Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Can you hear the tragedy if no one speaks?

In a captivating interview on CBC’s The Morning Edition, legendary stage director Robert Lepage sits down with host Craig Norris to pull back the curtain on his most daring production yet: a wordless, high-octane reimagining of The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark.

Leaving behind the 4-hour monologues, Lepage and world-renowned choreographer Guillaume Côté have stripped Shakespeare to its “skeleton”—relying on muscle, breath, and pure visual storytelling to bring the Prince of Denmark to life.

Why “Mute” the Bard?

Robert Lepage explains that by removing the famous text, the audience is forced to engage with the visceral energy of the story.

• The Power of Physicality: Discover how classical ballet represents the rigid royalty of Gertrude and Claudius, while contemporary dance captures Hamlet’s internal descent into madness.
• Visual Magic: Lepage describes his “visual surtitles”—where the word “Words” on screen literally morphs into “Swords,” mirroring Hamlet’s shift from contemplation to violent action.
• A Haunting Atmosphere: Learn how a minimalist set of light, shadow, and “pillowy sheets” blurs the line between the living and the ghostly.

“We wanted to see what remained of the play once the words were gone. What we found was a sprint of pure emotion.” — Robert Lepage

Hear the Full Story

Listen to the 10-minute deep dive into the creative process behind this world-class production. [ Play CBC Interview]

See it Live at Centre In The Square

Don’t miss this “gripping and intensely athletic” (Margaret Atwood) production during its strictly limited run in Kitchener.

• Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026
• Time: 8:00 PM
• Location: Centre In The Square, 101 Queen St N, Kitchener

[ GET YOUR TICKETS NOW] Limited seating available for this exclusive engagement.

Listen to the interview on CBC’s website

By Luisa D’Amato, Reporter
Luisa D’Amato is a Waterloo Region Record reporter and columnist. She writes on issues affecting day to day life in the area. She can be reached at ldamato@therecord.com.

Monday, March 2, 2026

On Thursday, Kitchener’s Centre in the Square will pass a major milestone.

The internationally renowned dance production — created by two Canadian artists, choreographer Guillaume Côté and stage director Robert Lepage — “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” will be presented at this theatre.

The production itself will be fascinating. The story is told through movement, music, light and shadows. In this portrayal of Shakespeare’s masterpiece, known chiefly for its words, not a word will be spoken.

The Centre quotes the author Margaret Atwood’s words of praise for the production as “gripping, intensely athletic, and visually enchanting.”

Thursday’s performance also represents a pivotal moment for the Centre, says its executive director, Eric Lariviere.

Only two and a half years ago, the 2,000-seat performing arts centre abruptly lost its biggest tenant when the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony ceased operations and cancelled its 2023-24 season due to crushing financial troubles.

Before then, the symphony concerts had mostly taken place at the Centre. The building had even been constructed for the symphony.

But when the orchestra stopped performing, the Centre suddenly lost a third of its business.

The Centre’s strategy after that was “very business-focused. You need the revenue, so you open up for rentals,” said Lariviere.

Along with the tribute bands and variety shows that came in, there was also room for outreach. The Centre offered more diverse art forms, including tabla music, fado singing, tango and Japanese cinema.

Lariviere offered rental of the Studio (a smaller performance space within the facility) for $80 a night to community organizations. He also welcomed rentals for high school graduations and dance competitions as a way to make the building part of a special time in someone’s life.

(Full disclosure: I’m the part-time executive director of the Grand Philharmonic Choir, which rents the Centre for three concerts a year.)

This strategy has been working well. And now, Lariviere says, it’s time to “elevate the work that we bring here, and bring the best touring Canadian theatre or global productions that are available.”

That’s what this reimagination of “Hamlet” represents.

The dance production premiered in 2024 in Toronto. It sold out for multiple performances in Toronto and Montreal, and is now on a secondary tour including Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener and Vancouver.

