Image Credit: CFJC Today
NEW GOLD STAGE

Kamloops Film Society celebrates new performance space at the Paramount Theatre

Feb 27, 2023 | 11:40 AM

KAMLOOPS — On Sunday evening (Feb. 26), several dozen people braved the snowy streets of the city and packed into the Paramount Theatre in downtown Kamloops. However, it wasn’t for the latest film society showtime.

“Obviously, movies are always going to be the backbone of the Kamloops Film Society,” Dušan Magdolen, Kamloops Film Society (KFS) Executive Director explains. “We knew this space could become a kind of cultural hub and other types of events could happen here, as well.”

It was a grand opening for the New Gold Stage at the Paramount Theatre and featured a taste of what is possible in the new venue space.

“We seat almost 500 people, so I think some of the medium acts — whether it be musical acts or smaller theatre productions, that sort of thing,” Magdonlen says. “But also, we’d be great for corporate events, right? If you need to get a lot of people together, we’ve got the big screen and then you could be on a mic in front of it. We’re open to all of the above and we’re hoping people come check it out.”

Sunday’s sampling of performances included a capella, improv comedy, a Bollywood dance crew, and some good ol’ rock n’ roll. Improv troupe The Freudian Slips enjoyed the first experience on the new stage.

“There’s a lot of space and also a lot of seating available, which I don’t think I’ve encountered,” Taylor Shewchuk, one of the Slips says. “That opens up some possibilities.”

“I’ve only ever performed inside the Effie Arts Collective, so performing inside a much bigger theatre is amazing,” Blake Hogg, another Slip explains.

Aaron Shufletoski, who hosted the evening’s festivities, owns the Effie Arts Collective. He’s pleased to see the new venue open up and hopes it helps build the audience base for shows in the city.

“Sometimes it feels like Kamloops is the ‘I have to work tomorrow’ town. It’s very difficult to come out and enjoy [the arts],” Shufletoski says. “There’s a lot of other things going on in Kamloops, like outdoors, or sports, so anybody who loves the arts has to go and buy tickets to shows, no matter where or what they are. Experience new stuff. Don’t wait until your favourite band comes to town — go see new bands, go see that play you don’t know anything about.”

With the 27th annual Kamloops Film Festival beginning later this week, audiences will get to see the stage in action as soon as Thursday evening (Mar. 2).