Foundation launches fundraiser to upgrade theatre at western P.E.I. high school

With 500 seats, an orchestra pit, a stage, a catwalk and a balcony, the theatre at Westisle Composite High School has a lot of potential.

But some say upgrades are needed to make it a destination and pillar of the western P.E.I. arts community. 

The Westisle Theatre Foundation has started a campaign with a goal of raising $150,000 to upgrade the theatre's sound and lighting equipment. 

"Oonce we get the ball rolling, I think we're going to be one of the main theatres on P.E.I.," said Danny Drouin, chair of the foundation's committee. 

"We want it to be for the locals, but we also want it to be a tourist attraction."

The Westisle Theatre is the only soft-seat theatre west of Summerside. 

The chairs and theatre building are still in good shape, Drouin said, but upgrades like a new soundboard and brand new lights would benefit residents and artists in the area. 

"I want to see shows that are comparable with the shows they put on in Charlottetown and Summerside," he said. 

"I think a lot of people would start coming out to more shows if they were local.… It'd be really good for the arts community, for sure."

The theatre has been at Westisle Composite since the school opened. Drouin said the theatre was always drawing in crowds when he went to school there — and if it wasn't full, it was close to it. 

"It's kind of dear to me, that little theatre. I worked it for three years when I was in high school," he said. 

"I know the ins and outs of it pretty good and I know what it can be, and I think we can get it there." 

The foundation has already heard from people and small businesses wanting to donate, and Drouin said he hopes to get some corporate sponsors on board, too.

"We plan to do some really good fundraising shows," he said, adding that he didn't want to let the cat out of the bag yet, but the foundation has been dropping hints about the shows on its Facebook page.