Theatre was alive and well in the Shuswap for a number of years before the current society was founded and theatre archives have newspaper articles and pictures dating back to the 1960s when the group called itself the Shuswap Players. In 1977, Jack Alouf, Recreation director for Salmon Arm and James Bowlby advertised and to their surprise, 24 people showed to a meeting in the drama room at J.L. Jackson Secondary. From this group 3 productions were organized for Shuswap Theatre’s first season.

It was realized after that first year that in order to survive the group needed its own home. The building next to the Tappen Co-op, which had been a supper club, was rented and for the next two years productions were held there.

The group worked hard to fundraise and then harder to renovate the old Shuswap Radiator building on Hudson Street, moving into its own theatre and current location in 1980. It was a huge undertaking at the time but well worth the effort and a big reason why the group has such a successful history.

With the wealth of experience and talent in the area, Shuswap Theatre repeatedly produces top quality theatre and has won numerous awards at both zone and provincial levels. The most recent of these was “Proof” written by David Auburn and directed by Steve Heal in the summer of 2005. This dramatic production took home Best Director, Best Actress (Gayle Heinrich) and Best Production at the Okanagan Zone Festival and was given the honour of advancing to Main Stage, the provincial festival. There the cast and crew were awarded People’s Choice, Runner Up for Best Production, Best Actress (Gayle Heinrich), Best Supporting Actor (Adrian Maxwell) as well as an honourable mention for Set Design.

As was done the first year, each season consists of 3 Mainstage productions, one in the fall, winter and spring with the final production entered as the group’s Okanagan Zone festival entry. Second Stage productions began in 2002, recognizing a need to provide a venue for play readings that had become very popular and to provide new actors and directors with an opportunity to gain experience. These events have proven to be very successful and the variable content often showcases locally produced material makes it great entertainment between main stage productions. From time to time, Shuswap Theatre has also sponsored summer theatre, an area that is being reviewed and will probably be organized for this summer.

The purpose of Shuswap Theatre is:

1. To perform live theatre productions, to foster the appreciation of live theatre.
2. To develop the theatrical abilities of society members.
3. To do everything incidental and necessary to promote and attain the foregoing objects in Salmon Arm and vicinity.

With a backbone of experienced founding members, an influx of experienced talent moving into the area, very successful secondary drama programs and an open door policy to new members and volunteers, Shuswap Theatre will continue to grow for years to come.