Lariviere says Waterloo Region deserves “great life experiences for its population. We’re a university town, we’re a high-technology town, we’re a business town … We’re at the door of Stratford.”

For him, this performance represents “the best work that you can see in Canada and from around the world.”

Lariviere thinks people will travel 150 kilometres to see this show, and he has invited leaders in the artistic community to attend as well.

“How many of the great theatre directors’ works have we seen in this house in the past 10 years?” he asks.

“Hamlet” is “the kind of thing you only see in big cities. We have the big-city infrastructure here.”

So we do.

I’ve often thought of Centre in the Square as a sleeping giant. Under the leadership of Raffi Armenian, former artistic director of the symphony orchestra, the hall opened in 1980 with one of the finest acoustic environments in North America. And Armenian also made sure it was equipped to host the largest and most technically challenging of operas, Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle.

All this happened in a medium-sized city like Kitchener, because there were enough people here who felt we deserved the very best. Decades later, it is thrilling to still feel that spirit.

Luisa D’Amato is a Waterloo Region Record columnist. Reach her by email at ldamato@therecord.com.

Read the original article at The Record

By Luisa D’Amato, Reporter
Luisa D’Amato is a Waterloo Region Record reporter and columnist. She writes on issues affecting day to day life in the area. She can be reached at ldamato@therecord.com.

The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony has found its way home.

Two years after a devastating financial crisis, the organization has rebuilt and will give a historic performance Thursday at Centre In The Square of Mahler’s Second Symphony, known as the “Resurrection.”

Resurrection, indeed.

The Kitchener concert hall is a beautiful acoustic space, considered one of the finest in North America. The sound is warm and clear, and even the slightest vibration of a harp string carries to the back row.

This is the symphony’s performing home, originally built for that purpose with support from the region’s generous music loving community.

The hall opened in 1980 with a performance of this same monumental “Resurrection” symphony.

The orchestra was the hall’s major tenant until the sudden layoffs of musicians and staff in September 2023, followed by the shocking announcement that the organization was filing for bankruptcy.

There has been anguish, soul searching and hard work over the past two years as the orchestra sought a sustainable future under new management.

This concert, in this hall, marks its rebirth. “It is quite emotional being back in Centre In The Square now, after all we have been through,” said bass player Ian Whitman after the first rehearsal on Tuesday.

Whitman and his wife, violinist Allene Chomyn, lost their jobs when the symphony collapsed in 2023. They and fifty others were informed just days before the new season was set to begin.

The announcement came without warning. There was no chance to negotiate solutions such as a temporary pay cut.

Some musicians were forced to leave the region and find work elsewhere. Many, like Whitman and Chomyn, pieced together income by teaching and freelancing, commuting across southern Ontario to perform. Whitman called it the “401 Philharmonic.”

Musicians also organized community concerts and raised 495,000 dollars through GoFundMe to support performance costs, emergency needs and legal guidance.

The grim numbers emerged slowly. The symphony had been running large deficits even before the pandemic. In 2018 to 2019, the deficit was 730,000 dollars.

When concerts shut down in March 2020, finances briefly improved thanks to government support.

By July 2022, the deficit had been reduced to 200,000 dollars.

In person concerts returned in 2022, but audiences did not. Many were still hesitant to gather in public spaces.

Season subscription sales fell from 8,000 in 2019 to 2,000 in 2023. The symphony hoped for emergency federal funding and renewed support from major donors, but neither materialized.

By late summer 2023, the accumulated deficit had climbed above one million dollars, creating potential personal liability for the board of directors. They closed the organization and all resigned except board chair Rachel Smith-Spencer, who stayed to guide next steps.

Documents later showed the symphony owed 916,183 dollars and had assets valued at 273,620 dollars consisting of the music library, some large percussion instruments and office equipment.

Creditors included ticket and subscription holders owed 706,987 dollars, and forty six families with youth orchestra memberships owed 27,889 dollars.

