The Last Five Years by Jason Scott Brown was our choice to open the Hugh Wilkinson Studio Theatre at Shawnigan Lake School on October 16, 2009. Two of our most talented students, Jeffrey Tittiger and Ciara Salloum-Hedgecock gave incredible performances in this sing-through show. Directing them, including the photoshoot in Victoria, was one of my best experiences at SLS.
The construction of the theatre was not completed until October 7, nine days before opening. During those nine days, I installed curtains, focused lights, learned how to use the Strand Classic Pallette 2 console, the projector, and the Yamaha LS9 mixer. In the last days, the chairs and risers arrived and were installed. The set was installed and painted days before dress rehearsal. It was composed of five layers meant to suggest a wedding cake. There was a six-piece ensemble providing the music under the talented and expert leadership of Shannon Tyrrell, with whom I worked for many years to produce the SLS annual musical.
Wilkinson Theatre Opening
David Robertson, Headmaster, oversaw the opening ceremonies, and welcomed Nora Wilkinson, the widow of the former Headmaster, Hugh Wilkinson, to whom the theatre was dedicated. Carl Bradley, whose generosity made the transformation of the old Assembly Hall into one of the largest studio theatres in Canada, also spoke.