March 27th is World Theatre Day. Initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute, World Theatre Day’s goal is to celebrate theatre across the world, bring awareness to the support needed in the theatre industry, and to share the joy of theatre with others.
The Rotary Centre for the Arts is home to the Mary Irwin Theatre; a cultural landmark in the Okanagan theatre world, rich in history. This World Theatre Day, we want to reminisce on how the theatre came to be, and what’s happening in it today.
Over thirty years ago, the Kelowna Visual and Performing Arts Centre Society (KVPACS) was formed – a group of Okanagan residents looking for a central place for arts and culture in Kelowna. During the early 1990s, the need for an arts facility became increasingly evident. The goal was to develop vibrant and dynamic partnerships involving business, local government, and the cultural community to create a major civic facility. After a feasibility study was conducted on the old Growers Supply Building, the Kelowna City Council approved its transformation into the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
This, of course, meant the creation of the Mary Irwin Theatre. But who was Mary Irwin?
Mary Irwin
Mary Irwin (1901-1993) was a lifelong patron of the arts. She first came to Peachland from New Zealand in 1904 and would become a founding member of Kelowna Little Theatre (later known as Theatre Kelowna), spending nearly fifty years supporting arts-related activities around the city. During the 1920s, Mary became acquainted with Russel Munn, who spent a brief period in Summerland before relocating to California. In 1995, Russel wrote about his connection to Mary in the Okanagan Historical Society’s Okanagan History – 59th Report of the Okanagan Historical Society. In his writing, Russel speaks of Mary with much admiration, alluding to his love for her despite her being engaged to another man (Athol Agur). The two eventually went their separate ways after Munn left for California. In 1924, Mary and her mother (Margaret Vicary) would travel to Covina, California to join Russel at his fruit packing job. The frequent trips would eventually stop, and Russel and Mary would only see each other when he would return to Summerland on vacation before she left for Vancouver.
“During the depression years of the 1930s”, writes Russel, “Mary found herself working in Vancouver, where she met and married Ronald Irwin. […] He found a job that took them to Trail, where their son, Michael, was born in June 1936. They were there for seven years, all the time yearning to be back in Kelowna, which they achieved in 1943. They soon bought twelve acres in the Mission area. […] Mary and Ron were both interested in drama and took a major role in the establishment and development of what is now the Theatre Kelowna Society. Ronald died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1965.”
During this time, Russel was pursuing a career in library administration in America before retiring in Tucson, Arizona. He returned to Summerland in 1984, after the passing of his wife of fifty-three years. Despite not being in touch with Mary since the 30s, he gave her a call and they arranged a visit. The visit was short, and after he returned to Tucson, Mary wrote him to express that next time, she hoped his visit would be longer.
“There ensued an extended correspondence and phone conversations, which led to my proposal that we meet in Ashland, Oregon, see some plays and maybe renew old times. Michael [Mary’s son] offered to drive her down and I flew to Ashland and met them at a designated motel. Michael had to return the next day, thus leaving us alone to revive a sixty-year-old romance. We saw six plays in four days.”
They would visit back and forth, but decided to settle together in Kelowna in 1986.
In 1995, two years after Mary passed away, Russel decided to bequeath the $200,000 proceeds from the sale of their home to have a theatre build in her name, and the Mary Irwin Theatre was born!
You can read Okanagan History – 59th Report of the Okanagan Historical Society here, courtesy of the UBC Library Open Collections. Page 146-150.
The RCA is eternally grateful to both Mary Irwin and Russel Munn for their longtime support of arts and theatre in the community. Without Mary, we might not have the theatre we now know and love!
Today, the Mary Irwin Theatre is home to concerts, plays, dances, and so much more. With its 326 seats, each performance on its stage is an intimate display of arts and culture. From our own RCA Presents series to each unique guest event, our theatre makes the RCA shine.
Don’t miss the next two performances in the Mary Irwin Theatre – The Comic Strippers return on May 4 for their award-winning improv comedy, and Canadian Bluegrass stars Under the Rocks will showcase their latest album, Honest Try, on May 24.
Our highly anticipated RCA Presents series for the 2024-205 season is set to be unveiled in late Spring! Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of unforgettable live entertainment at the renowned Mary Irwin Theatre.
We are excited to announce that Season Subscriptions are coming soon. Stay tuned for details on how to secure a subscription for an unparalleled journey through the arts.
Happy World Theatre Day from all of us at the Rotary Centre for the Arts! Thank you to all our patrons, donors, sponsors, and members, who help make what we do in our theatre possible. As a non-profit organization, we depend on your support to deliver arts education programs, live audience experiences, and accessible community events.
Want to create a lasting legacy for your family, honour a cherished loved one, or promote your business? You can take part in our Mary Irwin Theatre Seat Sale. For $1,000, or just $100 per month, your tax-deductible donation will place the name of your family, friend, or business in the spotlight with an elegant, personalized engraving on the armrest of a seat in the Mary Irwin Theatre. Learn more about this unique opportunity and apply here.