Some musicians believed bankruptcy could still be avoided. That would allow the symphony to keep its name, charitable status and track record with granting agencies.

Musician Kathy Robertson approached arts supporter Bill Poole, known for leadership roles at the Centre for Cultural Management at the University of Waterloo and the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery. He would later become chair of the new board.

“If ever I am thanked for saving the symphony, I say it is the musicians who saved the symphony because they refused to let it go,” Poole said.

A new board was elected by ninety three members in June 2024. It held a creditors’ meeting proposing zero cents on the dollar. Creditors accepted.

Meanwhile, the K-W Symphony Foundation, which had continued to operate independently, paid the organization’s only secured creditor, RBC Bank, which was owed 75,000 dollars.

The bankruptcy was officially annulled in October 2024. With a skeleton staff, the new board began reconnecting with donors and granting agencies.

Poole said they received support from the cities of Kitchener and Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo. The Canada Council for the Arts had even held funds for the organization in anticipation of its return. The Ontario Arts Council did not provide funding, which Poole described as a huge disappointment.

Some major donors have returned, although the symphony struggled to retrieve its donor database and could not contact several previous supporters. The organization aims to raise 480,000 dollars by next July and has already secured 250,000 dollars.

“Rebuilding trust was a huge piece of it,” Poole said. “We had to convince people that we are committed to operating in a really responsible way. There has been a lot of wait and see, and I completely understand that. This is a very challenging road.”

The new business model reflects a sharp focus on sustainability. The operating budget is just over one million dollars, about twenty percent of the previous size. All fifty two musicians are now freelancers rather than employees. There are six staff members, and only executive director Jason Doell works full time.

Concert venues have also changed. Centre In The Square is expensive and difficult to fill. There will be only three performances there this season, with most concerts taking place in smaller venues like churches. In 2022 to 2023, the symphony performed forty times in the main hall.

Whitman now works part time as the orchestra’s learning and community engagement coordinator. He is arranging performances in accessible community settings including schools, retirement homes, libraries, local restaurants and possibly Pride festivals and the Christkindl Market.

“We are ready to be of service to the community,” he said. “Things look incredibly hopeful.”

Mahler’s Second Symphony requires a massive ensemble of ninety musicians and a large choir. It is extremely costly to present, but this performance is supported by a major donation from philanthropist George Lange, described as a “Mahler nut.”

(Full disclosure: the choir performing in this concert is the Grand Philharmonic Choir, of which I am the executive director and also a singer.)

At rehearsals this week, you could feel history correcting itself as the sound filled the hall once again.

Mahler’s symphony is a magnificent work that saves its most powerful moment for the end. The choir begins almost imperceptibly, like a breath of wind, rising to a triumphant climax.

“Aufersteh’n, ja aufersteh’n wirst du, Mein Herz, in einem Nu.”

It means: Rise again, yes, you shall rise again. My heart, in the twinkling of an eye.

And so they did.

Read the original article at The Record

Then came the fans.

Midnight screenings transformed the movie into one of the most legendary cult classics of all time. With audience participation, costumes, and interactive call-outs, the film became a global phenomenon that has been running continuously for 50 years.

In this CBS feature, Tracy Smith sits down with stars Tim Curry and Barry Bostwick, producer Lou Adler, and film scholar Jeffrey Weinstock to explore how this outrageous little movie grew into a cultural juggernaut.

Watch the segment below.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary at Centre In The Square

The celebration continues this fall when The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour comes to Centre In The Square on Wednesday, October 29.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of costumes, audience participation, and absolute Time Warp madness.

