SPONSORED BY 460 REALTY
The Gate House Theatre has been putting the arts centre stage in Port McNeill since it drew its first curtain in 2011.
The driving force behind the theatre is Terry Ruth Eissfeldt, a true advocate for the arts, who has called Port McNeill home since 1992.
It was in 2008 when Eissfeldt decided to take a look at the property at #11-1705 Campbell Way, which was then operating as a movie theatre.
Eissfeldt said she had thought about the space for a possible business venture but after realizing that might not work, came up with another idea.
“I thought what this needs is a charitable organization and it would be so heartbreaking to see it shut off again so I found four of my friends who couldn’t say no and we formed the society and we opened our doors in 2011,” said Eissfeldt. While the Theatre show’s second-run movies, and rents out the space for birthdays and events, Eissfeldt said that the whole reason for the charity is to support the arts.
“That is the whole drive as to why I’ve given eight years of my life, and will continue to be here waving the flag,” said Eissfeldt, adding “My drive is for theatre – for all of the arts – it’s our purpose as a space to gather and celebrate the arts.”
She said since 2011, she’s seen the theatre grow and become “a bit of a hub” in the community.
“Now we have got people running the open mic, which is an established monthly thing,” said Eissfeldt, adding “We have people on board that can help us with things like tech and sound, which has been amazing, and who are talking to professional music groups that want to come.”
She said the exposure from groups like Wild Heart Music and Portside Academy of Performing arts has helped establish the theatre as a fixture in the community.
The Gate House Theatre also runs after school drama programs for kids in elementary and high school.
“I’m very passionate about letting kids have a chance to do something they are interested in,” said Eissfeldt, adding “Arts is a real thing that needs to be nurtured. It’s as much teamwork as hockey, and as much showmanship and drama as figure skating.”
Eissfeldt said she also enjoys seeing adults try theatre for the first time and take a step out of their comfort zone and gain confidence and self awareness from being on stage.
“To have this [theatre] here and to grow this here is really important – This is my legacy to this town,” said Eissfeltd, adding “A community without arts is black and white and one dimensional. We have to have arts.”
Eissfeldt said she was humbled to be nominated for the local hero awards, but noted that “this is not a one person show” noting that there are a number of people who work behind the scenes to mak
e things run.
“I might be the passion behind it but it is spilling over,” said Eissfeldt, adding, “Everyone involved in who has ever even come and supported this is all behind that.”
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