Editorial
4 minute read
Thursday, Jul. 11, 2024
When acclaimed 20th-century American actress and drama teacher Stella Adler described theatre as “the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation,” she was no doubt referring to the art that is presented on the stage inside.
But recent events in Winnipeg suggest the sentiment can also relate to what goes on outside a theatre’s walls. Specifically, the new security measures announced last week by the Gas Station Arts Centre are a reflection of life and the deteriorating social situation in the city’s once-thriving Osborne Village.
Management at the beloved performance space, which is celebrating its 40th year, unveiled plans to rip up its outdoor courtyard and redesign its entrance in an effort to create a more secure and patron-friendly entry space. The move, according to GSAC executive director Nick Kowalchuk, is in response to increased violence and drug use in the area directly outside the facility.
“What we’re looking at is establishing our courtyard for our patrons,” Kowalchuk said. “What I want is (for) a patron to feel comfortable.”
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