Get Your Tickets Now

Why It Matters

• Powerful yet familiar: Built on the trusted DiGiCo platform, the Q852 brings new features—like Mustard processing, preamp modeling, and dynamic EQ—while retaining an intuitive feel for seasoned operators.
• Built for versatility: Whether it’s a swift setup or a complex production—like mixing a band and symphony simultaneously—the Q852 handles it all with ease.
• Future-proofing our stage: The upgrade comes after over a decade with the SD7 console. The Q852 not only meets today’s demands but is also designed to support evolving needs—supporting up to 384 channels and seamless cross-compatibility with other DiGiCo systems.
• Collaborative spirit: This installation was made possible thanks to the leadership of Jeremy Bernard, Head of Sound at CITS, the venue’s long-standing legacy with GerrAudio, and swift, hands-on support from Aligned Vision Group.

“You can’t throw much at the Q852 where it doesn’t go, ‘Yeah, I got you.’”

– Jeremy Bernard, Head of Sound, Centre In The Square

Our Sound, Elevated

At CITS, our commitment to delivering exceptional performance experiences has always been backed by strong partnerships—and this upgrade is no different. With DiGiCo’s responsive updates, GerrAudio’s trusted service, and Aligned Vision Group’s dedication, we’re more capable than ever of helping artists bring their vision to life.

Read the full article here: Canada’s First DiGiCo Quantum852 Lands at Centre In The Square (via GerrAudio Distribution)

To celebrate the season launch, The Record recently featured an article highlighting what audiences can look forward to — from iconic Canadian acts and international touring productions to new work by emerging voices in our Studio Theatre. It’s a season designed to entertain, inspire, and bring our community together.

Read the full article below to get a closer look at what’s in store:
Explore the 2025/26 season preview at The Record

Tickets are on sale now. We look forward to welcoming you this fall.

This season, we’re expanding our programming to offer more variety than ever before, with over 30 productions spanning music, comedy, theatre, and family entertainment. The new season is designed to welcome a wider range of audiences and reflect the growing interests of our community. Even as we bid farewell to a longtime staple, we’re committed to ensuring Centre In The Square remains a vibrant hub for arts and culture in Kitchener.

This year’s programming reflects our ongoing efforts to diversify and bring new experiences to our patrons. We’re looking forward to welcoming both returning guests and first-time visitors to enjoy what promises to be an exciting and memorable season.

Watch the CTV News feature on our new season lineup below:

For a detailed look at all the shows and to purchase tickets, visit our 2025–26 season page.

Stay tuned for more updates and behind-the-scenes highlights as we get ready for a fantastic year at Centre In The Square!

This year, Centre In The Square is also proud to share several major milestones that underscore the strength and growing impact of its programming. The Centre’s signature Destination programming has been awarded $125,000 through the Experience Ontario 2025 program, recognizing its powerful contribution to tourism, community engagement, and cultural vibrancy. Long-time Season Sponsor Heffner Lexus Toyota has increased its support through a renewed three-year commitment, while ENOVA continues to sustain its generous support as the Presenting Sponsor of ever-popular Classic Rock Series. The Centre also continues its valued partnerships with The Walper Hotel, The Waterloo Region Record, and many hospitality partners, including today’s lunch sponsor Borealis, enhancing both the patron experience and community reach. CITS’ team is grateful for the major cornerstone funding received from the City of Kitchener.

“This Season is an invitation to enjoy your favourites, explore something new, take a chance on the unexpected, and feel every moment,” says Executive Director Eric Lariviere. “We’re honoured to receive the new support from the Government of Ontario, along with the sustained and generous funding from the City of Kitchener. We are also excited to welcome audiences to another Season of world-class live entertainment in downtown Kitchener.”

This year’s Centre In The Square Presents Season is thoughtfully curated into a range of exciting series that highlight the diversity and depth of live performance. Whether you’re drawn to international spectacles, iconic rock concerts, Broadway blockbusters, beloved Canadian artists, or family attractions, there’s something for everyone seeking the best of live experiences. Explore our five-signature series below, each offering its own unforgettable lineup of shows and experiences.


