is used for student productions and is also rented out.
Prof. Stackhouse says the renovations are important not only to Òrefresh” the space but because future designers, technicians and stage managers need to learn on the more up-to-date equipment. The theatre hasnÕt been renovated since the building opened in the early 1970s.
ÒRight now, weÕre training our students on antiquated lighting and sound equipment theyÕll never see again,” she says.
There are also improvements planned for the Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building. These include additional furniture for study spaces, enclosing the Spanish and Italian lounges, and more audio visual materials for classrooms.