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.
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.
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.
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. 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".
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. 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. 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.