Canadians Series


• CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR! Unsilent Night – Fri., Dec. 19, 2025, 8:00 PM
• Blue Rodeo – Fri., Jan. 9 & Sat., Jan. 10, 2026, 8:00 PM
• Gowan – Sat., Feb. 14, 2026, 8:00 PM
• Irish Rovers – Tues., Mar. 17, 2026, 8:00 PM
• Men of the Deeps – Fri., May 1, 2026, 8:00 PM

International Series

• The Australian Pink Floyd Show – Tues., Sept. 23, 2025, 8:00 PM
• Soweto Gospel Choir – Wed., Nov. 26, 2025, 8:00 PM
• Elvis’ Wonderful World of Christmas: Graceland Edition with Steve Michaels (co-presented with Icon Productions) – Thurs., Dec. 18, 2025, 8:00 PM
• Drum Tao – Sat., Jan. 17, 2026, 7:00 PM
• The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Created by Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté) – Thurs., Mar. 5, 2026, 8:00 PM
• The Peking Acrobats – Sat., Apr. 11, 2026, 7:00 PM
• Step Afrika – Thurs., Apr. 30, 2026, 8:00 PM
• Pavlo & Daniel Emmet – Fri., May 8, 2026, 8:00 PM

Broadway & Beyond


• Menopause The Musical (Co-presented with Modo Live) – Fri., Sept. 26, 2025, 8:00 PM
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour featuring Patricia Quinn – Wed., Oct. 29, 2025, 8:00 PM
• TINA – The Tina Turner Musical – Fri., Nov. 28, 2025, 8:00 PM & Sat., Nov. 29, 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
• Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert – Live-to-Film 
– Thurs., Dec. 11 & Fri., Dec. 12, 2025, 7:30 P(Co-presented with Glatz Concerts featuring members of the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony)
• Mike Super: Magic & Illusion – Sat., Mar. 7, 2026, 7:00 PM
• STOMP (Co-presented Innovation Arts & Entertainment) – Fri., Apr. 17, 2026, 8:00 PM 
& Sat., Apr. 18, 2026, 2:00 PM (Co-presented with Innovation Arts & Entertainment)
• Starvox Entertainment Presents Faulty Towers – The Dining Experience 
– Apr. 27–May 3, 2026 (Studio Theatre)

ENOVA Presents: Classic Rock Series


• Classic Albums Live: Michael Jackson’s Thriller – Fri., Oct. 31, 2025, 8:00 PM
• Get the Led Out – Sat., Nov. 15, 2025, 8:00 PM
• Classic Albums Live: Prince’s Purple Rain – Fri., Mar. 6, 2026, 8:00 PM
• Classic Albums Live: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours – Sat., May 2, 2026, 8:00 PM
• Jeans ‘n Classics: Heartland – Current & Classic Country – Thurs., Feb. 26, 2026, 8:00 PM

Pat The Dog Series in the Studio Theatre


This Season, Centre In The Square is proud to collaborate with Pat the Dog Theatre Creation, under the direction of Lisa O’Connell to bring a full Season of bold, original, and thought-provoking theatre to the Kitchener-Waterloo region.

This exciting alliance champions Canadian voices and elevates underrepresented stories through intimate performances in the Studio Theatre.

Audiences can expect innovative storytelling, powerful themes, and unforgettable live experiences—all rooted in community and creativity.

Pat the Dog Theatre Creation Series at Centre In The Square:

• Calling the Rock Home – Oct. 15–18, 2025, 7:30 PM
• {dis}Ability Unleashed – Wed., Dec. 3, 2025, 7:30 PM
• Femme Folks Fest – Mar. 7–14, 2026, 7:30 PM

CITS Education Programs & Summer Camps

Centre In The Square remains deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of artists, thinkers, and arts lovers through its growing lineup of Education Programs and Summer Camps. These initiatives are designed to ignite creativity, encourage critical thinking, and inspire young audiences through live performance and hands-on experiences.
This year’s Education Series brings curriculum-connected programming directly to students and educators across the region, featuring imaginative storytelling, STEM-based exploration, and culturally enriching experiences. Performances are tailored for elementary and middle school audiences and take place during school hours at the Centre’s Raffi Armenian Theatre (Main Theatre). Learn more about our Education programs at centreinthesquare.com.

