In its ten years of operation, Strathspey Place has hosted all kinds of cultural events: dramatic plays, variety shows fundraising for various community charities, poetry readings by local authors such as Joyce Rankin, literary competitions for young writers, rock shows, and of course, being nestled among the hills of Mabou in Inverness County, countless fiddle players, including Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, and Buddy MacMaster.
The entry of Cape Breton roots music onto the world stage over the last decade and a half brought not only a new audience to the music but also brought new audiences to the place where the music was nurtured. Strathspey Place, located on the Ceilidh Trail on western Cape Breton Island at the Allan J. MacEachen International Academic & Cultural Centre along with Dalbrae Academy, became one of the showplace venues to enjoy Cape Breton’s cultural heritage. Audiences and performers, over the last decade, have both enjoyed both the excellent technical facilities of the John Morris Rankin Stage (named for the late musician).
Not content to rest on their many laurels, the Strathspey Board of Directors are currently reviewing the venue’s mission and strategic plan and are asking their public and patrons what it means to be a community based theatre in Inverness County.
The Strathspey Place board has scheduled a Public Meeting for Thursday, March 31, at 7:00 pm, at Strathspey Place, to discuss the future of the venue.
A sample of the type of questions the board wishes to have answered include: What kind of performances (theatre, dance, comedy, music) do they most want to see at Strathspey Place? What other uses (for example: movies, workshops, summer classes, etc.) can attendees imagine for the facility? What can the facility and its board do better to best serve their community?
Anyone unable to attend the meeting, can contact the board’s secretary by email: secretary@strathspeyplace.com, or by phone at (902) 945-2744.