2025/2026 Education Series Lineup:


• Will et Seeka – Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 10:30 AM & 12:30 PM
• Dr. Kaboom: Under Pressure – Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 10:30 AM & 12:30 PM
• Shaun Boothe & The Unauthorized Biography Series – Monday, February 23, 2026 | 10:30 AM & 12:30 PM
• Dino Light – Monday, April 20, 2026 | 10:30 AM & 12:30 PM
• Step Afrika – Wednesday, April 29 & Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 10:30 AM & 12:30 PM

In addition to school-year programming, the Centre’s popular Summer Camps return this July and August with a variety of one- and two-week sessions designed for children ages 6 to 13. Led by professional artists and arts educators, these camps offer a welcoming space to build confidence, express creativity, and make new friends—culminating in a final showcase performance for family and friends. Learn more and register at centreinthesquare.com/summercamps.

Tickets & Memberships


Tickets on sale for:
CentreStage Members: Thursday, May 29 at 12:00 PM. – 15% discount until June 30.
General public: Monday, June 9 at 12:00 PM.

CentreStage Memberships are available for purchase now, with new exclusive benefit of a special discount of 15% offered on select shows, until June 30, 2025. Members enjoy early access to tickets, premium seating options, and exclusive perks throughout the Season.

For full details on the 25/26 Season or to purchase tickets, please visit Centre In The Square’s website.

Media Contacts

Eric Lariviere
Executive Director, Centre In The Square
416-557-8498
ELariviere@centreinthesquare.com

Jonathan Randall

Director, Marketing & Development
519-578-5660

JRandall@centreinthesquare.com

About Centre In The Square:

Established in 1981, The Centre In The Square Inc. (CITS) is a not-for-profit corporation and registered charity dedicated to managing Kitchener’s premier performing arts theatre. With over 140 annual events, CITS showcases top local, national, and international talent, enriching the cultural landscape with concerts, plays, lectures, and more. Located in Downtown Kitchener, the theatre is a cultural hub that also houses the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery and partners with local groups like the Grand Philharmonic Choir. Emphasizing on multidisciplinary programming and accessibility, CITS offers diverse artistic experiences for all ages, supporting artists and major national and international touring productions with state-of-the-art facilities and technical expertise.

From the moment the lights went up, students were clapping, drumming, singing, and dancing along. With instruments in hand and smiles on their faces, the young audience helped bring the performance to life in true SAMAJAM fashion.

For many, this was their first time attending a live performance in a professional theatre setting. The energy in the room was electric, and the joy was contagious. Teachers, chaperones, and Centre staff alike were thrilled to see the theatre buzzing with enthusiasm and participation.

Thank you to all the schools that joined us and helped make this event such a vibrant success. Moments like these remind us why live arts matter — they inspire, educate, and bring communities together.

Check out some highlights from the shows below!

Learn more about Centre In The Square’s Education Series

It’s been just over a year since Eric Lariviere became executive director of Kitchener’s Centre in the Square.

He started in the role just months after the city owned performing arts space’s calendar was left with large holes due to the bankruptcy of the K-W Symphony.

But he had a goal to help revitalize and rejuvenate the iconic space. 

Lariviere joined CBC K-W’s Craig Norris, host of The Morning Edition, to talk about the direction of the city-owned space.

Audio of this interview can be found at the bottom of this story. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Craig Norris: Last time we spoke, Centre in the Square was getting set to open the Studio Theatre to different community groups. Let’s start there. How’s that been going?

Eric Lariviere: Yeah, this has been a good initiative. This is part of one of our priorities that we established for 2024 and reopening the studio was one of the big goals of the community engagement strategy. 

We created this platform called Kitchener Creates to make sure that we could have that space that really can do a lot of things with about 200 people or less depending on the configuration. And then that led to multiple activities. We’re going to have the full season of the theatre creation company Pat the Dog. 

We had the great comedy dinner theatre show Faulty Towers, which really animated the studio for over eight performances. 

We’re talking to Empty Space, the other great company that we have in town, and there’s other news coming this year for next season. 

So I think it’s on the right trajectory. At the end of the day, another priority is to build capacity, and as we build that capacity we’re going to be able to do more partnerships and invest more in that space. 

I believe this space is going to be very busy. You’ll see more coming for next season. So we’re happy with the results so far.

Norris: You also did some pretty major renovations in the main auditorium. What have you been hearing feedback-wise from the community on those changes?

Lariviere: I think it’s been very positive. The new accessibility space, those that need that space, for instance, they really have a different experience because now they’re facing the stage. 

So it’s been more and more uptick on that and good comments as far as the new seats, a lot of good comments. Also, you get more space and it’s comfy of course, they’re brand new. My predecessor did the job on that one, but it’s been quite well received.

Norris: When the symphony filed for bankruptcy, it left a lot of dates empty at Centre in the Square. How were you able to bounce back from?

Lariviere: I think the team’s done a good job in bouncing back because when you looked at the symphony’s activity in 2023, I think 2022 we had about 92 events total. So if you take out the symphony, it was about 66 and we ended up at 112. So it’s over 70 per cent increase. I think it went well. 

• K-W Symphony says it’s emerged from bankruptcy and plans concerts before year’s end

We established some priorities. Basically, we had four major strategic pillars: We had the destination, we had community engagement, capacity building and branding. 

So when you look at the destination, basically the goal was to increase and strengthen our position as a best in class destination for live experiences and to do so, of course, we worked with our current clients and we expanded. 

We had a business plan that expanded vertically and horizontally for our business, our commercial business and other business. 

As far as our programs, we expanded on diversity and variety of programs. 

So we work with promoters that for instance, bring, for example, Samay Raina from India, who is a huge, very popular comedian and we sold out two shows. We brought, you know, Fadu Diva Mariza … And these were good experiences and as you do those experiences, of course, some will work well, some will work OK and that’s part of the plan of investing and growing.

Norris: So the bankruptcy for the symphony has been annulled. Do you foresee Centre In The Square having the symphony back in the coming season?

Lariviere: Well, I think the symphony has done an amazing job in coming back. Really the musicians, the board, Bill Poole the chair of the board, and the group of musicians that have worked incredibly hard. They had a good season in the community and the church. I was at a concert last week. It was a sold out concert there. 

One of the first things I did when I came, I reached out to them and we started a dialogue and I think I’m quite optimistic in seeing the orchestra back at the Centre in the Square in some shape and form.

I mean, it’s a tough challenge for an orchestra because the funding is so critically important and then building the audience is another key factor. 

The way people, let’s call it, consume their free time or their leisure has really drastically changed in the past years and with the pandemic, even more so. So at the end of the day, I think, as all of us in the live experiences business and industry, we have that challenge that we have to be really paying attention to.

Norris: What are you personally most excited about as you enter into your second year at the helm of Centre in the Square?

Lariviere: Same things I guess I was excited about a year ago. You have a jewel here. It’s a great space. What it can do is just unbelievable. 

With more investments we can continue to grow in variety, diversity and work with the community – the community engagement is incredibly important. 

I think there’s some projects that we’re going to start announcing on May 29 and I think on the longer term, there’s even more that really showcase how lucky this community is to be able to have that kind of infrastructure.

Listen to the interview with CBC’s Craig Norris here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/eric-lariviere-centre-in-the-square-renovations-1.7531491